League Rules (Broken Down)

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

The Rules of this league have been a work in progress over the last 4 years. They exist as a way way to guide us through the many transactions, procedures and decisions that must be performed by the individual GM, the TAB, and Admins, as a whole for the efficient operation of this league.

Because our Rules appear to be so vast, many seem to skim through them and proceed to operate in this league as though all rules are basically the same in every league. Those of us who have been here for a while refer to these rules often. Even after all this time.

Therefore, I think it will be beneficial to begin introducing them to the league in segments. These Rules don't exist to punish behavior, but more so toward giving the individual GM an understanding of the great responsibility they have toward managing their teams effectively.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

As a reminder, these will not be the full Rules, but will touch on the main aspect of those Rules...

Let's start with the first 3, which are part of the same:

Roster Limits:

Active rosters are limited to 50 players maximum and 25 (active) players minimum (excluding Practice Squad and Injured Reserve).


The above 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.

This Rule is cut and dry. Each GM should strive to adhere, or face the penalty for violation.

Each team has a $80,000,000 salary cap.

Team salary includes the total of all players under contract (Active Roster, Practice Squad and Injured Reserve), plus any Salary Cap Hits for unclaimed waivers, plus any outstanding (leading) free agent bids.

Each team MUST maintain accurate salary totals and roster count on their team page. The salary cap will remain in effect year-round. This includes pre-season, so be careful while you may be temporarily over the roster limits, you may never exceed the salary cap.


Roster Checks:

Each owner is responsible for their own team.

Rosters must be kept up to date on both Proboards and MFL

When team transactions occur (Draft, RFA, FA, Trades, Waivers, etc.) GM's will have 1 week to update their rosters during the off-season, and 3 days during the season.




* These Rules are basic responsibility and carry penalties for failure. To help enforce this responsibility, TAB has been authorized to perform roster checks at any time.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

Basically, once you win a player in FA...being the off-season - GM's have ONE WEEK to add the player to their rosters.

Where MFL is concerned, the player MUST be submitted as a waivers request with the correct salary. Admin will add the years of the contract.

By the same token, although we have yet to address the Rule, when a player is waived, he must also be dropped from your MFL roster.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

Okay GM's,

Before proceeding to the next Rule, it is VERY important to KNOW the above Rules. Seems we've had a violation of placing a bid without having the available cap.

Bidding on a player without having the available cap is detrimental to the league for a variety of reasons. There is a lot of activity going on within this league, especially during this time of year, and having to take additional time to sort out the mess it caused is really uncalled for. All it takes is self-management, patience in planning, and keeping up with your assigned duties.

While I believe there should be a learning curve, and thus the reason for feeding the Rules to the league in broken down segments so that each GM gets an understanding, it is imperative to understand in the near future there will be penalties handed out without excuse.

Being plain, and forgive my nuendo...but excuses are like butt-holes right? That's right, EVERYONE has one.

Also, a violation of the first Rule being broken down should be a learning lesson to all of us. I'm not breaking these rules down for my health, but for the benefit of the league, those who cannot chew on all the Rules at one time. The Bottom line is....YOUR ROSTER IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. The players/contracts/salaries/ cap hits....all of it.

This is why it is important to keep them updated and matching, so that you are aware of what you have and what you don't have, what you can do, and cannot do.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

Jul 10, 2015 21:44:53 GMT Bengals GM (Darryl) said:

Basically, once you win a player in FA...being the off-season - GM's have ONE WEEK to add the player to their rosters.

Where MFL is concerned, the player MUST be submitted as a waivers request with the correct salary. Admin will add the years of the contract.

By the same token, although we have yet to address the Rule, when a player is waived, he must also be dropped from your MFL roster.

Everyone pretty straight so far?...great. We will be moving forward as the season progresses.

So, if one fails to add a player to their roster what is the (1st) penalty?

Two teams have 1) been fined $1 Mil, 2) have lost the player to Free Agency, and 3) are ineligible to bid on that player.

Penalties increase with continued violations...Are we paying attention and taking this seriously?

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

Okay...we're about to move on, but before doing so, I would first like to apologize to the Jets (one of the above teams who was awarded a penalty). They have actually added the player to their roster - and because he was on top of his transactions and timeliness, was able to show and prove his case.

So my apologies Nate!...thanks for setting an example for us all to follow!

NOW...it is important to face the issue of erasing threads/posts!!!

We have had 2 incidences of posts being erased. This is against the rules. The actual Rule can be found under "Free Agent Bidding"

It states in relevant part:

"If a team makes a free agent bid which would put them over the roster or cap limit, or deletes a bid once posted, a Cap Penalty will be issued of $1,000,000..."


Off the top of my head, a couple of major reasons this rule exists is to hold the GM to accountability for his decisions, in hopes of giving thought as to what they can or cannot afford, and secondly, more importantly, maintaining an accurate record should the need for investigation/verification to occur.

Truth is, I have been lenient on certain rules because we are learning. This is one rule in which leniency has been extended. BUT, now that it is being discussed, no more excuses will remain.

I'll close on this note, but want to stress this last point.

This last infraction was performed by a TAB member, which warrants special mention. So this is my personal apology from myself to the rest of the league. Notwithstanding, the expectation of TAB is to set the standard for the rest of the league to follow. Yet without excuse, I believe it is only fair that the same grace extended to the first GM, will be extended to this member of TAB, who is also new to the league and learning.

However, being in a position of authority, at the moment his powers have been suspended until we (TAB) can go over this infraction, the Rules, and our responsibility to the league.

BTW, if there are any questions or concerns about what is being said, please feel free to add your thoughts...this is NOT a dictatorship. Even though Admin has express powers, I have worked hard to disseminate this authority among TAB and the league as a whole.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

Okay, hopefully this is timely, as we have somewhat of an issue with bidding on a FA.

This breakdown includes RFA qualifications for bidding on a FA. Here's the Rule:

Restricted Free Agents:
Restricted Free Agents (RFAs) are free agents who have 3 years or less NFL experience (players are signed with RFA status if their last year under contract is their 3rd year or less). Years within the league will be determined by nfl.com at www.nfl.com/players.

Important Note: Notice the qualifying statement in parenthesis () that follows the opening statement...

(players are signed with RFA status if their last year under contract is their 3rd year or less).

Taken together, the player being bid upon MUST have 3 years or less AND ONLY IF that 3rd year is the last year of their contract or less!

As an example, let's examine the latest FA bid on Jonathan Grimes (RB-HOU) to see if he qualifies under the rule.

First, I would visit the above link, as that is what determines years in the league. Upon visiting, I notice that Grimes is in his 4th year.

While it would appear as though he has 3 years of NFL experience, thus qualifying for RFA status, the qualifying statement in parenthesis that follows shows that if he is signed to a contract, that contract, even in the first year, would extend beyond the final year of his 3rd year.

Thus Grimes does not qualify as a FA eligible for a contract with RFA status.


As a SN: Grimes was originally signed to an RFA contract in this league, which expired at the end of last season. The teams owner didn't offer him a tender.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

Simple Rule: Mentioned because we are still attempting to get rosters updated correctly...there are unfortunately rookie contracts that have been assigned 5 year contracts, though they were not drafted in the 1st Round. These players have not been assigned a contract on MFL.

Contract Length of Drafted Rookies:
1st round draft picks are all signed for 5 Years with no RFA status. All other draft picks are signed for 3 Years and have RFA status at the end of their contracts.


In addition to the above rule...we do not sign UFA's to 5 year contracts.

Once again, a failure to list contracts appropriately can result in a penalty, and if ignored, dismissal from the league.

[Bengals GM (Darryl)]

BIDDING ON RFA PLAYERS/RE-SIGNING PLAYERS NOT BID ON

Teams may bid on RFA players in the same style and manner they bid on UFA players. One major difference, however, is that when an eligible player is tendered, it simply means the GM either wishes to retain that player, or receive compensation for that player, or both.

The importance of this difference does not always compute to the GM who simply wishes to follow the bidding format.

As an example, while UFA bidding and RFA bidding can proceed to levels of offered compensation that deter others from bidding, RFA bidding is specifically meant to deter others, including the GM who has ROFR (right of first refusal).

What does this mean?

If I open up a bid at a great low-value, say $2 Mil on a player that is actually worth that amount (and much more). Further, that I win that bid. There is nothing to deter the GM who has the ROFR from matching the bid, AND he can simply match without paying the higher end of that value.

RESIGNING RFA PLAYERS NOT BID ON

RFA players not bid on will have to offer a contract commensurable with that players talent and previous years performance, against like contracts gained from UFA with similar players.

Not often considered when tendering a player however, is the tendering price.

High tenders are worthy of paying the higher price for that player. In other words a 1st round tender should not be offered 3rd round talent and performance contract. Neither should the offer, in many cases, be equated with that of original rookie contract offers.

As a suggestion, and not as a rule, if a player would cost $12 Mil in UFA, the tendering team is entitled to a home-town discount from that price, and NOT a steal at half-price.

Bottom-line...play to win. If you want that player, make him an offer to show him you want him!