The history of why NFL PRACTICE SQUADS were called TAXI SQUADS............In the 1940's, Cleveland Browns head coach Paul Brown petitioned the NFL to allow him to use players who weren't good enough to make an NFL team but showed promise if they were developed and matured... Brown used them to practice against his team and mimic formations used by the upcoming opponent, on both sides of the ball.... The NFL agreed so Brown asked Cleveland's founding owner, Mickey McBride, to pay them a sum of money just to practice against his team... McBride owned a TAXI company so he put these extra players on his TAXI company's payroll instead of on the team's, even though the players did not drive a cab...They became known as the TAXI SQUAD as a result and the name stuck for decades after for all NFL teams.
Just thought I would share some history that is interesting and quirky.
Just thought I would share some history that is interesting and quirky.
