Chris Long: Playing for London team would be "like punishment"

Chris Long has said that playing for a London-based NFL team would be "like punishment".

The league has been frequently linked with plans to establish a franchise in the UK, while NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood believes that it could happen by the end of the decade.

The St Louis Rams defensive end told ESPN: "I would be absolutely livid. I love growing our sport globally, but logistically to put a team through that would be like punishment.

"They have great fans there and they were super enthusiastic and awesome to everyone when we were there, but to ask people to take those road trips every time they do an away game is just ludicrous."

The Rams played the New England Patriots in the International Series at Wembley Stadium last year, losing 45-7.