socrates
Footballguy
Looking for several new owners to adopt teams in a 10 team PPR Dynasty league that has been in existence for 20 years (15 under current dynasty format). We have a five round draft Mon. Sep 4 on RTSports (league based out of Kansas, but not necessary to be located here as most attend draft online now). Annual league fee is $50. After website fee paid, pot paid out 50% to league champion, and the remainder divided between the top three total point finishers (25/15/10). Unique rules that allow franchise tags, transition players and offseason free agency. Looking for serious owners only. If interested, I will get you login details so you can go onto RTSports and check it out.
RULES:
THE GRIDIRON MANIFESTO
A specter is haunting America--the specter of Fantasy Football. All the powers of the traditional great American
pastimes have entered into a holy alliance with out significant others to exorcise this specter; however, their
attempts are futile. Year after year, season after season, we indulge our fantasy football pleasures by devoting
countless hours and an inordinate amount of money to honing our skills as General Managers, Head Coaches, and Chief
Scouting Directors of our Gridiron Elite fantasy franchises. In order to create a more perfect Fantasy Football
League, we hereby establish the inviolable rights of all members of the Gridiron Elite in accordance with the
principles of justice and equality and promulgate this Manifesto as the league's official rules and regulations.
I. GENERAL LEAGUE OPERATION
1a. Initial League Setup
(1) The Gridiron Elite Fantasy Football League will be established as a retention league. Franchises will retain
the rights to the core of their rosters from season to season. Although complex, the Gridiron Elite rules will create
parity and intrigue. Savvy franchise owners will build their franchises through free-agency as well as through the
draft.
(2) The initial rosters will be established using an open draft.
(3) Each roster shall be limited to a maximum of twenty-five members.
(4) Draft order will be randomly determined by a lottery system and reversed for even numbered rounds. Rosters
will be comprised of a combination of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, place-kickers, and
team defenses/special teams.
(5) Each selection will be allowed a maximum of five minutes for the initial ten rounds and a maximum of three
minutes for each subsequent round.
(6) Any selection not made within the allotted time will result in a penalty selection. Penalty selections will
be made at the beginning of the following round.
(7) Trades involving draft picks will be allowed. Any team receiving a draft pick trade will be awarded the full
selection time to announce their pick.
(8) Once a draft selection has been sent to the commissioner, it can not be rescinded.
1b. League Format
(1) The League will consist of ten teams within two five-team divisions. Division assignments will be randomly
determined and assessed annually.
(2) A pre-determined schedule will place teams in weekly head-to-head match-ups for the initial thirteen weeks of
the regular NFL season.
(3) Weeks fourteen through sixteen will be reserved for the playoffs.
1c. Weekly Lineups
(1) Each franchise owner must submit a weekly starting lineup to the league commissioner or a member of the
executive committee prior to the kickoff of the week's game.
(2) If no lineup is submitted, it shall be assumed to be the same as the previous week's lineup.
(3) Weekly rosters include:
-one quarterback
-two running backs
-three receivers (at least one of which must be a tight end)
-one place-kicker
-one team defense/special teams
(4) Position eligibility. The final say on all position eligibility will be listed by www.nfl.com/. A player
listed in multiple positions will be eligible to be inserted into the starting lineup at any of the positions listed.
No player may be inserted into a weekly lineup more than once in any particular week.
II. SCORING.
2a. Offense
Touchdown (thrown, received, or rushed)...........…….6 points
Yards Passing (a full 20 yards)......…….............…….1 point
Yards Rushing (a full 1 yard).............…….....…….0.1 point
Yards Receiving (a full 1 yard).................………...0.1 point
Receptions (each)................................……………....1 point
Two Point Conversions (thrown, received, rushed).....2 points
2b. Kicking
PAT (point after touchdown).……….........................1 point
Field Goal ..................................…………....…..3 points plus 0.1 bonus point(s) each 1 additional yards in length, starting with 31 yard scores.
2c. Defense/Special Teams
Fumble Recovery.........................……………...........2 points
Interception......................………………..................2 points
Sacks................................…………………..............1 point
Safety......................................………………….......5 points
Touchdown Scored (0-39 yards)......……..................6 points
Touchdown Scored (40+ yards).......……..................12 points
Shutout...................................………………...........10 points
Opponent held to 2-9 points..............………............5 points
Opponent held to 10-13 points.............……….........3 points
2d. Scoring Qualifications
Points scored by a defense/special teams will not be counted towards an individual player's point total.
2e. Official Scoring Source
RTSports.com will serve as the official source for all game statistics.
III. PLAYOFFS/AWARDS
3a. Total Cumulative Points (Season)
(1) Regardless of division, a cumulative total of the points scored each week will be kept through the sixteenth
week.
(2) Fifty percent of the accumulated prize pot will be divided and awarded to the top three seasonal points
leaders as follows:
First-25%
Second-15%
Third-10%
3b. Head-to-Head Competition
(1) The two teams from each division with the best win-loss record at the conclusion of the Gridiron Elite regular
season (through week thirteen) will advance to the playoffs.
(2) Divisional playoff opponents will play a division title game during the fifteenth week.
(3) Division title winners will advance to the Gridiron Elite Fantasy Bowl to occur annually during the sixteenth
week.
(4) The Gridiron Elite Fantasy Bowl winner will be awarded the championship title and 50% of the accumulated prize
pot.
(5) The team from each division with the worst win-loss record at the conclusion of the Gridiron Elite regular
season will face one another during week sixteen in the Toilet Bowl. The Toilet Bowl loser will be awarded the Toilet
Bowl title.
(6) Even teams not playing for either the championship game or the Toilet Bowl title during the playoff weeks will
continue to accumulate points; however, no head-to-head match-ups will be scheduled.
3c. Fantasy All-Pro Game
A Fantasy All-Pro game will be held during the seventeenth week of the NFL season. Team owners from each division will
establish a line-up from division rosters to compete against the opposing division. Each team must be represented.
There are no stakes for this game other than bragging rights. A location will be established annually to hold a team
owners' meeting to coincide with Sunday's games of week seventeen. League prizes will be awarded during this meeting.
IV. TIE-BREAKERS
4a. Regular Season Games
For all regular season games, tie breakers will be determined in favor of the home team.
4b. Regular Season Final Standings
In the event that two or more teams within a single division end the season with identical win/loss records, the
following criteria will be used in the following order to determine divisional standings:
(1) Win/loss records in head-to-head match-ups.
(2) Division record.
(3) Highest cumulative point total.
(4) Most points in head-to-head match-ups.
(5) Highest single game score to date.
(6) Coin toss.
4c. Playoff Games
(1) For all playoff games, starting lineup designations will be ranked one through eight.
(2) Tie breakers will be determined in favor of the highest score of individual players taken in numeric order as
ranked.
(3) Ties not broken by the ranking method will be determined in favor of the team with the highest cumulative point
total and highest single game score respectively.
4d. Cumulative Point Standings
Should there be a tie among cumulative point totals at the end of week sixteen, the following criteria will be used in
the listed order so as to determine final cumulative point standings:
(1) Highest single game score.
(2) Win-loss record.
(3) Head-to-head match-ups.
(4) Division record.
(5) Coin toss.
5. ANNUAL LEAGUE DRAFT
5a. Pre-Draft Provisions
(1) Draft order will be determined annually after the NFL's seventeenth week for the following season.
(2) Draft order for the initial rounds will be determined using a lottery system in which each team not qualifying for the playoffs shall have a number of ballots equal to the cumulative point total's finishing position.
(3) Draft order for the latter rounds will then be determined for playoff teams in the same manner.
(4) Each team will receive exactly one draft position from the lottery pick, and that order will be reversed for even
numbered rounds (excluding expansion picks). A team may continue to draft in the pre-determined order until all
roster vacancies are filled.
(5) After the fifth round, the draft order will no longer reverse for even-numbered rounds.
(6) The annual league draft will be held during or around the final week of the NFL pre-season at a previously
specified date and time.
(7) A reasonable effort must be made to make the draft available to all team owners; however, absentee draft
arrangements can be made with the league commissioner and will be dealt with on an individual basis.
(8) Annual league fees of $50.00 per team are due and payable by the annual draft. After league website expenses and any other necessary costs, all fees will be placed in the prize pot.
5b. Player Draft
(1) Each draft selection will be allowed a maximum of five minutes. Reasonable efforts will be made to allow all draft picks to be timely made.
(2) Any selection not made within the allotted time will result in a penalty selection. Penalty selections will be
made at the beginning of the following round.
(3) Trades involving draft picks will be allowed. Any team receiving a draft pick trade will be awarded the full
selection time to announce their pick.
(4) Draft picks cannot be traded for money.
(5) Once a draft selection has been sent to the commissioner, it cannot be rescinded.
(6) Players who have never been on an NFL roster (excluding unsigned rookies) are ineligible to be drafted.
(7) The Gridiron Elite regular season begins with the conclusion of the annual league draft.
VI. GRIDIRON ELITE CURRENCY
6a. Currency Distribution
(1) At the beginning of each season, each owner will be awarded 5,000 fantasy bucks. "Fantasy bucks" are the official
currency of our league.
(2) Fantasy bucks may not be carried over from season to season. Use 'em or lose 'em.
6b. Currency Management
(1) The primary use for Gridiron Elite fantasy bucks is for acquisition of unclaimed free agents during the Gridiron
Elite regular season.
(2) Trades involving fantasy bucks for players or draft position in the current season will be allowed; however,
trades for cash are forbidden.
VII. REGULAR SEASON ROSTER MANAGEMENT
7a. Unclaimed Free Agents
(1) Any NFL player who currently is or has previously been on a NFL team roster and who is not on a fantasy team is
considered to be an unclaimed free-agent available on the waiver wire.
(2) Team owners may acquire free agents via the league site waiver wire process only.
(3) Owners may acquire up to 10 players per waiver wire.
(4) Waiver wire during the fantasy season only, starting in Fantasy Week 2.
(5) Waiver wire uses blind bidding against a season cap of $5,000.
(6) Minimum bid for a free agent is $100
(7) If bids are tied, the team with the fewest total points will be awarded the player.
(8) Deadlines for waiver wire picks, beginning in Fantasy Week 2. Waiver period opens on Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. ET:
Wednesdays at 11:59 pm ET
(9) A player to be released must be designated as necessary to remain within roster limits.
(10) Players who have never been on an NFL roster are not eligible to be signed.
7b. Trades
(1) If two or more franchise owners wish to trade players, they may do so.
(2) A trade becomes official when all parties involved have verified the terms of the deal with the commissioner or submitted via the league website. Once a trade becomes official, it cannot be rescinded.
(3) Trades may be made for future draft picks only within the parameters of the league website tracking (two seasons).
(4) No trades may be made for cash, or a player or pick to be named later.
(5) No dumping players or collusion.
(6) No "temporary" trades or loaning players.
(7) All trades are subject to review.
VIII. OFF SEASON ROSTER MANAGEMENT
8a. Franchise Players
Each team may protect any five players from their roster during the off season by designating them as their franchise
players (they will be ranked 1-5). Franchise players are completely protected from unsolicited acquisition. Select
these players carefully as they are intended to be the core of your franchise.
8b. Restricted Free Agents
(1) In addition to the five franchise players, each team will be permitted to designate up to an additional five
players from their remaining roster as restricted free agents.
(2) Owners will be required to rank these players from six to ten.
(3) Restricted free agents are available to other teams on the bid system (e.g., a #6 can be obtained from one's
roster with a bid of a #5 or better).
(4) The franchise receiving the bid can choose as a compensatory selection any restricted free agent ranked lower as
an alternate choice from the "bidders" roster (e.g., if a bid of #5 is offered, you many choose any player ranked
#5-#10).
(5) A receiving franchise may choose as an alternative to the offered bid any of the soliciting franchise's
unrestricted free agents or forgo a compensatory selection and apply the exclusive rights protection [see rule 8b (6)]
to any player from their existing roster restricted free agents ranked at or below the bid number tendered or to an
exiting unrestricted free agent (e.g., if a #6 bid is tendered for a #7 restricted free agent, the receiving franchise
can forgo the compensatory selection from the soliciting franchise's roster and instead apply the protective status to
one of the receiving franchise's own restricted free agents ranked #6 or below or to an unrestricted free agent).
(6) Exclusive rights protection may be applied to any compensatory selected player or to a receiving franchise's
existing player ranked below the player lost; however, exclusive rights protected players may not be designated as
unrestricted free agents.
(7) Compensatory protected players are unavailable for unsolicited acquisition by other franchises thereby allowing
that franchise to increase their protection of other players on their roster.
(8) Once a franchise has incurred the unsolicited loss of two restricted free agents during any one season, they will
obtain the right of refusal for all subsequent bids.
(9) Each team shall be restricted to two restricted free agent acquisitions during any particular bidding session.
(10) Rights for unequal bids for the same player will be awarded to the team tendering the better offer.
8c. Transition Players
(1) In addition to the ten players retained as franchise players and restricted free agents, each franchise is
allowed to retain up to five additional roster selections with three years or less NFL experience. These players
shall be designated as transition players. Teams retain exclusive rights to all transition players, therefore no
ranking designation is necessary.
(2) The final say on transition player eligibility will be as listed by www.nfl.com.
8d. Unrestricted Free Agents
(1) In addition to the protected status of those players designated as franchise, restricted free agents, and
transition players, each franchise may designated up to another five roster selections as unrestricted free agents
during non-expansion seasons. While these selections will not be afforded any protective status, such a designation
will allow a franchise owner to better retain his team roster from the previous year and help reduce the time and
effort necessary on draft day.
(2) Any franchise may sign an unlimited number of unrestricted free agents to their roster of restricted free
agents, transition players, or franchise players.
(3) An acquired unrestricted free agent must be incorporated into the team roster.
(4) Once an unrestricted free agent has been selected from another owner's roster and afforded restrictive
protection, such a player cannot be re-designated as an unrestricted free agent for the remainder of the off season.
(5) A team that incurs the unsolicited loss of an unrestricted free agent may select a compensatory selection from
the adjusted unrestricted free agent roster of the soliciting team. No restrictions exist as to the roster
designation of such a selection.
8e. Roster Alterations
(1) Roster designations (i.e., Franchise/Transition/Restricted Free Agent/Unrestricted Agents) are due by June
5th.
(2) If any franchise owner fails to submit roster designations by the June 5 deadline, the commissioner shall
arbitrarily determine franchise players, transition players, and restricted free agents. No unrestricted free agents
will be selected or allowed for the remainder of the off season.
(3) A franchise owner who fails to submit a roster report by June 5 may appeal the rankings made by the
Commissioner so long as this appeal is made before June 15th. If such an appeal to the Commissioner is made, the
owner will be allowed to submit a late report with designations of franchise players, transition players, and
restricted free agents. No unrestricted free agent selections will be allowed for the remainder of the off-season.
Late reports will go into effect following the June 15th bid date. The appealing franchise has first rights to the
players previously released from that team's roster.
(4) The off-season roster designations will be mailed out all franchise owners by June 15th.
(5) Bids and roster alterations may be made during the off-season only on the bid dates of the thirtieth of the
months June and July.
(6) All bids must be received or postmarked no later than the bid deadline. Bids must be clearly marked as to the nature of the correspondence.
(7) Off-season transactions are immune to the fantasy bucks fee.
(8) Off-season transaction priority order will be established at season's end in reverse order of the season's
cumulative point totals.
(9) Each franchise is required to rank each week's transactions by the order they want them fulfilled.
Transactions will be fulfilled one per team according to the criteria set forth in rule 8e
(8). Multiple transactions by clubs will continue to be fulfilled one per team according to the established order.
IX. LEAGUE EXPANSION
9a. Expansion Clubs
Expansion teams may be brought into the league two at a time any time between the conclusion of the season (week 17)
and March 1st of the following year, provided such a move receives a 2/3 approval vote of all franchise owners.
9b. Expansion Drafts
(1) Each pre-existing franchise must release a QB, RB or WR which started at least eight Gridiron Elite games the
previous season.
(2) If any team has less than five qualifying players, they may choose from the five who received the most starts;
however, they may not select from more than five players. Tie breakers will be determined by a random selection.
(3) Teams will retain the right of first refusal to any unclaimed expansion release player.
(4) Expansion teams may bring their rosters to fifteen (five franchise players, five restricted free agents, and
five transition players) from the pool of veteran free agents (no rookies) prior to the league draft.
(5) Draft order will be determined by a coin toss and reversed for the top two positions in the league draft.
(6) Expansion clubs will reverse draft order for the top two positions for even numbered rounds in both the
expansion draft and the annual league draft.
X. LEAGUE GOVERNANCE
10a. Commissioner. Powers and Responsibilities.
Our goal is to have a very strong yet fair commissioner. The commissioner is sworn to act at all times in the best
interests of the league and is vested with the following powers:
(1) Interpret the Gridiron Manifesto.
(2) Settle all position eligibility questions.
(3) Approve team names.
(4) Preside over the league draft and settle all draft disputes.
(5) Oversee free agent activity.
(6) Maintain the integrity of the league and its owners by enforcing the Gridiron Manifesto.
(7) Approve all trades and transactions.
(8) Receive weekly lineups and bids.
(9) Score all Gridiron Elite League games.
(10) Issue weekly reports.
(11) Chair the executive committee.
10b. Executive Committee. Powers and Responsibilities.
There will be an executive committee comprised of the league commissioner and an additional representative from each
division. The commissioner will serve as chairman. The executive committee will have the following powers:
(1) Serve as an appeal board for any and all disputes.
(2) Serve as steering committee for the league.
(3) Serve as acting commissioner in the commissioner's absence.
(4) Oversee and manage league funds.
(5) Serve as team captain of their respective divisions for annual league All Pro Game.
(6) Receive weekly lineups and bids.
10c. Committee of the Whole. Powers and Responsibilities.
The league owners will function as the committee of the whole which is made up of all league members, each with an
equal vote. The committee of the whole reserves the right to veto any decision made by the executive committee with a
majority vote of all league owners. In the event of an even vote, the decision of the executive committee stands.
Each member of the committee of the whole will be charged with the responsibility of acting in the best interests of
the league.
10d. Elections and Terms of Officers.
(1) Commissioner will be elected for a term of two years at the league draft coinciding with the conclusion of the
term.
(2) Executive Committee members will be elected annually by the respective division members at the annual league
draft. These appointments are subject to the approval of a majority of all the league owners.
10e. Dispute Resolution.
(1) Following a league report, a fifteen day period will be allowed to dispute any report contents.
(2) All disputes will be heard and acted upon by the executive committee within fifteen days of issuance of the
dispute.
(3) In the event that an executive committee member is involved in a dispute, an interim committee member will be
appointed by an uninvolved committee member to sit in the place of the removed member.
(4) Any party may present argument concerning any view of the transaction(s) being debated.
(5) Voting will be performed by ballot. Decisions will be determined by a majority vote, and published for all
league members to read. Final decisions will become a permanent part of the Manifesto. Appeals will be sent to the
committee of the whole.
10f. Expected Owner Conduct.
(1) League owners may petition with a minimum of three franchise owners' signatures at any time to expel a
franchise owner for misconduct or lack of participation.
(2) A hearing will be conducted within thirty days following such a petition to determine the franchise's future.
(3) During the season, a unanimous vote (excluding said party) is necessary to expel a franchise owner. During
the off season a 2/3 vote (again, excluding said party) will be sufficient to expel the franchise owner.
(4) An expelled team owner may submit application for readmittance, and with a simple majority be approved.
However, a re-admitted franchise owner will be placed on probation for a period of one year following which a meeting
will be held to vote the franchise owner in or out. A simple majority vote will expel the franchise owner.
(5) Interim team owners may be designated with the league commissioner's nomination with a 2/3 vote of all
franchise owners.
(6) The Executive Committee will serve as coach of the orphan team until such time as an interim or permanent
owner can be obtained.
(7) Orphan franchises will be ineligible for post-season play.
10g. Gridiron Elite League Report.
(1) A weekly report will be prepared and distributed by the commissioner by no later than Thursdays during the
Gridiron Elite season.
(2) During the Gridiron Elite season, weekly reports will contain a minimum of weekly final scores and any and all
transactions which occurred during the report week.
(3) All Gridiron Elite franchise owners are invited and encouraged to submit weekly articles to be distributed
with the league report.
(4) Off-season reports will be distributed following each transaction date in a timely manner.
XI. RULE REVISIONS
Rules may be revised or added during the off season with a majority vote of the Franchise owners. Rules may be
changed or added during the season only by a unanimous vote of all team owners.
RULES:
THE GRIDIRON MANIFESTO
A specter is haunting America--the specter of Fantasy Football. All the powers of the traditional great American
pastimes have entered into a holy alliance with out significant others to exorcise this specter; however, their
attempts are futile. Year after year, season after season, we indulge our fantasy football pleasures by devoting
countless hours and an inordinate amount of money to honing our skills as General Managers, Head Coaches, and Chief
Scouting Directors of our Gridiron Elite fantasy franchises. In order to create a more perfect Fantasy Football
League, we hereby establish the inviolable rights of all members of the Gridiron Elite in accordance with the
principles of justice and equality and promulgate this Manifesto as the league's official rules and regulations.
I. GENERAL LEAGUE OPERATION
1a. Initial League Setup
(1) The Gridiron Elite Fantasy Football League will be established as a retention league. Franchises will retain
the rights to the core of their rosters from season to season. Although complex, the Gridiron Elite rules will create
parity and intrigue. Savvy franchise owners will build their franchises through free-agency as well as through the
draft.
(2) The initial rosters will be established using an open draft.
(3) Each roster shall be limited to a maximum of twenty-five members.
(4) Draft order will be randomly determined by a lottery system and reversed for even numbered rounds. Rosters
will be comprised of a combination of quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, place-kickers, and
team defenses/special teams.
(5) Each selection will be allowed a maximum of five minutes for the initial ten rounds and a maximum of three
minutes for each subsequent round.
(6) Any selection not made within the allotted time will result in a penalty selection. Penalty selections will
be made at the beginning of the following round.
(7) Trades involving draft picks will be allowed. Any team receiving a draft pick trade will be awarded the full
selection time to announce their pick.
(8) Once a draft selection has been sent to the commissioner, it can not be rescinded.
1b. League Format
(1) The League will consist of ten teams within two five-team divisions. Division assignments will be randomly
determined and assessed annually.
(2) A pre-determined schedule will place teams in weekly head-to-head match-ups for the initial thirteen weeks of
the regular NFL season.
(3) Weeks fourteen through sixteen will be reserved for the playoffs.
1c. Weekly Lineups
(1) Each franchise owner must submit a weekly starting lineup to the league commissioner or a member of the
executive committee prior to the kickoff of the week's game.
(2) If no lineup is submitted, it shall be assumed to be the same as the previous week's lineup.
(3) Weekly rosters include:
-one quarterback
-two running backs
-three receivers (at least one of which must be a tight end)
-one place-kicker
-one team defense/special teams
(4) Position eligibility. The final say on all position eligibility will be listed by www.nfl.com/. A player
listed in multiple positions will be eligible to be inserted into the starting lineup at any of the positions listed.
No player may be inserted into a weekly lineup more than once in any particular week.
II. SCORING.
2a. Offense
Touchdown (thrown, received, or rushed)...........…….6 points
Yards Passing (a full 20 yards)......…….............…….1 point
Yards Rushing (a full 1 yard).............…….....…….0.1 point
Yards Receiving (a full 1 yard).................………...0.1 point
Receptions (each)................................……………....1 point
Two Point Conversions (thrown, received, rushed).....2 points
2b. Kicking
PAT (point after touchdown).……….........................1 point
Field Goal ..................................…………....…..3 points plus 0.1 bonus point(s) each 1 additional yards in length, starting with 31 yard scores.
2c. Defense/Special Teams
Fumble Recovery.........................……………...........2 points
Interception......................………………..................2 points
Sacks................................…………………..............1 point
Safety......................................………………….......5 points
Touchdown Scored (0-39 yards)......……..................6 points
Touchdown Scored (40+ yards).......……..................12 points
Shutout...................................………………...........10 points
Opponent held to 2-9 points..............………............5 points
Opponent held to 10-13 points.............……….........3 points
2d. Scoring Qualifications
Points scored by a defense/special teams will not be counted towards an individual player's point total.
2e. Official Scoring Source
RTSports.com will serve as the official source for all game statistics.
III. PLAYOFFS/AWARDS
3a. Total Cumulative Points (Season)
(1) Regardless of division, a cumulative total of the points scored each week will be kept through the sixteenth
week.
(2) Fifty percent of the accumulated prize pot will be divided and awarded to the top three seasonal points
leaders as follows:
First-25%
Second-15%
Third-10%
3b. Head-to-Head Competition
(1) The two teams from each division with the best win-loss record at the conclusion of the Gridiron Elite regular
season (through week thirteen) will advance to the playoffs.
(2) Divisional playoff opponents will play a division title game during the fifteenth week.
(3) Division title winners will advance to the Gridiron Elite Fantasy Bowl to occur annually during the sixteenth
week.
(4) The Gridiron Elite Fantasy Bowl winner will be awarded the championship title and 50% of the accumulated prize
pot.
(5) The team from each division with the worst win-loss record at the conclusion of the Gridiron Elite regular
season will face one another during week sixteen in the Toilet Bowl. The Toilet Bowl loser will be awarded the Toilet
Bowl title.
(6) Even teams not playing for either the championship game or the Toilet Bowl title during the playoff weeks will
continue to accumulate points; however, no head-to-head match-ups will be scheduled.
3c. Fantasy All-Pro Game
A Fantasy All-Pro game will be held during the seventeenth week of the NFL season. Team owners from each division will
establish a line-up from division rosters to compete against the opposing division. Each team must be represented.
There are no stakes for this game other than bragging rights. A location will be established annually to hold a team
owners' meeting to coincide with Sunday's games of week seventeen. League prizes will be awarded during this meeting.
IV. TIE-BREAKERS
4a. Regular Season Games
For all regular season games, tie breakers will be determined in favor of the home team.
4b. Regular Season Final Standings
In the event that two or more teams within a single division end the season with identical win/loss records, the
following criteria will be used in the following order to determine divisional standings:
(1) Win/loss records in head-to-head match-ups.
(2) Division record.
(3) Highest cumulative point total.
(4) Most points in head-to-head match-ups.
(5) Highest single game score to date.
(6) Coin toss.
4c. Playoff Games
(1) For all playoff games, starting lineup designations will be ranked one through eight.
(2) Tie breakers will be determined in favor of the highest score of individual players taken in numeric order as
ranked.
(3) Ties not broken by the ranking method will be determined in favor of the team with the highest cumulative point
total and highest single game score respectively.
4d. Cumulative Point Standings
Should there be a tie among cumulative point totals at the end of week sixteen, the following criteria will be used in
the listed order so as to determine final cumulative point standings:
(1) Highest single game score.
(2) Win-loss record.
(3) Head-to-head match-ups.
(4) Division record.
(5) Coin toss.
5. ANNUAL LEAGUE DRAFT
5a. Pre-Draft Provisions
(1) Draft order will be determined annually after the NFL's seventeenth week for the following season.
(2) Draft order for the initial rounds will be determined using a lottery system in which each team not qualifying for the playoffs shall have a number of ballots equal to the cumulative point total's finishing position.
(3) Draft order for the latter rounds will then be determined for playoff teams in the same manner.
(4) Each team will receive exactly one draft position from the lottery pick, and that order will be reversed for even
numbered rounds (excluding expansion picks). A team may continue to draft in the pre-determined order until all
roster vacancies are filled.
(5) After the fifth round, the draft order will no longer reverse for even-numbered rounds.
(6) The annual league draft will be held during or around the final week of the NFL pre-season at a previously
specified date and time.
(7) A reasonable effort must be made to make the draft available to all team owners; however, absentee draft
arrangements can be made with the league commissioner and will be dealt with on an individual basis.
(8) Annual league fees of $50.00 per team are due and payable by the annual draft. After league website expenses and any other necessary costs, all fees will be placed in the prize pot.
5b. Player Draft
(1) Each draft selection will be allowed a maximum of five minutes. Reasonable efforts will be made to allow all draft picks to be timely made.
(2) Any selection not made within the allotted time will result in a penalty selection. Penalty selections will be
made at the beginning of the following round.
(3) Trades involving draft picks will be allowed. Any team receiving a draft pick trade will be awarded the full
selection time to announce their pick.
(4) Draft picks cannot be traded for money.
(5) Once a draft selection has been sent to the commissioner, it cannot be rescinded.
(6) Players who have never been on an NFL roster (excluding unsigned rookies) are ineligible to be drafted.
(7) The Gridiron Elite regular season begins with the conclusion of the annual league draft.
VI. GRIDIRON ELITE CURRENCY
6a. Currency Distribution
(1) At the beginning of each season, each owner will be awarded 5,000 fantasy bucks. "Fantasy bucks" are the official
currency of our league.
(2) Fantasy bucks may not be carried over from season to season. Use 'em or lose 'em.
6b. Currency Management
(1) The primary use for Gridiron Elite fantasy bucks is for acquisition of unclaimed free agents during the Gridiron
Elite regular season.
(2) Trades involving fantasy bucks for players or draft position in the current season will be allowed; however,
trades for cash are forbidden.
VII. REGULAR SEASON ROSTER MANAGEMENT
7a. Unclaimed Free Agents
(1) Any NFL player who currently is or has previously been on a NFL team roster and who is not on a fantasy team is
considered to be an unclaimed free-agent available on the waiver wire.
(2) Team owners may acquire free agents via the league site waiver wire process only.
(3) Owners may acquire up to 10 players per waiver wire.
(4) Waiver wire during the fantasy season only, starting in Fantasy Week 2.
(5) Waiver wire uses blind bidding against a season cap of $5,000.
(6) Minimum bid for a free agent is $100
(7) If bids are tied, the team with the fewest total points will be awarded the player.
(8) Deadlines for waiver wire picks, beginning in Fantasy Week 2. Waiver period opens on Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. ET:
Wednesdays at 11:59 pm ET
(9) A player to be released must be designated as necessary to remain within roster limits.
(10) Players who have never been on an NFL roster are not eligible to be signed.
7b. Trades
(1) If two or more franchise owners wish to trade players, they may do so.
(2) A trade becomes official when all parties involved have verified the terms of the deal with the commissioner or submitted via the league website. Once a trade becomes official, it cannot be rescinded.
(3) Trades may be made for future draft picks only within the parameters of the league website tracking (two seasons).
(4) No trades may be made for cash, or a player or pick to be named later.
(5) No dumping players or collusion.
(6) No "temporary" trades or loaning players.
(7) All trades are subject to review.
VIII. OFF SEASON ROSTER MANAGEMENT
8a. Franchise Players
Each team may protect any five players from their roster during the off season by designating them as their franchise
players (they will be ranked 1-5). Franchise players are completely protected from unsolicited acquisition. Select
these players carefully as they are intended to be the core of your franchise.
8b. Restricted Free Agents
(1) In addition to the five franchise players, each team will be permitted to designate up to an additional five
players from their remaining roster as restricted free agents.
(2) Owners will be required to rank these players from six to ten.
(3) Restricted free agents are available to other teams on the bid system (e.g., a #6 can be obtained from one's
roster with a bid of a #5 or better).
(4) The franchise receiving the bid can choose as a compensatory selection any restricted free agent ranked lower as
an alternate choice from the "bidders" roster (e.g., if a bid of #5 is offered, you many choose any player ranked
#5-#10).
(5) A receiving franchise may choose as an alternative to the offered bid any of the soliciting franchise's
unrestricted free agents or forgo a compensatory selection and apply the exclusive rights protection [see rule 8b (6)]
to any player from their existing roster restricted free agents ranked at or below the bid number tendered or to an
exiting unrestricted free agent (e.g., if a #6 bid is tendered for a #7 restricted free agent, the receiving franchise
can forgo the compensatory selection from the soliciting franchise's roster and instead apply the protective status to
one of the receiving franchise's own restricted free agents ranked #6 or below or to an unrestricted free agent).
(6) Exclusive rights protection may be applied to any compensatory selected player or to a receiving franchise's
existing player ranked below the player lost; however, exclusive rights protected players may not be designated as
unrestricted free agents.
(7) Compensatory protected players are unavailable for unsolicited acquisition by other franchises thereby allowing
that franchise to increase their protection of other players on their roster.
(8) Once a franchise has incurred the unsolicited loss of two restricted free agents during any one season, they will
obtain the right of refusal for all subsequent bids.
(9) Each team shall be restricted to two restricted free agent acquisitions during any particular bidding session.
(10) Rights for unequal bids for the same player will be awarded to the team tendering the better offer.
8c. Transition Players
(1) In addition to the ten players retained as franchise players and restricted free agents, each franchise is
allowed to retain up to five additional roster selections with three years or less NFL experience. These players
shall be designated as transition players. Teams retain exclusive rights to all transition players, therefore no
ranking designation is necessary.
(2) The final say on transition player eligibility will be as listed by www.nfl.com.
8d. Unrestricted Free Agents
(1) In addition to the protected status of those players designated as franchise, restricted free agents, and
transition players, each franchise may designated up to another five roster selections as unrestricted free agents
during non-expansion seasons. While these selections will not be afforded any protective status, such a designation
will allow a franchise owner to better retain his team roster from the previous year and help reduce the time and
effort necessary on draft day.
(2) Any franchise may sign an unlimited number of unrestricted free agents to their roster of restricted free
agents, transition players, or franchise players.
(3) An acquired unrestricted free agent must be incorporated into the team roster.
(4) Once an unrestricted free agent has been selected from another owner's roster and afforded restrictive
protection, such a player cannot be re-designated as an unrestricted free agent for the remainder of the off season.
(5) A team that incurs the unsolicited loss of an unrestricted free agent may select a compensatory selection from
the adjusted unrestricted free agent roster of the soliciting team. No restrictions exist as to the roster
designation of such a selection.
8e. Roster Alterations
(1) Roster designations (i.e., Franchise/Transition/Restricted Free Agent/Unrestricted Agents) are due by June
5th.
(2) If any franchise owner fails to submit roster designations by the June 5 deadline, the commissioner shall
arbitrarily determine franchise players, transition players, and restricted free agents. No unrestricted free agents
will be selected or allowed for the remainder of the off season.
(3) A franchise owner who fails to submit a roster report by June 5 may appeal the rankings made by the
Commissioner so long as this appeal is made before June 15th. If such an appeal to the Commissioner is made, the
owner will be allowed to submit a late report with designations of franchise players, transition players, and
restricted free agents. No unrestricted free agent selections will be allowed for the remainder of the off-season.
Late reports will go into effect following the June 15th bid date. The appealing franchise has first rights to the
players previously released from that team's roster.
(4) The off-season roster designations will be mailed out all franchise owners by June 15th.
(5) Bids and roster alterations may be made during the off-season only on the bid dates of the thirtieth of the
months June and July.
(6) All bids must be received or postmarked no later than the bid deadline. Bids must be clearly marked as to the nature of the correspondence.
(7) Off-season transactions are immune to the fantasy bucks fee.
(8) Off-season transaction priority order will be established at season's end in reverse order of the season's
cumulative point totals.
(9) Each franchise is required to rank each week's transactions by the order they want them fulfilled.
Transactions will be fulfilled one per team according to the criteria set forth in rule 8e
(8). Multiple transactions by clubs will continue to be fulfilled one per team according to the established order.
IX. LEAGUE EXPANSION
9a. Expansion Clubs
Expansion teams may be brought into the league two at a time any time between the conclusion of the season (week 17)
and March 1st of the following year, provided such a move receives a 2/3 approval vote of all franchise owners.
9b. Expansion Drafts
(1) Each pre-existing franchise must release a QB, RB or WR which started at least eight Gridiron Elite games the
previous season.
(2) If any team has less than five qualifying players, they may choose from the five who received the most starts;
however, they may not select from more than five players. Tie breakers will be determined by a random selection.
(3) Teams will retain the right of first refusal to any unclaimed expansion release player.
(4) Expansion teams may bring their rosters to fifteen (five franchise players, five restricted free agents, and
five transition players) from the pool of veteran free agents (no rookies) prior to the league draft.
(5) Draft order will be determined by a coin toss and reversed for the top two positions in the league draft.
(6) Expansion clubs will reverse draft order for the top two positions for even numbered rounds in both the
expansion draft and the annual league draft.
X. LEAGUE GOVERNANCE
10a. Commissioner. Powers and Responsibilities.
Our goal is to have a very strong yet fair commissioner. The commissioner is sworn to act at all times in the best
interests of the league and is vested with the following powers:
(1) Interpret the Gridiron Manifesto.
(2) Settle all position eligibility questions.
(3) Approve team names.
(4) Preside over the league draft and settle all draft disputes.
(5) Oversee free agent activity.
(6) Maintain the integrity of the league and its owners by enforcing the Gridiron Manifesto.
(7) Approve all trades and transactions.
(8) Receive weekly lineups and bids.
(9) Score all Gridiron Elite League games.
(10) Issue weekly reports.
(11) Chair the executive committee.
10b. Executive Committee. Powers and Responsibilities.
There will be an executive committee comprised of the league commissioner and an additional representative from each
division. The commissioner will serve as chairman. The executive committee will have the following powers:
(1) Serve as an appeal board for any and all disputes.
(2) Serve as steering committee for the league.
(3) Serve as acting commissioner in the commissioner's absence.
(4) Oversee and manage league funds.
(5) Serve as team captain of their respective divisions for annual league All Pro Game.
(6) Receive weekly lineups and bids.
10c. Committee of the Whole. Powers and Responsibilities.
The league owners will function as the committee of the whole which is made up of all league members, each with an
equal vote. The committee of the whole reserves the right to veto any decision made by the executive committee with a
majority vote of all league owners. In the event of an even vote, the decision of the executive committee stands.
Each member of the committee of the whole will be charged with the responsibility of acting in the best interests of
the league.
10d. Elections and Terms of Officers.
(1) Commissioner will be elected for a term of two years at the league draft coinciding with the conclusion of the
term.
(2) Executive Committee members will be elected annually by the respective division members at the annual league
draft. These appointments are subject to the approval of a majority of all the league owners.
10e. Dispute Resolution.
(1) Following a league report, a fifteen day period will be allowed to dispute any report contents.
(2) All disputes will be heard and acted upon by the executive committee within fifteen days of issuance of the
dispute.
(3) In the event that an executive committee member is involved in a dispute, an interim committee member will be
appointed by an uninvolved committee member to sit in the place of the removed member.
(4) Any party may present argument concerning any view of the transaction(s) being debated.
(5) Voting will be performed by ballot. Decisions will be determined by a majority vote, and published for all
league members to read. Final decisions will become a permanent part of the Manifesto. Appeals will be sent to the
committee of the whole.
10f. Expected Owner Conduct.
(1) League owners may petition with a minimum of three franchise owners' signatures at any time to expel a
franchise owner for misconduct or lack of participation.
(2) A hearing will be conducted within thirty days following such a petition to determine the franchise's future.
(3) During the season, a unanimous vote (excluding said party) is necessary to expel a franchise owner. During
the off season a 2/3 vote (again, excluding said party) will be sufficient to expel the franchise owner.
(4) An expelled team owner may submit application for readmittance, and with a simple majority be approved.
However, a re-admitted franchise owner will be placed on probation for a period of one year following which a meeting
will be held to vote the franchise owner in or out. A simple majority vote will expel the franchise owner.
(5) Interim team owners may be designated with the league commissioner's nomination with a 2/3 vote of all
franchise owners.
(6) The Executive Committee will serve as coach of the orphan team until such time as an interim or permanent
owner can be obtained.
(7) Orphan franchises will be ineligible for post-season play.
10g. Gridiron Elite League Report.
(1) A weekly report will be prepared and distributed by the commissioner by no later than Thursdays during the
Gridiron Elite season.
(2) During the Gridiron Elite season, weekly reports will contain a minimum of weekly final scores and any and all
transactions which occurred during the report week.
(3) All Gridiron Elite franchise owners are invited and encouraged to submit weekly articles to be distributed
with the league report.
(4) Off-season reports will be distributed following each transaction date in a timely manner.
XI. RULE REVISIONS
Rules may be revised or added during the off season with a majority vote of the Franchise owners. Rules may be
changed or added during the season only by a unanimous vote of all team owners.
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