Bears Illegal roster // forfeit week 1 win & future wins

[Deleted]

The Bears have a 26 man roster (the only team in the league below a 35 man roster) and are clearly outside of the roster player minimum. It was GREAT that they could spend a bunch on money on players to get them, but there has to be repercussions for being short of the 35 man roster requirement.


Roster Limits:
Active rosters are limited to 50 players maximum and 35 (active) players minimum (excluding Practice Squad and Injured Reserve). The limits are suspended each off-season to allow teams to draft, trade, and make roster moves in preparation for the upcoming season. All teams must be back within the roster limits by midnight the day after the NFL's final cut-down date. This is usually shortly after the final pre-season game and will be posted each pre-season.

Any team over the limit after the roster deadline will have players moved to the practice squad or waived. Every effort will be made to keep the best interests of the franchise in mind. Any team under the minimum will have placeholder "players" added at a salary of $500,000 for the current year. This placeholder will count towards the salary cap for the rest of the year unless waived at the standard 35% cap hit (assuming the team remains above the roster minimum).

After the roster deadline has passed, any team that acquires a player or players causing the team to go over the maximum will have the player(s) immediately dropped. A 35% cap hit will apply to bring the team back to the roster limit. The TAB will attempt to catch this beforehand, but it is the responsibility of each GM to remain within the roster limits.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

Agreed! And thank you (as always) for being attentive to such matters that negatively effect our league. As a friendly reminder, when just ONE GM fails to do what should be done according to the Rules - we all suffer. Not only does it remove the fun of the game, but it is also unfair, and, imo, unethical, for a team to profit from their own failure to abide by the rules and to play the game in good faith.

We will be cracking down on violations.

While we have a tendency to make exceptions when necessary, as everyone has real life issues to deal with from time to time effecting our involvement, we also pride ourselves with being an active league. Being "active" in this sense, also involves effectively communicating issues that may prohibit involvement, or otherwise,that may keep a team from meeting deadline requirements. The time to communicate is not after-the-fact.

Because the rest of the league was able to adhere to reaching minimum roster requirements, Admin has been looking into various options for imposing a penalty commensurable with the violation. From experience, it is not always efficient to implement a one-size-fits-all penalty. There are times when such penalties will have to vary, depending on the team and/or amount of violations in a season. For instance;

A team that is competing for a championship v. one looking to acquire a higher pick position is different. The 1st could receive a penalty "forfeiture of game", while the latter could forfeit their highest pick.

In this case, following the suggestion of the Packers, I am under the impression that the Bears should forfeit each game they are in non-compliance. A team not competing, and not setting their best line-up will lose their highest pick next year...

Please feel free to share any thoughts you may have...I've been known to overact - BUT I am a stickler for fun, which includes creating an atmosphere for fair competition and abiding by the rules of the game.

[Bills GM (Greg)]

LJ the Bears GM, has been warned about the 35 player requirement and has confirmed that he knows that he is in violation of that requirement. I offered him a 5 player for 2 player trade in order to try to help him increase his roster count, which he declined. I would agree with the forfeiture of games until his team in in compliance. He apparently has just chosen not to address the issue.

[JAGUARS GM (Kevin)]

So who are the lucky teams getting wins? ....

[JAGUARS GM (Kevin)]

by the way how the hell is SRich RFA on MFL?

[Panthers GM (Frank)]

I think taking draft picks away could be another option. Its how the NFL tends to address issues and the Bears have a whole slew of them. I would probably start with forfeiting his 2018 4th for week 1 and his 2018 3rd for week 2, and would continue so-forth until he meets league minimums. Just an idea....

[Bills GM (Greg)]

Sept 18, 2017 18:48:16 GMT JAGUARS GM (Kevin) said:

by the way how the hell is SRich RFA on MFL?

The RFA on Sheldon Richardson was a typo.   When he became a free agent and was acquired by the Bears, the RFA was never removed from his free agent contract.   IT HAS NOW BEEN CORRECTED.   Thanks for pointing out the oversight. 

[Deleted]

I think draft picks need to be taken away. there are rules, then need to be followed.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

Thanks for the feedback so far...

It is always unfortunate to have to penalise an organisation. However, penalties exist for the mere hope of forcing GM's into compliance. None-the-less, after reviewing the rules, it seems we often give a warning; followed by a penalty; a second penalty; and ultimately dismissal of the GM. In this case, ample warning(s) has/have been given, along w/extended time for extenuating circumstances, as well as offers of a helping hand. All to no avail.

As a GM, we all have at times, difficult choices to make. Effective management makes those hard choices when necessary. I'm not sure of any Admin who enjoys picking up the slack of those who won't...

In any case, the Rule states:

"Any team under the minimum will have placeholder "players" added at a salary of $500,000 for the current year. This placeholder will count towards the salary cap for the rest of the year unless waived at the standard 35% cap hit (assuming the team remains above the roster minimum)."

In order to add placeholders, a player or players will have to be waived. In this case, I don't think we are obligated to assign placeholders that are assigned to a team.

As of now, the Bears roster is up-to-date.

A penalty will follow.

[Deleted]

ESP a first. If he is not complying with rules for the #1 overall pick his pick should either be taken away for dropped to last pick of first round .. my 2 cents