It was preceded by an April 1927 purge of the financially weakest franchises from the league roster, with the total number of NFL teams ultimately dropping from 22 in 1926 to just 12 in 1927.
In January 1927, an owners' meeting was held in New York City at which tentative plans were made to reorganize the NFL into two classes, "A" and "B", with weaker teams demoted to the second division.
[2] Some big city franchises held grand aspirations while other smaller market teams staggered on the edge of the financial abyss.
[3] It wasn't until the National League's scheduling meeting held in Green Bay on July 16 and 17 that it was learned Commissioner Carr's vaunted "16-spoke wheel, composed entirely of first-class clubs"[3] had attenuated to just 12 franchises — most of which were losing money and a few of which remained on the brink.
The escalation of the guarantee deposit seems to have provided the impetus to drive the weaker teams from the field, with the local press breaking the news that "a year's football vacation" had been declared for "Milwaukee, Hammond, Detroit, Los Angeles, Louisville, Canton, Hartford, Rochester Kodaks, Brooklyn, Minneapolis Marines, and Kansas City.
"[5] Smith opined that the "outstanding feature" of the 1927 NFL season was the debut of University of Michigan passing star Benny Friedman, who became one of the game's "best drawing cards.
[6] In 1927 the NFL did absorb and integrate one complete franchise — the New York Yankees, owned by sports entertainment promoter C. C. Pyle and legendary back Red Grange — from the defunct American Football League.
The rival league had been founded in a pique by Pyle the year previously when his proposal for a New York City franchise had been rejected.
[7] Official NCAA football rules were adopted at the April 1927 owners' meeting as the general laws for league play.