ElliotDiamond
Footballguy
looking to organize one. need help. surely some of you are in one of these. thanks.
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32-team league: anybody have a good format? (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter ElliotDiamond
- Start date
ElliotDiamond
Footballguy
likely not (if it even comes to fruition), but will keep you in mind if there are openings.
duece2626
Footballguy
I play in a couple 32 team leagues, however, there are 2 copies of each player. So basically it's a 16 team, single player league. We roster 55 players in the offseason, and 45 during the year, IDP included.
ElliotDiamond
Footballguy
i guess i should have specified....looking to keep it simple as possible, and have no copies (team qb), small rosters, and no idp, if all that is even possible.yours sounds like some serious stuff.
ivnabru
Footballguy
I'm in my 3rd season in a 32-team teamer that has been around for 6 or 7 years.Here are the basics of how this particular league goes:
Starters:
QB, RB, WR, WR, TE, WR/TE flex, Team Kicker, DL, DL, LB, LB, LB, DB, DB, DB/DE flex
Scoring:
Standard except PPR for WR/TE no PPR for RBs (was an attempt years ago to stop the teams who got LT or Faulk or Tiki or whoever from winning pretty much no matter what).
Roster Requirements:
Only allowed 1 K, Only allowed 1 QB at draft though after the draft is over you're allowed more but only 1 starter. Most people go ahead and backup their guy though guys like Leinart are often taken as a teams 1 QB late and they'll get the crap starter at waivers since everyone is assured a starter.
That's all I can think of off the top of my head, it's my favorite league I'm involved in and from my 3 years so far I haven't noticed any real problems with the format.
MFL link so you can look at more detailed rules if you want.
http://football14.myfantasyleague.com/2009/home/24125
In a 32-teamer you'll be starting some major junk somewhere no matter how good you are. e.g. my WR2 is Michael Clayton and WR3 is Matt Jones (if he even plays) but I think the format is fun because it forces you to go so deep in your cheat sheets.
El Torero
Footballguy
I second the concept that these leagues are great!!!
You need Team QB and Team PK and rules to keep owners from holding two (one for ransom).
See here: http://www13.myfantasyleague.com/2009/home/24279
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE DYNASTY LEAGUE
RULES - 2008
Table of Contents
Article 1. League Structure.
Section 1. The League.
Section 2. Franchise Ownership.
Article 2. League Play.
Section 1. Schedule.
Section 2. Weekly Starting Line-ups.
Section 3. Scoring.
Section 4. Playoffs.
Section 5. Payout.
Article 3. Franchise Management.
Section 1. The Draft.
Section 2. Home Field Advantage Dollars.
Section 3. Contracts.
Section 4. Rosters.
Section 5. Injured Reserve.
Section 6. Developmental Taxi Squad
Section 7. Free Agency.
Section 8. Waivers.
Section 9. Trading.
Section 10. Restricted Free Agency.
Article 1. League Structure.
Section 1. The League.
1.1.1 League size and concept.
The HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE DYNASTY LEAGUE (HFADL) will consist of 32 franchises with each owner managing the same franchise each year. No owner will be allowed to own more than one franchise in the league. The concept of the league is to mirror the NFL make-up, schedule and rules, when possible. The Commissioner will keep that in mind when interpreting the rules and making rulings.
1.1.2 League sites and contacts.
The league will be maintained through www.myfantasyleague.com. (MFL)
The 2008 HFADL MFL website is located at: http://www25.myfantasyleague.com/2008/home/18515
The HFADL league message board is located at: http://forums.thehuddle.com/index.php?act=...mp;s=&f=136
The HFADL league Free Agent bid email address is: HFA_FA@Yahoo.com
Franchise owner email addresses are located on the MFL site (only visible when logged in as an owner.)
1.1.3 League calendar.
January
Confirm returning owners.
Find replacement owners.
Establish rules committee & league officials.
All player contract years expire (active, IR, DTS, and dead contracts) (January 15)
February
Rules review period.
League fees due (last Friday in February).
Set-up 2008 MFL site. (when MFL makes new leagues available.)
March
Designate players to be released without penalty (March 1).
*2008 Rules Committee voted to move this deadline to March 1 from “the Monday following the NFL Super Bowl.”
Trading re-opens (March 1).
1st off-season FA Run (First Wednesday in March).
April
RFA period (opens April 1).
HFA$ replenishment (at end of RFA period, $50HFA for each franchise + $2HFA for franchises in HFADL Super Bowl winning conference.)
NFL draft
May
2nd off-season FA run (second Wednesday in May, No rookies.)
2008 rookie draft (third Monday in May)
Regular FA runs begin (first Wednesday after the conclusion of the draft.)
June
FA runs continue (every other Wednesday.)
July
Roster cut-down to 54 players (July 31).
FA runs continue (every other Wednesday.)
August
FA runs continue (every other Wednesday.)
September
Final roster declaration (Monday prior to first NFL game).
NFL / HFADL Regular seasons opens.
FA runs move to weekly schedule (every Wednesday).
September – December
League play.
HFADL trade deadline (48 hours prior to first game of NFL week 10.)
December
Weekly FA runs conclude (Wednesday prior to NFL week 13.)
1.1.4 League alignment.
The HFADL will mirror the setup of the National Football League with the same conferences, divisions and franchise names.
1.1.5 League officers.
League Commissioner
The League Commissioner is responsible for conducting league business, arbitrating league disputes, the running of all drafts, and ensuring correct weekly line-ups have been posted. The League Commissioner will be required to be completely MFL conversant prior to each season starting, must pay for (will be reimbursed from league fees), and download the MFL software, and setup the league for uploading to the MFL site. MFL software should be paid for as soon as possible, in order to get the lowest price. The League Commissioner will ensure that the Assistant Commissioner has the current MFL site password.
Assistant League Commissioner
The Assistant League Commissioner is responsible for communicating league concerns and business to the Commissioner and intervening in transactions that involve the league Commissioner. If the Commissioner is out of contact for any length of time, the Assistant Commissioner will attend to any matters requiring timely action. The Assistant Commissioner is also required to be conversant with MFL. The Assistant Commissioner is directly responsible to the League Commissioner.
Treasurer
The Treasurer will set up and maintain the league pay pal account, receive and record all league fees, and be responsible for league pay outs. The Treasurer is directly responsible to the League Commissioner.
Free Agency Player Commissioner
The FA Player Commissioner will handle all waiver transactions with the assistance of information provided by the Roster Player Commissioner. The FA Player Commissioner will be responsible for ensuring that bids do not violate roster or HFA$ limits. In addition, the FA Player Commissioner will be readily available to perform all duties of the Roster Player Commissioner in his absence. The FA Player Commissioner is required to be conversant with the MFL Software and be prepared to maintain all the assigned areas of the MFL League Site. The FA Player Commissioner is directly responsible to the Assistant League Commissioner and ultimately to the League Commissioner.
Roster Player Commissioner
The Roster Player Commissioner will maintain a list of all franchises and their available HFA$, maintain a list of each franchise’s players and how many contract years they are signed for, and handle all trade transactions. The Roster Player Commissioner will be conversant in the use of MFL software and be prepared to maintain all the assigned areas of the MFL League Site. In addition, the RP Player Commissioner will be readily available to perform all duties of the FA Player Commissioner in his absence. The Roster Player Commissioner is directly responsible to the Assistant League Commissioner and ultimately to the League Commissioner.
Assistant Roster Player Commissioner
*2008 Rules Committee voted to create this position.
The Assistant Roster Player Commissioner will have thorough knowledge of the Roster Player Commissioner’s duties and the process necessary to complete those duties, and will be able to complete those duties when extra help is needed. The Assistant Roster Player Commissioner is directly responsible to the Roster Player Commissioner and ultimately to the League Commissioner.
Rules Committee
The Rules Committee will consist of 8 franchise owners. A franchise owner will be allowed to hold one of the Commissioner positions or serve as Treasurer, and still be a member of the rules committee. During the off-season, the Rules Committee is authorized to make clarification statements regarding the existing rules. The Rules Committee is responsible for reviewing the rules during the off-season, and proposing major rule changes to be brought to a league-wide vote, as outlined in rule 1.1.6 The Rules Committee will vote on approving all new owners in the league, with 6 yes votes required for approval.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to adopt the following method for selecting the Rules Committee members each season: At the conclusion of the HFADL playoffs each season, each HFADL division will select one of their four owners to serve as a member of the Rules Committee for the following season. If none of the owners in a particular division wish to serve, that spot will be opened up for any other interested owners (from any division) to apply. The deadline for divisions to name their representative (or declare no representative) will be January 15.
1.1.6 League rules review process
League Rules will be reviewed annually during the month of February.
Major rule changes can only be made through a league-wide vote requiring 75% of actual votes cast for passage, or with a minimum of 6/8 rule committee members in favor if less than sixteen (16) votes are cast. In-season votes, though discouraged, require twenty-eight (28) yes votes to pass or unanimity of the rules committee if less than twenty (20) votes are cast.
Votes will be conducted at the league forum at TheHuddle.com or in the form of polls on the MFL site. Off-season votes are due within seven days of posting at the forum. In-season votes are due within 48 hours of the time posted at the forum. The time frames will not be extended.
Any decision made by The League Commissioner will be posted on the message board immediately and may be brought to a vote if six (6) or more owners request a league wide vote. Twenty-three (23) votes will be required to overturn a Commissioner ruling.
During the off-season, the rules committee is authorized to make clarification statements regarding the existing rules.
1.1.7 League costs.
The cost to own an HFADL franchise is $50.00. The official league payment method will be one of three ways: PayPal, Money Order, or Check. Those using MO's or Checks must remit their payment to the League Treasurer 10 days prior the payment deadline to allow for clearance. The payment deadline each year will be midnight Eastern Time on the last Friday of February. Failure to meet the deadline will result in a fine of 2 HFA$ per day up to 5 days. Non-payment within 7 days will result in the owner being replaced and the HFA$ penalty will be lifted for the new owner. The payment deadline for the first year shall be May 1, 2006.
Absent extreme circumstances, such as a medical emergency, no refunds of league fees will be given out. Paying league fees implies a commitment to run a franchise for the full season.
Section 2. Franchise Ownership.
1.2.1 General.
An owner may not own more than one franchise. Owners must name their franchise after their NFL homer team, with their huddle name in parenthesis (ie: New York Giants (Los Gigantes)). Owners are encouraged to put an e-mail address and other contact information (IM, Cell Phone, etc.) on the MFL website, in order to facilitate communication between owners. This information is only visible to owners who log onto the MFL site, guests will not be able to access it. At a minimum, owners must have a username on TheHuddle.Com and provide the Commissioner with a valid phone #, e-mail address and City/State of residence.
1.2.2 Owner replacement.
If an owner chooses to leave the league, doesn’t submit a lineup for two consecutive weeks during the season, or isn’t heard from during the RFA signing period, a replacement owner will be sought. Replacements will be recruited from persons known from The Huddle. (All replacement owner functions will be handled by private, league-wide email and will not be discussed on the forum or at the MFL site.) Preference will be given to fans of the NFL team in question.
Once a confirmation has been received by the League Commissioner of a person’s interest, a vote of 75% yes votes of the rules committee will be required to approve any replacement owner. If 75% is not reached, the search for a replacement owner will continue. Under no circumstances will the HFADL require any prospective replacement owners to submit an "application" or "resume" for inclusion in the league.
Owners conducting themselves in a way perceived to be detrimental to the good of the league may be removed by a vote of 20 owners.
Article 2. League Play.
Section 1. Schedule.
2.1.1 Regular season.
The length of the regular season will be 12 weeks. Weekly Schedules will mirror that of the NFL team. The entire season lasts 16 weeks, with 12 weeks of regular season games, three weeks of playoffs, and one HFADL Super Bowl.
The Regular Season lasts through week 12 and there will be double headers on week 1 (*see below) which will include the week 13 match-up, week 2 (includes week 14) week 10 (includes week 15) week 11 (includes week 16) and week 12 (includes week 17).
This will be adjusted from year to year, as follows: only weeks that do not have any NFL team on bye, will be used for double headers or triple headers. Triple headers will only be used if there are not sufficient weeks available for double headers, to allow for the entire 17 week NFL season to be played in the 12 week HFA regular season.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to change the protocol for selecting double header weeks to:
If there are more weeks available for double headers than are needed, the following protocol will be used to determine which weeks have a double header. The last week to have a complete NFL schedule before bye weeks begin will be used first, then each preceding week, excluding the first week of the NFL season. If additional double headers are needed, then the first complete week following the end of bye weeks will be used, then each subsequent week will be used, up to and including the final week of the NFL season that the HFADL uses for regular season play. After that, NFL week 1 will be used, if necessary. This protocol will also be used to determine which week(s) will have a triple header, if necessary.
2.1.2 Playoffs.
The HFADL play-offs begin on week thirteen of the NFL season. The play-offs conclude on week sixteen of the NFL season with the HFADL Super Bowl. The format mirrors that of the NFL.
Section 2. Weekly Starting Line-ups.
2.2.1 Starting line-up parameters.
Each franchise will start seven (7) offensive and eleven (11) defensive players for a total of eighteen (18) starting players each week, in accordance with the line-up guidelines below:
Offense:
1 QB (TMQB)
1 RB
3 WR
1 TE
1 K (TMPK)
Total of 7.
* League voted 19-10 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep 3 starting WR’s instead of creating an offensive FLEX position. (02/22/08)
Defense:
3 DL
3 LB
2 CB
2 S
1 FLEX (DL/LB)
Total of 11.
* League voted 24-5 to add DB’s to the defensive FLEX position beginning in 2009. (02/22/08)
Total Lineup (Offense and Defense) = 18.
2.2.2 Starting line-up submission.
The deadline for naming starters is set by MFL rules, but generally a player is locked approximately 5 minutes before kick-off of his particular game. On Thursday night and Saturday games, only players playing in a game that day must be submitted. The rest of the lineup will not be due until approximately 5 minutes prior to the games on Sunday.
If no lineup is submitted, MFL will default the lineup for that week to the previous week’s lineup. If a partial line-up is submitted for an early game, and no additional line-up is submitted, MFL will NOT default to any previous line-up, and there will be no player started or points scored for any positions where a started was not submitted in the earlier line-up. Every effort should be made to submit a complete lineup each week throughout the season. Owners continuously submitting line-ups with bye or out players will be subject to replacement under rule 1.2.2.
2.2.3 Player positions
*2008 Rules Committee voted to adopt the following policy regarding official player positions:
Players can only be inserted into a starting line-up at the position they are listed at on myfantasyleague.com. If an owner wishes to challenge the listed position on myfantasyleague.com, the team roster on that player’s NFL team’s official website will be used. If the team roster on the NFL team’s official website does not specifically list the player at a different position, myfantasyleague.com’s designation will stand and the challenge will be denied.
(example: A player is listed on myfantasyleague.com as a “Safety” (“S”) and his HFADL owner thinks he is actually playing “Cornerback” (“CB”), the owner may use the team roster on that player’s NFL team’s official website for confirmation. If the player is listed as a “Cornerback” (“CB”) on the team roster of his NFL team’s official website, a commissioner can make the change in myfantasyleague.com. If the team roster on the player’s NFL team’s official website has the player listed as “Defensive back” (“DB”), this is not specific enough to warrant a change, so myfantasyleague.com’s designation will stand and no change can be made by a commissioner.)
According to a 2007 Commissioner Ruling, player position changes must be requested 48 hours prior to the start of the first game of that week.
Section 3. Scoring.
2.3.1 Scoring system.
Scoring will be decimal based. Touchdowns scored by any player in a starting line-up are counted. (Example: Tim Brown returns a punt for a TD, if he is in that week’s line-up as a WR, then he receives credit for the TD.) Offensive players who become "defensive" players after a fumble or interception DO NOT receive credit for a tackle. Nor do they receive credit for fumbles caused, nor fumbles recovered, after change of possession. In addition, defensive players that accumulate offensive stats will NOT be awarded points for those stats.
* League voted 21-8 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep scoring as is with no offensive scoring for defensive players and no defensive scoring for offensive players. (02/22/08)
* League voted 15-14 (in favor of keeping as is) to not add negative points for missed FG’s and XP’s.
PASSING
Passing TDs: 1 = 4.00 pts
Passing Yards: 1 = 0.05 pts
Passing Interception (thrown): 1 = -2.00 pts
RUSHING
Rushing TDs: 1 = 6.00 pts
Rushing Yards: 1 = 0.10 pts
RECEIVING
Receiving TDs: 1 = 6.00 pts
Receiving Yards: 1 = 0.10 pts
Receptions: 1 = 0.50 pts
KICKING
PAT: 1 = 1.00 pts
FG, 17-39 Yards: 1 = 3.00 pts
FG, 40-49 Yards: 1 = 4.00 pts
FG, 50+ Yards: 1 = 5.00 pts
DEFENSE
Tackle: 1 = 2.00 pts
Assist: 1 = 1.00 pts
Sack: 1 = 2.00 pts
Fumble Recovery: 1 = 2.00 pts
Forced Fumble: 1 = 2.00 pts
Interception: 1 = 2.00 pts
Pass Defended: 1 = 1.50 pts
Defensive TDs: 1 = 6.00 pts
Blocked FG: 1 = 3.00 pts
Blocked Punt: 1 = 2.00 pts
Blocked Extra Point: 1 = 1.00 pts
Safety: 1 = 2.00 pts
OTHER
Fumbles Lost: 1 = -2.00 pts
2 Pt Conversion (passing, rushing, receiving): 1 = 2.00 pts
RETURNING
* League voted 23-6 in favor adding kick return scoring (kickoff and punt return combined yardage) beginning in 2009.
Kick return yards: 1 yard = 0.04 points. (02/22/08)
2.3.2 Bye week scoring.
If your franchise’s TMQB or TMPK is on bye, and your franchise is not, the average score for the TMQB or TMPK from the previous two weeks will be used. The two-week average score for TMQB’s / TMPK’s is applied only during their bye week and players at any other position do not receive points during their bye week.
2.3.3 Scoring set-up in MFL.
When scoring options are set-up on MFL, care must be given how ranges are set-up, to ensure proper scoring. For example, for all “yards gained” categories (rushing, passing & receiving), the low-end of the range should be set at negative fifty (-50) yards. For the “number” categories (tackles, sacks, pass defended, etc.), the ranges should be set at 0-99.
2.3.4 Final scores.
All HFADL game scores will be considered “final” as of kick-off of the first NFL game of the following week. Prior to that time, any HFADL owner has the right to protest the score of any HFADL game, or request that any subsequent statistical or scoring change made by MFL be applied to a particular HFADL game. After kick-off of the first NFL game of the following week, there will be no consideration given to changing the score in any HFADL game, for any reason.
2.3.5 Regular season tie games.
Ties will be allowed during the regular season and will count in the standings as one-half of one win and one-half of one loss (a 0.500 winning percentage).
Section 4. Playoffs.
2.4.1 Playoff seeding.
The four (4) division champions and two (2) wildcard franchises from each conference will advance to the playoffs. During each week of the HFADL playoffs, in each conference, the lowest seeded playoff franchise will play the highest seeded playoff franchise. The top two division-winning franchises in each conference will receive a bye in the first round of the HFADL playoffs (NFL week 13). The HFADL Super Bowl will be played during the NFL’s week 16. Division champions will always be seeded higher than wildcards, regardless of season records.
Division winners will be determined by:
1. Best overall winning percentage in all regular season games.
2. Most total points scored in all regular season games.
3. Best winning percentage in head-to-head competition.
4. Coin toss.
Wildcards will be determined by:
1. Best overall winning percentage in all regular season games.
2. Most total points scored in all regular season games.
3. Best winning percentage in head-to-head competition. (if applicable.)
4. Coin toss.
It is therefore possible for one division to have both conference wildcards.
Division winners will be seeded #1 - #4 and wildcards will be seeded #5 and #6 using the same tiebreakers listed above if necessary.
* Note regarding “Total points scored”: Each franchise's total points scored will be determined by adding the weekly point totals of starting players for the 12 weeks of the regular season. This total does not include double scores for double header weeks.
2.4.2 Playoff schedule.
Week 13 = Wildcard Round.
In each conference: Seeds #1 and #2 receive byes; Seed #3 plays Seed #6 and Seed #4 plays Seed #5.
Week 14 = Semi-Finals.
In each conference: Seed #1 plays the lowest remaining seed; Seed #2 plays the other remaining franchise.
Week 15 = Conference Championships.
In each conference: the two remaining franchises play.
Week 16 = HFADL Super Bowl.
AFC representative plays NFC representative.
2.4.3 Playoff game tiebreakers.
For all HFADL playoff games, ties will be broken by:
1. Highest total score of all bench players.
2. If bench player scoring does not break the tie, an advantage of 0.5 points will be given to the home franchise to determine the winner. The higher seeded team will be considered the home franchise.
If the HFADL Super Bowl ends in a tie, the breaking method will be:
1. Highest total score of all bench players.
2. If bench player scoring does not break the tie, since there is no home field in the HFADL Super Bowl, the HFADL Super Bowl franchises will submit a line-up for a Week 17 game.
The first tie-breaker will also apply in the event of a tie in Week 17. If the franchises remain tied after week 17, they will select (in TheHuddle.com forum) one QB from one of the NFL playoff teams. The franchise with the most total points scored during the regular season will pick their QB first and the other owner cannot pick the same QB. The QB scoring the most points during the NFL Playoffs will determine the HFADL Champion.
Section 5. Payouts.
2.5.1 Payouts
Pay out will be 100% of franchise fees, minus the cost of running the MFL.com software, approximately $75 per year. All pay outs will occur within seven days of the week 16 HFADL Super Bowl.
The playoff franchises will divide the pot as follows:
Super Bowl Winner = 35%
Super Bowl Loser = 15%
NFC runner up = 5%
AFC Runner up = 5%
Eight (8) division winners = 5% each (40% total)
Pay outs may be rounded to the nearest $1 where appropriate
* League voted 16-13 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep as is with no prize for wild card teams. (02/22/08)
* League voted 22-7 (in favor of keeping as is) for no prize for an undefeated season. (02/22/08)
Article 3. Franchise Management.
Section 1. The Draft.
3.1.1 Inaugural draft.
The Inaugural Draft for the HFADL will begin on May 8, 2006. Subsequent years will consist of a Rookie draft only. The inaugural draft shall consist of 45 rounds. In order to preserve the integrity of the home team concept the following format shall be used.
Round 1 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 2 - Open Draft
Round 3 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 4 - Open Draft
Round 5 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 6 – Open Draft
Round 7 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 8 – Open Draft
Round 9 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 10 - 45 Open Draft
Accordingly, on mfl, rounds 1,3,5,7, and 9 will be homer rounds. Rounds 2,4,6,8, and 10-45 will be regular rounds.
Each franchise must have a total of at least six homers on their active roster at the conclusion of the draft.
Rookies will be included in the inaugural draft and can be selected as homers in the homer round selections.
Inaugural draft order shall be the same order as the 2006 NFL draft order for round 1, serpentine thereafter. (Houston picks first in round 1, Pittsburgh picks first in round 2.)
The Inaugural draft order is as follows:
1 Houston
2 New Orleans
3 Tennessee
4 N.Y. Jets
5 Green Bay
6 San Francisco
7 Oakland
8 Buffalo
9 Detroit
10 Arizona
11 St. Louis
12 Cleveland
13 Baltimore
14 Philadelphia
15 Atlanta
16 Miami
17 Minnesota
18 Dallas
19 San Diego
20 Kansas City
21 New England
22 Washington
23 Tampa Bay
24 Cincinnati
25 N.Y. Giants
26 Chicago
27 Carolina
28 Jacksonville
29 Denver
30 Indianapolis
31 Seattle
32 Pittsburgh
3.1.2 Annual rookie draft.
The HFADL rookie draft will begin on the third Monday of May each year.
The draft will proceed in reverse order based on winning percentage from the previous season's finish (using total points as the first tie-breaker instead of strength of schedule like the NFL does, and the rest of the NFL’s draft order determination method.) The HFADL Super Bowl loser from the previous season will draft next to last and the HFADL Super Bowl winner from the previous season will draft last, regardless of their winning percentage from the previous regular season.
* League voted 17-11 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep “points scored” as the first tiebreaker for the draft order instead of using “strength of schedule”. (02/22/08)
The draft will last 6 rounds. The draft will be conducted in the league forum located at TheHuddle.com or, if MFL is prepared, at the League Site at MFL. If an owner withdraws from the league during the draft, the draft will stop until a replacement owner is found. The draft will resume when the replacement owner has been selected without penalizing the new owner.
3.1.3 Player eligibility for rookie draft.
Only NFL rookies will be eligible to be drafted. As defined by the NFL CBA, a Rookie is “a person who has never signed a Player Contract with an NFL Club” previous to this year. An Undrafted Rookie is “a Rookie who was eligible for, but not selected in a College Draft.” (Current College and High School players are not selectable in the HFADL draft.) In the NFL, if a player signs a contract, gets cut before playing any games, then re-signs with another team, he becomes a free agent and loses his rookie status. For the purposes of this league: If a player signs an NFL contract and is cut during the NFL pre-season, then signs with another NFL team, he will still be considered to be a rookie, and thus remain eligible to be placed on the DTS.
3.1.4 Time restrictions.
There will be no timer in force during the draft. Each owner is encouraged to use pre-selects and make picks as soon as possible. If an owner is "on the clock" for more than 24 hours during the draft without prior notice, then that owner will be considered for replacement under rule 1.2.2
* League voted 20-9 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep as is with no time limit per pick during the rookie draft instead of imposing a 12 or 18 hour time limit. (02/22/08)
Section 2. Home Field Advantage Dollars.
3.2.1 HFA$ definition.
HFA$ are the official currency of the HFADL. HFA$ are used to bid on Free Agents, Restricted Free Agents, and may also be used in trades. HFA$ not used during the season are carried over to the following season. Each franchise will be awarded fifty (50) HFA$ upon completion of the RFA period each season. Additionally, each franchise from the same conference as the HFADL Super Bowl winner from the previous season will be awarded two (2) extra HFA$. HFA$ balances will be maintained by the Roster Player Commissioner on the league forum at theHuddle.com.
3.2.2 Managing HFA$.
All HFA$ transactions that are included in any trade will be effective immediately upon league approval of the trade. Trades will not be approved if the franchise offering the HFA$ does not have the amount of HFA$ being offered. No "future" HFA$ will be allowed in any trade.
When bidding on free agents, if the total of all FA bids submitted by a franchise during a FA run exceeds the franchise’s HFA$ balance, transactions will be nullified from last to first until the limit is met.
Section 3. Contracts.
3.3.1 Contract definition.
A player contract is the number of years that the player can remain on your roster before becoming a Restricted Free Agent (RFA).
3.3.2 Contract cap.
Each franchise has a contract cap of 90 years, which cannot be exceeded. (Exception: inter-conference record rule in 3.3.5). No franchise will be permitted to make any transaction that places them over the contract cap.
3.3.3 Annual contract adjustments.
Contract years conclude on January 15. All players with only one year remaining on their contracts on January 15 become Restricted Free Agents (RFA). All players who have multiple contract years remaining on January 15 will have their contracts reduced by one contract year. On January 15, all franchises recover any “dead contract years” encumbered by waiving players during the previous year.
3.3.4 Dead contract years.
Players waived during the year will continue to count 1 year against the franchise’s contract cap unless they are acquired by another franchise. Dead contracts will be tracked in a pinned message in the forum by the Roster Player Commissioner.
3.3.5 Contract miscellaneous.
The deadline for assigning new player contracts will be the final roster declaration date (as specified in 3.4.3).
Free agents acquired during the season (after the final roster declaration date) must be signed to a contract within 48 hours (see rule 3.7.6).
If any franchise carries less than 30 players on the active roster, one contract year must be left unallocated for each open roster slot when contracts are assigned. After week 8 this rule is waived.
All franchises in the conference with the better inter-conference record will be awarded one extra contract year the following season. This contract year is in exception to rule 3.3.2 and is only effective for the current year, so in any given season, half of the league will have a 90-year contract cap and the other half of the league will have a 91-year contract cap.
Section 4. Rosters.
3.4.1 In-season roster parameters.
Each franchise will maintain an in-season active roster with a maximum of 35 players (Not including DTS or IR). It is the owners' decision on how many players to carry at each position. No franchise will be allowed to carry more than 1 TMQB and 1 TMPK on their entire roster.
3.4.2 Off-season roster parameters.
During the off-season (day after the fantasy Super Bowl, until the July 31 cut down date) there will be no roster size limitation. Rosters must be reduced to 54 players by July 31 (Midnight Eastern Time). Franchises in violation of this rule will be charged 1 HFA$ per day per player over the 54 limit.
3.4.3 Final roster declaration.
The final cut down date will be the Monday before the first NFL regular season game at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Each franchise must designate a max of 35 active players, 8 DTS players, and up to 3 IR players. On, or prior to final cut down day, each owner must post a message in the league forum listing his or her:
a.) Active roster players (max 35)
b.) DTS players, if any, (max 8)
c.) IR players, if any, (max 3)
d.) The number of contract years for each player on the active roster or IR.
If a franchise does not meet this deadline, a penalty of 5 HFA$ will be imposed. If final cuts aren’t made within 48 hours of the first NFL game a new owner will be sought.
Each franchise must have six (6) homer players listed as active players at all times. Any HFADL franchise that does not have at least six homer players on their active roster as of kick-off of the first game of week one, will be fined 5 HFA$. An additional 5 HFA$ penalty will be imposed as of kick-off of the first game of any subsequent weeks where a franchise continues to carry less than six homer players.
During the season, if the number of homer players on a HFADL franchise roster drops below six due to an NFL trade, waiver or other NFL roster move, the HFADL franchise will have a seven day grace period, without being fined, to allow the franchise owner to secure additional homer players. After the seven day grace period, the HFADL franchise will be subject to a 5 HFA$ fine as of kick-off of the first game of any week they have less than six homer players on their roster.
Section 5. Injured reserve.
3.5.1 IR definition.
IR is available starting with the July 31st roster cut down. Once a player is placed on Injured Reserve he must remain there for the remainder of that season. Once a player is placed on IR, the club can pick up another player but they must go through the Free Agent channel as with any other pick up. This essentially allows the signing of another player with that one contract year and active roster spot.
3.5.2 IR limits.
Each franchise has a maximum of 3 Injured Reserve slots.
* League voted 15-14 (in favor of keeping as is) to keep the max IR spots at 3. (02/22/08)
3.5.3 IR eligibility.
A player qualifies to be placed on the IR by being placed on the NFL PUP list, on the NFL IR, by being listed as “DOUBTFUL” or “OUT” on his NFL team’s injury report, or by missing a game due to injury.
3.5.4 Waiving IR players.
Any player waived (released, cut, dropped) from IR falls under wavier rules when he is released. If an IR player is released, passes one week of waivers, and is then reacquired by the franchise that released him, that player must be returned to the IR.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to adopt the following clarification: If an IR player is released and then signed by another HFADL franchise, the player is allowed to be re-activated from the IR.
3.5.5 Trading IR players.
* League voted 20-9 (in favor of keeping as is) to keep ability to trade IR players.
* League voted 18-8 to make a traded IR player eligible to be reactivated by his new team. (02/22/08)
3.5.6 IR contract implications.
When placed on IR, the player's current contract year is credited to the franchise and all future contract years will continue to count against the franchise's contract cap. After contracts are reduced for all active roster players on January 15, any players on IR will again become part of the active roster. IR player contracts will not be reduced on January 15 because the franchise was already credited with a year when that player was placed on the Injured Reserve.
Section 6. Developmental Taxi Squad
3.6.1 DTS definition.
Each franchise will be allowed a Developmental Taxi Squad (DTS) containing up to 8 players. Players on the DTS are not assigned contracts and therefore do not count against a franchise’s 90-year contract cap. Also, they do not participate in RFA, and are not eligible to start a game.
3.6.2 DTS limits.
Each franchise’s DTS can contain up to 8 players. A player may remain on the DTS for a maximum of 3 years. Once a player reaches his fourth year of NFL service, he must be promoted to the active roster and assigned a contract or released by his HFADL franchise.
* League voted 16-13 (in favor of keeping as is) to keep the max DTS spots at 8. (02/22/08)
3.6.3 DTS player eligibility.
Players on a franchise’s DTS in a prior year that are not yet entering their fourth NFL season, along with any rookie additions, may be placed on the current year DTS. The deadline for announcing DTS players will be in accordance with the final roster declaration (rule 3.4.3). Any player on an active roster after the final roster declaration date is no longer eligible to be placed on any franchise’s DTS. In the league’s first year only, any player in his second or third NFL season may also be placed on the DTS. All such players must be removed from the DTS and promoted to the active roster or cut before the beginning of their fourth NFL season.
3.6.4 Activation from DTS.
Players on the DTS are not eligible to start a game until they are promoted to the active roster. During the season, players may be promoted from the DTS to the active roster after week one. The Roster Player Commissioner must be notified of a DTS player promotion by posting on the message board. Players that are promoted from the DTS to the active roster must immediately be given a contract and are now available to be in the weekly line-up. DTS players that are accidentally submitted into a starting line-up will be removed and that franchise will get zero (0) points from that position for that week. As promoting a player from the DTS to the active roster requires the involvement of a league commissioner, any player promoted from the DTS to the active roster will not be eligible to start a game for the period of 48 hours.
3.6.5 DTS miscellaneous.
DTS players do not participate in RFA. Acquired free agents may be placed directly onto the DTS providing they are in their rookie year (or second or third year during the inaugural season of the league) and have never been on any HFADL active roster. Traded players may be put onto the DTS only if they were on the other franchise’s DTS before the trade or if they are a qualifying rookie that has never been assigned an HFADL contract and the trade takes place prior to the final roster declaration date. DTS seasons conclude on January 15.
Section 7. Free Agency.
3.7.1 FA definition.
Free Agency is the process that involves a franchise adding a player that is not currently on another HFADL franchise roster (Active, IR or DTS).
3.7.2 FA player eligibility.
Any current NFL player not on a HFADL franchise active roster, IR, or DTS is considered a Free Agent. Players are not eligible for free agency until they have been drafted by an NFL team, or were undrafted at the completion of a NFL draft for which they were eligible (regular or supplemental).
3.7.3 FA schedule.
“FA runs” occur on Wednesday evenings with a bid submission deadline at 8 PM Eastern Time. No pick-ups are allowed after this time until the following Wednesday. The Free Agency Commissioner’s bids are due by Tuesday night at midnight Eastern Time, to the League Commissioner.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to keep the late season FA runs on Wednesday evenings despite a possible time crunch when Thursday night NFL games begin.
FA runs begin on the first Wednesday after the rookie draft and will be held every other week until the first NFL preseason game. From then on, they will be held every week until the HFADL play-offs start, at which time FA runs end. There will be a FA run the Wednesday after the week 12 NFL games (last week of HFA regular season games), there will not be a FA run the Wednesday after the week 13 NFL games (the first week of HFA playoff games.)
In addition, there will be two FA runs prior to the rookie draft each year. These will be on the first Wednesday in March, and on the second Wednesday in May. NFL rookies just drafted in the current year are not eligible for the FA run on the second Wednesday in May. For 2006, the inaugural HFADL season, there will be one pre-preseason FA run on the first wed in June.
3.7.4 FA bid process.
The FA bid process will be conducted in a “blind bidding” manner. HFA$ are used to bid on free agents. The minimum FA bid is 1 HFA$. Franchises may only bid up to the amount of HFA$ they have available. Bids must be in whole number increments. If the total of all bids submitted by a franchise during a FA run exceeds the franchise’s HFA$ balance, transactions will be nullified from last to first until the limit is met.
Bids for FA's must be submitted via e-mail to the official league FA e-mail account: HFA_FA@Yahoo.com
Bids received by any other means will be rejected.
*2008 rules Committee voted to keep the FA bid process operating through email rather than move it to the league’s myfantasyleague.com website.
During the season, bids must contain all of the following:
1. The name of the franchise
2. The name of the free agent(s) you want to acquire.
3. The amount bid for that player.
4. A conditional release notice indicating the player you will waive to make room for the new player.
Owners can submit conditional bids (example: "Troy Brown, if Brown is no longer available, Fred Lane"). Submitting multiple FA request forms will result in only the last one being processed, so submit all free agent bids in one email, even if attempting to make more than one transaction.
Any bid that violates the roster limits without conditional release will be null and void. If multiple transactions are attempted, only the transactions that violate the roster limits will be voided.
If more than one franchise requests the same player, the franchise submitting the highest bid will acquire that player.
3.7.5 FA bid tiebreakers.
During the season, in the event that two or more franchises submit the same high bid for a player, the FA Player Commissioner will award the free agent to:
1. The franchise with the worst current winning percentage.
2. If they currently have the same winning percentage, the franchise that has scored the fewest points.
3. If still tied, the franchise that submitted the earliest bid.
During the off-season, the free agent will be awarded to:
1. The franchise with the worst winning percentage from the previous year
2. If they had the same winning percentage, the franchise with the fewest total points from the previous year.
3. If still tied, the franchise that submitted the earliest bid.
3.7.6 FA contracts.
During the season, FA pick-ups must immediately be signed to a contract. A franchise cannot formally add the free agent until the franchise owner assigns a contract to the player that complies with the contract cap. Any free agent that has not been assigned a contract within 48 hours of the bid results being posted will be returned to the free agent pool and the franchise will lose the HFA$ spent on their bid.
Section 8. Waivers.
3.8.1 Waivers definition.
Waiving (cutting, dropping, releasing) a player is the process in which an HFADL franchise removes a player from their active roster, IR, or DTS, sending that player to the HFADL’s free agent pool.
3.8.2 Waiver process.
To waive a player, a franchise owner posts their waiver request in the league forum and the Roster Player Commissioner processes it on the myfantasyleague.com site.
3.8.3 Reclaiming waived players.
If a franchise waives a player and later wishes to reclaim that player, the player in question must clear waivers. This means the releasing team cannot place a bid on the waived player until the second FA run after the player was waived. If the franchise is successful in reclaiming the player, then the franchise owner has the right to issue a new contract as long as it does not violate the contract cap.
3.8.4 Waivers contract implications.
After a player is waived, only his current contract year continues to count against his former franchise's contract cap. This contract year is referred to as a “dead contract year”. A franchise can only get relief for the waived player’s dead contract year if the waived player is later assigned a new contract by another franchise. All future contract years for players that are waived are credited to the franchise as soon as the player is waived. Dead contract years remain in effect until January 15 each year.
The dead contract year 'cap hit' also applies to players waived during the off-season - even if the player retires or is otherwise physically unable to perform. The only exception will be in the event of a player’s death and his subsequent release.
* League voted 23-6 (in favor of change) to relieve the dead contract “cap hit” when releasing a deceased player. (02/22/08)
After the end of each season, franchises have until midnight Eastern Time on March 1 to waive players and avoid having dead contract years count against them for the upcoming year. The March 1 deadline is just after the deadline to pay league dues for the upcoming season.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to move this deadline to March 1 from “Monday following the NFL Super Bowl.”
3.8.5 Waivers and TMQB/TMPK.
Any TMQB or TMPK that is currently under contract, may not be waived by the franchise the TMQB or TMPK is under contract to.
Section 9. Trading.
3.9.1 Trading definition.
Trading is the process by which one HFADL franchise gives an HFADL tradable commodity(ies) to another HFADL franchise in exchange for other HFADL tradable commodity(ies). The only tradable commodities in the HFADL are:
1. Players currently on an HFADL franchise’s roster (active, IR or DTS).
2. Rights to an HFADL franchise’s RFA player.
3. Rights to an HFADL franchise’s Rookie draft picks (for the next two rookie drafts only).
4. HFA$.
Under no circumstances will any “real world” commodity (such as actual money) be allowed to be part of any trade. Additionally, no secret items (items not specifically listed in the post announcing the trade in the forum) will be allowed to be part of any trade.
3.9.2 Trading process.
Trades between franchises are unlimited.
When trading, the following will occur:
1. The offering owner must offer the trade in MFL.
2. The accepting owner must accept the trade in MFL.
3. Both owners involved in the trade must post in the league forum at theHuddle.com, notifying the Roster Player Commissioner that the trade has been offered and accepted in MFL.
4. The Roster Player Commissioner processes the trade in MFL.
Any trade involving the FA Player Commissioner or Roster Player Commissioner will be adjudicated by the League Commissioner.
3.9.3 Trading deadlines.
The weekly trading deadline is 48 hours before the start of that week’s first NFL game. The season trading deadline is 48 hours before the start of the first game of NFL week 10. Trades will be put on hold for 24 hours from the time of acceptance by both owners on the message board, to allow for owner/Roster Player Commissioner inspection.
* League voted 20-9 (in favor of keeping as is) to keep the trade deadline at week 10. (02/22/08)
The HFADL trading period resumes on March 1. Dues must be paid in full for all owners involved in a trade before it may be processed.
3.9.4 Trading and contracts.
Traded players contracts will be counted against the 90-year contract cap for his new franchise and removed from his prior franchise. An exchange of players between franchises cannot leave either franchise in violation of the 90-year contract cap, 35-player active roster limit, 8-player DTS limit, or 3-player IR limit. If any trade violates this rule, the Roster Player Commissioner will delay the trade until such time as the involved teams can make room under the contract cap and/or roster limits.
3.9.5 Trading draft picks.
Franchises may trade picks from the current draft and the next immediate future draft only. This means that two years of picks are available for trading at any given time. For example, once the 2006 draft concludes, 2007 and 2008 picks will be tradable. If at any time a trade will result in a franchise having fewer than one pick in the first three rounds of any draft OR less than five picks total in any draft (the draft is currently set for 6 rounds), then league dues for that draft year will be required to be prepaid by that franchise owner before the trade is processed. The Roster Player Commissioner will put the trade on hold until fees are confirmed as “received” by the league Treasurer.
3.9.6 Trading HFA$.
All HFA$ transactions that are included in any trade will be effective immediately upon League approval of the trade. Trades will not be approved if the franchise offering the HFA$ does not have the amount of HFA$ being offered. No "future" HFA$ will be allowed in any trade.
3.9.7 Vetoing trades.
If any trade appears to be excessively one-sided or otherwise unfair, the league owners may be asked to vote whether or not to approve the transaction. A vote will be called to approve/veto any trade when the League Commissioner or Roster Player Commissioner request a vote. In addition, a vote will be called if five (5) owners request a vote by posting in the league forum within 24 hours of the trade being announced. If a vote is called, a simple majority (17) of league owners is required for a trade to be vetoed.
* 2008 Rules Committee voted to change to “5 owners” necessary to call for a vote to challenge a trade (instead of 3 owners) and 17 owners must vote against the trade in order to veto (instead of 17 owners needed to approve.)
* League voted 16-13 (in favor of keeping as is) to NOT establish a time period before a player can be traded back to the team he was previously traded from. (02/22/08)
Section 10. Restricted Free Agency.
3.10.1 RFA definition.
Once a player's contract expires, he becomes a Restricted Free Agent (RFA). They are referred to as “Restricted” Free Agents, because the franchise that held the player’s contract before it expired retains limited rights to that player in the form of “matching rights”.
3.10.2 RFA schedule.
Each season will have an RFA period when all franchises can bid (using HFA$) on RFA players. RFA bidding begins April 1 and closes on April 30. No new bids will be accepted after April 30. "Bids in process" may continue beyond April 30 until a final offer is reached for a player. After the RFA signing period ends, any players that did not receive bids will remain on their current franchise’s roster at no cost.
3.10.3 RFA bid process.
All RFA bids are made in the league forum and each bid must include the player's name and the amount bid. Bids must be in whole HFA$ increments and $1HFA is the minimum bid. Franchise owners may not raise their own high bids or bid on their own players. Once a bid is posted on a player, other interested franchise owners may increase the bid. Franchise owners may drop out of the bidding process for any individual player at any time unless they currently have the high bid. They may re-enter the bidding process as long as bidding remains open for the player in question.
3.10.4 RFA bid closing and matching.
If no bid has been made in the previous 24 hours the player will be marked “CLOSED.”
Once the auction on a player is marked “CLOSED”, the franchise owner holding the RFA player’s rights will have 36 hours to match the highest bid and retain that player. Once the decision to “match” or “pass” has been announced or 36 hours passes without a decision, the auction will be marked “FINAL” for that player.
* League voted 21-8 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep the “match” time at 36 hours. (02/22/08)
3.10.5 RFA overbidding.
Franchise owners who place bids must have enough HFA$ available to cover all of their outstanding high bids. If a franchise owner overbids their budget at any time, the latest bid will be removed from the board. The next highest bidder at the time of the overbid will be asked by the Free Agent Player Commissioner and/or Roster player Commissioner if they would like to maintain their previous bid. The overbidding owner can no longer bid for said player. (This exclusion will remain even if the overbidding owner makes a trade for more HFA$) All other bids placed by the offending owner will remain in effect. Any owner that overbids their HFA$ balance will receive $10 less in HFA$ per infraction when HFA$ are given out under rule 3.2.1.
3.10.6 Trading during RFA period.
The rights to a player currently on the board can be traded at any time before or after bidding is "CLOSED." If a team acquires the rights to a RFA, and that team also has the current high bid on the RFA, then the bid will become “void”, and the next bid will become the high bid.
See this interpretation:
http://forums.thehuddle.com/index.php?show...p;#entry2806821
Passed for 2010:
3.10.6 Trading during RFA Period.
The rights to a player currently on the board can be traded at any time before or after bidding is "CLOSED." If a team acquires the rights to a RFA, and that team also has the current high bid on the RFA, their HIGH BID will remain the current high bid. If a team acquires the rights to a RFA that is closed and they have the high bid their bid will remain the high bid and that is the bid they will have to match to retain the player. If a team trades for a players RFA rights and they are the high bidder and that player is closed the player will be considered MATCHED as soon as the trade for rights is agreed upon by both parties (here in the HFA huddle forum)as long as the trade is agreed to before the match time has expired.
3.10.7 Acquiring TMQB or TMPK in RFA
During the RFA bidding period, any team may place a bid on a RFA TMQB and/or RFA TMPK, regardless of the bidding team’s contract with their current TMQB and/or TMPK.
Any team that acquires a TMQB or TMPK through the RFA bid process, will immediately (upon confirmation that bidding for that player is Final) transfer rights to their previous TMQB or TMPK to the team the RFA they have just acquired came from. This transfer will be referred to as a “Forced Transfer”.
That TMQB or TMPK transferred to the team that lost a RFA will immediately become an RFA (the TMQB or TMPK’s contract will be reduced to zero), if he is not one already. If the transfer occurs beyond the RFA bidding period, no new bids may be submitted and he may be assigned a contract by his new team.
* League voted 15-12 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to NOT implement a Franchise Tag rule. (02/22/08)
You need Team QB and Team PK and rules to keep owners from holding two (one for ransom).
See here: http://www13.myfantasyleague.com/2009/home/24279
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE DYNASTY LEAGUE
RULES - 2008
Table of Contents
Article 1. League Structure.
Section 1. The League.
Section 2. Franchise Ownership.
Article 2. League Play.
Section 1. Schedule.
Section 2. Weekly Starting Line-ups.
Section 3. Scoring.
Section 4. Playoffs.
Section 5. Payout.
Article 3. Franchise Management.
Section 1. The Draft.
Section 2. Home Field Advantage Dollars.
Section 3. Contracts.
Section 4. Rosters.
Section 5. Injured Reserve.
Section 6. Developmental Taxi Squad
Section 7. Free Agency.
Section 8. Waivers.
Section 9. Trading.
Section 10. Restricted Free Agency.
Article 1. League Structure.
Section 1. The League.
1.1.1 League size and concept.
The HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE DYNASTY LEAGUE (HFADL) will consist of 32 franchises with each owner managing the same franchise each year. No owner will be allowed to own more than one franchise in the league. The concept of the league is to mirror the NFL make-up, schedule and rules, when possible. The Commissioner will keep that in mind when interpreting the rules and making rulings.
1.1.2 League sites and contacts.
The league will be maintained through www.myfantasyleague.com. (MFL)
The 2008 HFADL MFL website is located at: http://www25.myfantasyleague.com/2008/home/18515
The HFADL league message board is located at: http://forums.thehuddle.com/index.php?act=...mp;s=&f=136
The HFADL league Free Agent bid email address is: HFA_FA@Yahoo.com
Franchise owner email addresses are located on the MFL site (only visible when logged in as an owner.)
1.1.3 League calendar.
January
Confirm returning owners.
Find replacement owners.
Establish rules committee & league officials.
All player contract years expire (active, IR, DTS, and dead contracts) (January 15)
February
Rules review period.
League fees due (last Friday in February).
Set-up 2008 MFL site. (when MFL makes new leagues available.)
March
Designate players to be released without penalty (March 1).
*2008 Rules Committee voted to move this deadline to March 1 from “the Monday following the NFL Super Bowl.”
Trading re-opens (March 1).
1st off-season FA Run (First Wednesday in March).
April
RFA period (opens April 1).
HFA$ replenishment (at end of RFA period, $50HFA for each franchise + $2HFA for franchises in HFADL Super Bowl winning conference.)
NFL draft
May
2nd off-season FA run (second Wednesday in May, No rookies.)
2008 rookie draft (third Monday in May)
Regular FA runs begin (first Wednesday after the conclusion of the draft.)
June
FA runs continue (every other Wednesday.)
July
Roster cut-down to 54 players (July 31).
FA runs continue (every other Wednesday.)
August
FA runs continue (every other Wednesday.)
September
Final roster declaration (Monday prior to first NFL game).
NFL / HFADL Regular seasons opens.
FA runs move to weekly schedule (every Wednesday).
September – December
League play.
HFADL trade deadline (48 hours prior to first game of NFL week 10.)
December
Weekly FA runs conclude (Wednesday prior to NFL week 13.)
1.1.4 League alignment.
The HFADL will mirror the setup of the National Football League with the same conferences, divisions and franchise names.
1.1.5 League officers.
League Commissioner
The League Commissioner is responsible for conducting league business, arbitrating league disputes, the running of all drafts, and ensuring correct weekly line-ups have been posted. The League Commissioner will be required to be completely MFL conversant prior to each season starting, must pay for (will be reimbursed from league fees), and download the MFL software, and setup the league for uploading to the MFL site. MFL software should be paid for as soon as possible, in order to get the lowest price. The League Commissioner will ensure that the Assistant Commissioner has the current MFL site password.
Assistant League Commissioner
The Assistant League Commissioner is responsible for communicating league concerns and business to the Commissioner and intervening in transactions that involve the league Commissioner. If the Commissioner is out of contact for any length of time, the Assistant Commissioner will attend to any matters requiring timely action. The Assistant Commissioner is also required to be conversant with MFL. The Assistant Commissioner is directly responsible to the League Commissioner.
Treasurer
The Treasurer will set up and maintain the league pay pal account, receive and record all league fees, and be responsible for league pay outs. The Treasurer is directly responsible to the League Commissioner.
Free Agency Player Commissioner
The FA Player Commissioner will handle all waiver transactions with the assistance of information provided by the Roster Player Commissioner. The FA Player Commissioner will be responsible for ensuring that bids do not violate roster or HFA$ limits. In addition, the FA Player Commissioner will be readily available to perform all duties of the Roster Player Commissioner in his absence. The FA Player Commissioner is required to be conversant with the MFL Software and be prepared to maintain all the assigned areas of the MFL League Site. The FA Player Commissioner is directly responsible to the Assistant League Commissioner and ultimately to the League Commissioner.
Roster Player Commissioner
The Roster Player Commissioner will maintain a list of all franchises and their available HFA$, maintain a list of each franchise’s players and how many contract years they are signed for, and handle all trade transactions. The Roster Player Commissioner will be conversant in the use of MFL software and be prepared to maintain all the assigned areas of the MFL League Site. In addition, the RP Player Commissioner will be readily available to perform all duties of the FA Player Commissioner in his absence. The Roster Player Commissioner is directly responsible to the Assistant League Commissioner and ultimately to the League Commissioner.
Assistant Roster Player Commissioner
*2008 Rules Committee voted to create this position.
The Assistant Roster Player Commissioner will have thorough knowledge of the Roster Player Commissioner’s duties and the process necessary to complete those duties, and will be able to complete those duties when extra help is needed. The Assistant Roster Player Commissioner is directly responsible to the Roster Player Commissioner and ultimately to the League Commissioner.
Rules Committee
The Rules Committee will consist of 8 franchise owners. A franchise owner will be allowed to hold one of the Commissioner positions or serve as Treasurer, and still be a member of the rules committee. During the off-season, the Rules Committee is authorized to make clarification statements regarding the existing rules. The Rules Committee is responsible for reviewing the rules during the off-season, and proposing major rule changes to be brought to a league-wide vote, as outlined in rule 1.1.6 The Rules Committee will vote on approving all new owners in the league, with 6 yes votes required for approval.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to adopt the following method for selecting the Rules Committee members each season: At the conclusion of the HFADL playoffs each season, each HFADL division will select one of their four owners to serve as a member of the Rules Committee for the following season. If none of the owners in a particular division wish to serve, that spot will be opened up for any other interested owners (from any division) to apply. The deadline for divisions to name their representative (or declare no representative) will be January 15.
1.1.6 League rules review process
League Rules will be reviewed annually during the month of February.
Major rule changes can only be made through a league-wide vote requiring 75% of actual votes cast for passage, or with a minimum of 6/8 rule committee members in favor if less than sixteen (16) votes are cast. In-season votes, though discouraged, require twenty-eight (28) yes votes to pass or unanimity of the rules committee if less than twenty (20) votes are cast.
Votes will be conducted at the league forum at TheHuddle.com or in the form of polls on the MFL site. Off-season votes are due within seven days of posting at the forum. In-season votes are due within 48 hours of the time posted at the forum. The time frames will not be extended.
Any decision made by The League Commissioner will be posted on the message board immediately and may be brought to a vote if six (6) or more owners request a league wide vote. Twenty-three (23) votes will be required to overturn a Commissioner ruling.
During the off-season, the rules committee is authorized to make clarification statements regarding the existing rules.
1.1.7 League costs.
The cost to own an HFADL franchise is $50.00. The official league payment method will be one of three ways: PayPal, Money Order, or Check. Those using MO's or Checks must remit their payment to the League Treasurer 10 days prior the payment deadline to allow for clearance. The payment deadline each year will be midnight Eastern Time on the last Friday of February. Failure to meet the deadline will result in a fine of 2 HFA$ per day up to 5 days. Non-payment within 7 days will result in the owner being replaced and the HFA$ penalty will be lifted for the new owner. The payment deadline for the first year shall be May 1, 2006.
Absent extreme circumstances, such as a medical emergency, no refunds of league fees will be given out. Paying league fees implies a commitment to run a franchise for the full season.
Section 2. Franchise Ownership.
1.2.1 General.
An owner may not own more than one franchise. Owners must name their franchise after their NFL homer team, with their huddle name in parenthesis (ie: New York Giants (Los Gigantes)). Owners are encouraged to put an e-mail address and other contact information (IM, Cell Phone, etc.) on the MFL website, in order to facilitate communication between owners. This information is only visible to owners who log onto the MFL site, guests will not be able to access it. At a minimum, owners must have a username on TheHuddle.Com and provide the Commissioner with a valid phone #, e-mail address and City/State of residence.
1.2.2 Owner replacement.
If an owner chooses to leave the league, doesn’t submit a lineup for two consecutive weeks during the season, or isn’t heard from during the RFA signing period, a replacement owner will be sought. Replacements will be recruited from persons known from The Huddle. (All replacement owner functions will be handled by private, league-wide email and will not be discussed on the forum or at the MFL site.) Preference will be given to fans of the NFL team in question.
Once a confirmation has been received by the League Commissioner of a person’s interest, a vote of 75% yes votes of the rules committee will be required to approve any replacement owner. If 75% is not reached, the search for a replacement owner will continue. Under no circumstances will the HFADL require any prospective replacement owners to submit an "application" or "resume" for inclusion in the league.
Owners conducting themselves in a way perceived to be detrimental to the good of the league may be removed by a vote of 20 owners.
Article 2. League Play.
Section 1. Schedule.
2.1.1 Regular season.
The length of the regular season will be 12 weeks. Weekly Schedules will mirror that of the NFL team. The entire season lasts 16 weeks, with 12 weeks of regular season games, three weeks of playoffs, and one HFADL Super Bowl.
The Regular Season lasts through week 12 and there will be double headers on week 1 (*see below) which will include the week 13 match-up, week 2 (includes week 14) week 10 (includes week 15) week 11 (includes week 16) and week 12 (includes week 17).
This will be adjusted from year to year, as follows: only weeks that do not have any NFL team on bye, will be used for double headers or triple headers. Triple headers will only be used if there are not sufficient weeks available for double headers, to allow for the entire 17 week NFL season to be played in the 12 week HFA regular season.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to change the protocol for selecting double header weeks to:
If there are more weeks available for double headers than are needed, the following protocol will be used to determine which weeks have a double header. The last week to have a complete NFL schedule before bye weeks begin will be used first, then each preceding week, excluding the first week of the NFL season. If additional double headers are needed, then the first complete week following the end of bye weeks will be used, then each subsequent week will be used, up to and including the final week of the NFL season that the HFADL uses for regular season play. After that, NFL week 1 will be used, if necessary. This protocol will also be used to determine which week(s) will have a triple header, if necessary.
2.1.2 Playoffs.
The HFADL play-offs begin on week thirteen of the NFL season. The play-offs conclude on week sixteen of the NFL season with the HFADL Super Bowl. The format mirrors that of the NFL.
Section 2. Weekly Starting Line-ups.
2.2.1 Starting line-up parameters.
Each franchise will start seven (7) offensive and eleven (11) defensive players for a total of eighteen (18) starting players each week, in accordance with the line-up guidelines below:
Offense:
1 QB (TMQB)
1 RB
3 WR
1 TE
1 K (TMPK)
Total of 7.
* League voted 19-10 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep 3 starting WR’s instead of creating an offensive FLEX position. (02/22/08)
Defense:
3 DL
3 LB
2 CB
2 S
1 FLEX (DL/LB)
Total of 11.
* League voted 24-5 to add DB’s to the defensive FLEX position beginning in 2009. (02/22/08)
Total Lineup (Offense and Defense) = 18.
2.2.2 Starting line-up submission.
The deadline for naming starters is set by MFL rules, but generally a player is locked approximately 5 minutes before kick-off of his particular game. On Thursday night and Saturday games, only players playing in a game that day must be submitted. The rest of the lineup will not be due until approximately 5 minutes prior to the games on Sunday.
If no lineup is submitted, MFL will default the lineup for that week to the previous week’s lineup. If a partial line-up is submitted for an early game, and no additional line-up is submitted, MFL will NOT default to any previous line-up, and there will be no player started or points scored for any positions where a started was not submitted in the earlier line-up. Every effort should be made to submit a complete lineup each week throughout the season. Owners continuously submitting line-ups with bye or out players will be subject to replacement under rule 1.2.2.
2.2.3 Player positions
*2008 Rules Committee voted to adopt the following policy regarding official player positions:
Players can only be inserted into a starting line-up at the position they are listed at on myfantasyleague.com. If an owner wishes to challenge the listed position on myfantasyleague.com, the team roster on that player’s NFL team’s official website will be used. If the team roster on the NFL team’s official website does not specifically list the player at a different position, myfantasyleague.com’s designation will stand and the challenge will be denied.
(example: A player is listed on myfantasyleague.com as a “Safety” (“S”) and his HFADL owner thinks he is actually playing “Cornerback” (“CB”), the owner may use the team roster on that player’s NFL team’s official website for confirmation. If the player is listed as a “Cornerback” (“CB”) on the team roster of his NFL team’s official website, a commissioner can make the change in myfantasyleague.com. If the team roster on the player’s NFL team’s official website has the player listed as “Defensive back” (“DB”), this is not specific enough to warrant a change, so myfantasyleague.com’s designation will stand and no change can be made by a commissioner.)
According to a 2007 Commissioner Ruling, player position changes must be requested 48 hours prior to the start of the first game of that week.
Section 3. Scoring.
2.3.1 Scoring system.
Scoring will be decimal based. Touchdowns scored by any player in a starting line-up are counted. (Example: Tim Brown returns a punt for a TD, if he is in that week’s line-up as a WR, then he receives credit for the TD.) Offensive players who become "defensive" players after a fumble or interception DO NOT receive credit for a tackle. Nor do they receive credit for fumbles caused, nor fumbles recovered, after change of possession. In addition, defensive players that accumulate offensive stats will NOT be awarded points for those stats.
* League voted 21-8 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep scoring as is with no offensive scoring for defensive players and no defensive scoring for offensive players. (02/22/08)
* League voted 15-14 (in favor of keeping as is) to not add negative points for missed FG’s and XP’s.
PASSING
Passing TDs: 1 = 4.00 pts
Passing Yards: 1 = 0.05 pts
Passing Interception (thrown): 1 = -2.00 pts
RUSHING
Rushing TDs: 1 = 6.00 pts
Rushing Yards: 1 = 0.10 pts
RECEIVING
Receiving TDs: 1 = 6.00 pts
Receiving Yards: 1 = 0.10 pts
Receptions: 1 = 0.50 pts
KICKING
PAT: 1 = 1.00 pts
FG, 17-39 Yards: 1 = 3.00 pts
FG, 40-49 Yards: 1 = 4.00 pts
FG, 50+ Yards: 1 = 5.00 pts
DEFENSE
Tackle: 1 = 2.00 pts
Assist: 1 = 1.00 pts
Sack: 1 = 2.00 pts
Fumble Recovery: 1 = 2.00 pts
Forced Fumble: 1 = 2.00 pts
Interception: 1 = 2.00 pts
Pass Defended: 1 = 1.50 pts
Defensive TDs: 1 = 6.00 pts
Blocked FG: 1 = 3.00 pts
Blocked Punt: 1 = 2.00 pts
Blocked Extra Point: 1 = 1.00 pts
Safety: 1 = 2.00 pts
OTHER
Fumbles Lost: 1 = -2.00 pts
2 Pt Conversion (passing, rushing, receiving): 1 = 2.00 pts
RETURNING
* League voted 23-6 in favor adding kick return scoring (kickoff and punt return combined yardage) beginning in 2009.
Kick return yards: 1 yard = 0.04 points. (02/22/08)
2.3.2 Bye week scoring.
If your franchise’s TMQB or TMPK is on bye, and your franchise is not, the average score for the TMQB or TMPK from the previous two weeks will be used. The two-week average score for TMQB’s / TMPK’s is applied only during their bye week and players at any other position do not receive points during their bye week.
2.3.3 Scoring set-up in MFL.
When scoring options are set-up on MFL, care must be given how ranges are set-up, to ensure proper scoring. For example, for all “yards gained” categories (rushing, passing & receiving), the low-end of the range should be set at negative fifty (-50) yards. For the “number” categories (tackles, sacks, pass defended, etc.), the ranges should be set at 0-99.
2.3.4 Final scores.
All HFADL game scores will be considered “final” as of kick-off of the first NFL game of the following week. Prior to that time, any HFADL owner has the right to protest the score of any HFADL game, or request that any subsequent statistical or scoring change made by MFL be applied to a particular HFADL game. After kick-off of the first NFL game of the following week, there will be no consideration given to changing the score in any HFADL game, for any reason.
2.3.5 Regular season tie games.
Ties will be allowed during the regular season and will count in the standings as one-half of one win and one-half of one loss (a 0.500 winning percentage).
Section 4. Playoffs.
2.4.1 Playoff seeding.
The four (4) division champions and two (2) wildcard franchises from each conference will advance to the playoffs. During each week of the HFADL playoffs, in each conference, the lowest seeded playoff franchise will play the highest seeded playoff franchise. The top two division-winning franchises in each conference will receive a bye in the first round of the HFADL playoffs (NFL week 13). The HFADL Super Bowl will be played during the NFL’s week 16. Division champions will always be seeded higher than wildcards, regardless of season records.
Division winners will be determined by:
1. Best overall winning percentage in all regular season games.
2. Most total points scored in all regular season games.
3. Best winning percentage in head-to-head competition.
4. Coin toss.
Wildcards will be determined by:
1. Best overall winning percentage in all regular season games.
2. Most total points scored in all regular season games.
3. Best winning percentage in head-to-head competition. (if applicable.)
4. Coin toss.
It is therefore possible for one division to have both conference wildcards.
Division winners will be seeded #1 - #4 and wildcards will be seeded #5 and #6 using the same tiebreakers listed above if necessary.
* Note regarding “Total points scored”: Each franchise's total points scored will be determined by adding the weekly point totals of starting players for the 12 weeks of the regular season. This total does not include double scores for double header weeks.
2.4.2 Playoff schedule.
Week 13 = Wildcard Round.
In each conference: Seeds #1 and #2 receive byes; Seed #3 plays Seed #6 and Seed #4 plays Seed #5.
Week 14 = Semi-Finals.
In each conference: Seed #1 plays the lowest remaining seed; Seed #2 plays the other remaining franchise.
Week 15 = Conference Championships.
In each conference: the two remaining franchises play.
Week 16 = HFADL Super Bowl.
AFC representative plays NFC representative.
2.4.3 Playoff game tiebreakers.
For all HFADL playoff games, ties will be broken by:
1. Highest total score of all bench players.
2. If bench player scoring does not break the tie, an advantage of 0.5 points will be given to the home franchise to determine the winner. The higher seeded team will be considered the home franchise.
If the HFADL Super Bowl ends in a tie, the breaking method will be:
1. Highest total score of all bench players.
2. If bench player scoring does not break the tie, since there is no home field in the HFADL Super Bowl, the HFADL Super Bowl franchises will submit a line-up for a Week 17 game.
The first tie-breaker will also apply in the event of a tie in Week 17. If the franchises remain tied after week 17, they will select (in TheHuddle.com forum) one QB from one of the NFL playoff teams. The franchise with the most total points scored during the regular season will pick their QB first and the other owner cannot pick the same QB. The QB scoring the most points during the NFL Playoffs will determine the HFADL Champion.
Section 5. Payouts.
2.5.1 Payouts
Pay out will be 100% of franchise fees, minus the cost of running the MFL.com software, approximately $75 per year. All pay outs will occur within seven days of the week 16 HFADL Super Bowl.
The playoff franchises will divide the pot as follows:
Super Bowl Winner = 35%
Super Bowl Loser = 15%
NFC runner up = 5%
AFC Runner up = 5%
Eight (8) division winners = 5% each (40% total)
Pay outs may be rounded to the nearest $1 where appropriate
* League voted 16-13 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep as is with no prize for wild card teams. (02/22/08)
* League voted 22-7 (in favor of keeping as is) for no prize for an undefeated season. (02/22/08)
Article 3. Franchise Management.
Section 1. The Draft.
3.1.1 Inaugural draft.
The Inaugural Draft for the HFADL will begin on May 8, 2006. Subsequent years will consist of a Rookie draft only. The inaugural draft shall consist of 45 rounds. In order to preserve the integrity of the home team concept the following format shall be used.
Round 1 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 2 - Open Draft
Round 3 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 4 - Open Draft
Round 5 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 6 – Open Draft
Round 7 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 8 – Open Draft
Round 9 – Each Franchise selects one Homer player
Round 10 - 45 Open Draft
Accordingly, on mfl, rounds 1,3,5,7, and 9 will be homer rounds. Rounds 2,4,6,8, and 10-45 will be regular rounds.
Each franchise must have a total of at least six homers on their active roster at the conclusion of the draft.
Rookies will be included in the inaugural draft and can be selected as homers in the homer round selections.
Inaugural draft order shall be the same order as the 2006 NFL draft order for round 1, serpentine thereafter. (Houston picks first in round 1, Pittsburgh picks first in round 2.)
The Inaugural draft order is as follows:
1 Houston
2 New Orleans
3 Tennessee
4 N.Y. Jets
5 Green Bay
6 San Francisco
7 Oakland
8 Buffalo
9 Detroit
10 Arizona
11 St. Louis
12 Cleveland
13 Baltimore
14 Philadelphia
15 Atlanta
16 Miami
17 Minnesota
18 Dallas
19 San Diego
20 Kansas City
21 New England
22 Washington
23 Tampa Bay
24 Cincinnati
25 N.Y. Giants
26 Chicago
27 Carolina
28 Jacksonville
29 Denver
30 Indianapolis
31 Seattle
32 Pittsburgh
3.1.2 Annual rookie draft.
The HFADL rookie draft will begin on the third Monday of May each year.
The draft will proceed in reverse order based on winning percentage from the previous season's finish (using total points as the first tie-breaker instead of strength of schedule like the NFL does, and the rest of the NFL’s draft order determination method.) The HFADL Super Bowl loser from the previous season will draft next to last and the HFADL Super Bowl winner from the previous season will draft last, regardless of their winning percentage from the previous regular season.
* League voted 17-11 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep “points scored” as the first tiebreaker for the draft order instead of using “strength of schedule”. (02/22/08)
The draft will last 6 rounds. The draft will be conducted in the league forum located at TheHuddle.com or, if MFL is prepared, at the League Site at MFL. If an owner withdraws from the league during the draft, the draft will stop until a replacement owner is found. The draft will resume when the replacement owner has been selected without penalizing the new owner.
3.1.3 Player eligibility for rookie draft.
Only NFL rookies will be eligible to be drafted. As defined by the NFL CBA, a Rookie is “a person who has never signed a Player Contract with an NFL Club” previous to this year. An Undrafted Rookie is “a Rookie who was eligible for, but not selected in a College Draft.” (Current College and High School players are not selectable in the HFADL draft.) In the NFL, if a player signs a contract, gets cut before playing any games, then re-signs with another team, he becomes a free agent and loses his rookie status. For the purposes of this league: If a player signs an NFL contract and is cut during the NFL pre-season, then signs with another NFL team, he will still be considered to be a rookie, and thus remain eligible to be placed on the DTS.
3.1.4 Time restrictions.
There will be no timer in force during the draft. Each owner is encouraged to use pre-selects and make picks as soon as possible. If an owner is "on the clock" for more than 24 hours during the draft without prior notice, then that owner will be considered for replacement under rule 1.2.2
* League voted 20-9 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep as is with no time limit per pick during the rookie draft instead of imposing a 12 or 18 hour time limit. (02/22/08)
Section 2. Home Field Advantage Dollars.
3.2.1 HFA$ definition.
HFA$ are the official currency of the HFADL. HFA$ are used to bid on Free Agents, Restricted Free Agents, and may also be used in trades. HFA$ not used during the season are carried over to the following season. Each franchise will be awarded fifty (50) HFA$ upon completion of the RFA period each season. Additionally, each franchise from the same conference as the HFADL Super Bowl winner from the previous season will be awarded two (2) extra HFA$. HFA$ balances will be maintained by the Roster Player Commissioner on the league forum at theHuddle.com.
3.2.2 Managing HFA$.
All HFA$ transactions that are included in any trade will be effective immediately upon league approval of the trade. Trades will not be approved if the franchise offering the HFA$ does not have the amount of HFA$ being offered. No "future" HFA$ will be allowed in any trade.
When bidding on free agents, if the total of all FA bids submitted by a franchise during a FA run exceeds the franchise’s HFA$ balance, transactions will be nullified from last to first until the limit is met.
Section 3. Contracts.
3.3.1 Contract definition.
A player contract is the number of years that the player can remain on your roster before becoming a Restricted Free Agent (RFA).
3.3.2 Contract cap.
Each franchise has a contract cap of 90 years, which cannot be exceeded. (Exception: inter-conference record rule in 3.3.5). No franchise will be permitted to make any transaction that places them over the contract cap.
3.3.3 Annual contract adjustments.
Contract years conclude on January 15. All players with only one year remaining on their contracts on January 15 become Restricted Free Agents (RFA). All players who have multiple contract years remaining on January 15 will have their contracts reduced by one contract year. On January 15, all franchises recover any “dead contract years” encumbered by waiving players during the previous year.
3.3.4 Dead contract years.
Players waived during the year will continue to count 1 year against the franchise’s contract cap unless they are acquired by another franchise. Dead contracts will be tracked in a pinned message in the forum by the Roster Player Commissioner.
3.3.5 Contract miscellaneous.
The deadline for assigning new player contracts will be the final roster declaration date (as specified in 3.4.3).
Free agents acquired during the season (after the final roster declaration date) must be signed to a contract within 48 hours (see rule 3.7.6).
If any franchise carries less than 30 players on the active roster, one contract year must be left unallocated for each open roster slot when contracts are assigned. After week 8 this rule is waived.
All franchises in the conference with the better inter-conference record will be awarded one extra contract year the following season. This contract year is in exception to rule 3.3.2 and is only effective for the current year, so in any given season, half of the league will have a 90-year contract cap and the other half of the league will have a 91-year contract cap.
Section 4. Rosters.
3.4.1 In-season roster parameters.
Each franchise will maintain an in-season active roster with a maximum of 35 players (Not including DTS or IR). It is the owners' decision on how many players to carry at each position. No franchise will be allowed to carry more than 1 TMQB and 1 TMPK on their entire roster.
3.4.2 Off-season roster parameters.
During the off-season (day after the fantasy Super Bowl, until the July 31 cut down date) there will be no roster size limitation. Rosters must be reduced to 54 players by July 31 (Midnight Eastern Time). Franchises in violation of this rule will be charged 1 HFA$ per day per player over the 54 limit.
3.4.3 Final roster declaration.
The final cut down date will be the Monday before the first NFL regular season game at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Each franchise must designate a max of 35 active players, 8 DTS players, and up to 3 IR players. On, or prior to final cut down day, each owner must post a message in the league forum listing his or her:
a.) Active roster players (max 35)
b.) DTS players, if any, (max 8)
c.) IR players, if any, (max 3)
d.) The number of contract years for each player on the active roster or IR.
If a franchise does not meet this deadline, a penalty of 5 HFA$ will be imposed. If final cuts aren’t made within 48 hours of the first NFL game a new owner will be sought.
Each franchise must have six (6) homer players listed as active players at all times. Any HFADL franchise that does not have at least six homer players on their active roster as of kick-off of the first game of week one, will be fined 5 HFA$. An additional 5 HFA$ penalty will be imposed as of kick-off of the first game of any subsequent weeks where a franchise continues to carry less than six homer players.
During the season, if the number of homer players on a HFADL franchise roster drops below six due to an NFL trade, waiver or other NFL roster move, the HFADL franchise will have a seven day grace period, without being fined, to allow the franchise owner to secure additional homer players. After the seven day grace period, the HFADL franchise will be subject to a 5 HFA$ fine as of kick-off of the first game of any week they have less than six homer players on their roster.
Section 5. Injured reserve.
3.5.1 IR definition.
IR is available starting with the July 31st roster cut down. Once a player is placed on Injured Reserve he must remain there for the remainder of that season. Once a player is placed on IR, the club can pick up another player but they must go through the Free Agent channel as with any other pick up. This essentially allows the signing of another player with that one contract year and active roster spot.
3.5.2 IR limits.
Each franchise has a maximum of 3 Injured Reserve slots.
* League voted 15-14 (in favor of keeping as is) to keep the max IR spots at 3. (02/22/08)
3.5.3 IR eligibility.
A player qualifies to be placed on the IR by being placed on the NFL PUP list, on the NFL IR, by being listed as “DOUBTFUL” or “OUT” on his NFL team’s injury report, or by missing a game due to injury.
3.5.4 Waiving IR players.
Any player waived (released, cut, dropped) from IR falls under wavier rules when he is released. If an IR player is released, passes one week of waivers, and is then reacquired by the franchise that released him, that player must be returned to the IR.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to adopt the following clarification: If an IR player is released and then signed by another HFADL franchise, the player is allowed to be re-activated from the IR.
3.5.5 Trading IR players.
* League voted 20-9 (in favor of keeping as is) to keep ability to trade IR players.
* League voted 18-8 to make a traded IR player eligible to be reactivated by his new team. (02/22/08)
3.5.6 IR contract implications.
When placed on IR, the player's current contract year is credited to the franchise and all future contract years will continue to count against the franchise's contract cap. After contracts are reduced for all active roster players on January 15, any players on IR will again become part of the active roster. IR player contracts will not be reduced on January 15 because the franchise was already credited with a year when that player was placed on the Injured Reserve.
Section 6. Developmental Taxi Squad
3.6.1 DTS definition.
Each franchise will be allowed a Developmental Taxi Squad (DTS) containing up to 8 players. Players on the DTS are not assigned contracts and therefore do not count against a franchise’s 90-year contract cap. Also, they do not participate in RFA, and are not eligible to start a game.
3.6.2 DTS limits.
Each franchise’s DTS can contain up to 8 players. A player may remain on the DTS for a maximum of 3 years. Once a player reaches his fourth year of NFL service, he must be promoted to the active roster and assigned a contract or released by his HFADL franchise.
* League voted 16-13 (in favor of keeping as is) to keep the max DTS spots at 8. (02/22/08)
3.6.3 DTS player eligibility.
Players on a franchise’s DTS in a prior year that are not yet entering their fourth NFL season, along with any rookie additions, may be placed on the current year DTS. The deadline for announcing DTS players will be in accordance with the final roster declaration (rule 3.4.3). Any player on an active roster after the final roster declaration date is no longer eligible to be placed on any franchise’s DTS. In the league’s first year only, any player in his second or third NFL season may also be placed on the DTS. All such players must be removed from the DTS and promoted to the active roster or cut before the beginning of their fourth NFL season.
3.6.4 Activation from DTS.
Players on the DTS are not eligible to start a game until they are promoted to the active roster. During the season, players may be promoted from the DTS to the active roster after week one. The Roster Player Commissioner must be notified of a DTS player promotion by posting on the message board. Players that are promoted from the DTS to the active roster must immediately be given a contract and are now available to be in the weekly line-up. DTS players that are accidentally submitted into a starting line-up will be removed and that franchise will get zero (0) points from that position for that week. As promoting a player from the DTS to the active roster requires the involvement of a league commissioner, any player promoted from the DTS to the active roster will not be eligible to start a game for the period of 48 hours.
3.6.5 DTS miscellaneous.
DTS players do not participate in RFA. Acquired free agents may be placed directly onto the DTS providing they are in their rookie year (or second or third year during the inaugural season of the league) and have never been on any HFADL active roster. Traded players may be put onto the DTS only if they were on the other franchise’s DTS before the trade or if they are a qualifying rookie that has never been assigned an HFADL contract and the trade takes place prior to the final roster declaration date. DTS seasons conclude on January 15.
Section 7. Free Agency.
3.7.1 FA definition.
Free Agency is the process that involves a franchise adding a player that is not currently on another HFADL franchise roster (Active, IR or DTS).
3.7.2 FA player eligibility.
Any current NFL player not on a HFADL franchise active roster, IR, or DTS is considered a Free Agent. Players are not eligible for free agency until they have been drafted by an NFL team, or were undrafted at the completion of a NFL draft for which they were eligible (regular or supplemental).
3.7.3 FA schedule.
“FA runs” occur on Wednesday evenings with a bid submission deadline at 8 PM Eastern Time. No pick-ups are allowed after this time until the following Wednesday. The Free Agency Commissioner’s bids are due by Tuesday night at midnight Eastern Time, to the League Commissioner.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to keep the late season FA runs on Wednesday evenings despite a possible time crunch when Thursday night NFL games begin.
FA runs begin on the first Wednesday after the rookie draft and will be held every other week until the first NFL preseason game. From then on, they will be held every week until the HFADL play-offs start, at which time FA runs end. There will be a FA run the Wednesday after the week 12 NFL games (last week of HFA regular season games), there will not be a FA run the Wednesday after the week 13 NFL games (the first week of HFA playoff games.)
In addition, there will be two FA runs prior to the rookie draft each year. These will be on the first Wednesday in March, and on the second Wednesday in May. NFL rookies just drafted in the current year are not eligible for the FA run on the second Wednesday in May. For 2006, the inaugural HFADL season, there will be one pre-preseason FA run on the first wed in June.
3.7.4 FA bid process.
The FA bid process will be conducted in a “blind bidding” manner. HFA$ are used to bid on free agents. The minimum FA bid is 1 HFA$. Franchises may only bid up to the amount of HFA$ they have available. Bids must be in whole number increments. If the total of all bids submitted by a franchise during a FA run exceeds the franchise’s HFA$ balance, transactions will be nullified from last to first until the limit is met.
Bids for FA's must be submitted via e-mail to the official league FA e-mail account: HFA_FA@Yahoo.com
Bids received by any other means will be rejected.
*2008 rules Committee voted to keep the FA bid process operating through email rather than move it to the league’s myfantasyleague.com website.
During the season, bids must contain all of the following:
1. The name of the franchise
2. The name of the free agent(s) you want to acquire.
3. The amount bid for that player.
4. A conditional release notice indicating the player you will waive to make room for the new player.
Owners can submit conditional bids (example: "Troy Brown, if Brown is no longer available, Fred Lane"). Submitting multiple FA request forms will result in only the last one being processed, so submit all free agent bids in one email, even if attempting to make more than one transaction.
Any bid that violates the roster limits without conditional release will be null and void. If multiple transactions are attempted, only the transactions that violate the roster limits will be voided.
If more than one franchise requests the same player, the franchise submitting the highest bid will acquire that player.
3.7.5 FA bid tiebreakers.
During the season, in the event that two or more franchises submit the same high bid for a player, the FA Player Commissioner will award the free agent to:
1. The franchise with the worst current winning percentage.
2. If they currently have the same winning percentage, the franchise that has scored the fewest points.
3. If still tied, the franchise that submitted the earliest bid.
During the off-season, the free agent will be awarded to:
1. The franchise with the worst winning percentage from the previous year
2. If they had the same winning percentage, the franchise with the fewest total points from the previous year.
3. If still tied, the franchise that submitted the earliest bid.
3.7.6 FA contracts.
During the season, FA pick-ups must immediately be signed to a contract. A franchise cannot formally add the free agent until the franchise owner assigns a contract to the player that complies with the contract cap. Any free agent that has not been assigned a contract within 48 hours of the bid results being posted will be returned to the free agent pool and the franchise will lose the HFA$ spent on their bid.
Section 8. Waivers.
3.8.1 Waivers definition.
Waiving (cutting, dropping, releasing) a player is the process in which an HFADL franchise removes a player from their active roster, IR, or DTS, sending that player to the HFADL’s free agent pool.
3.8.2 Waiver process.
To waive a player, a franchise owner posts their waiver request in the league forum and the Roster Player Commissioner processes it on the myfantasyleague.com site.
3.8.3 Reclaiming waived players.
If a franchise waives a player and later wishes to reclaim that player, the player in question must clear waivers. This means the releasing team cannot place a bid on the waived player until the second FA run after the player was waived. If the franchise is successful in reclaiming the player, then the franchise owner has the right to issue a new contract as long as it does not violate the contract cap.
3.8.4 Waivers contract implications.
After a player is waived, only his current contract year continues to count against his former franchise's contract cap. This contract year is referred to as a “dead contract year”. A franchise can only get relief for the waived player’s dead contract year if the waived player is later assigned a new contract by another franchise. All future contract years for players that are waived are credited to the franchise as soon as the player is waived. Dead contract years remain in effect until January 15 each year.
The dead contract year 'cap hit' also applies to players waived during the off-season - even if the player retires or is otherwise physically unable to perform. The only exception will be in the event of a player’s death and his subsequent release.
* League voted 23-6 (in favor of change) to relieve the dead contract “cap hit” when releasing a deceased player. (02/22/08)
After the end of each season, franchises have until midnight Eastern Time on March 1 to waive players and avoid having dead contract years count against them for the upcoming year. The March 1 deadline is just after the deadline to pay league dues for the upcoming season.
*2008 Rules Committee voted to move this deadline to March 1 from “Monday following the NFL Super Bowl.”
3.8.5 Waivers and TMQB/TMPK.
Any TMQB or TMPK that is currently under contract, may not be waived by the franchise the TMQB or TMPK is under contract to.
Section 9. Trading.
3.9.1 Trading definition.
Trading is the process by which one HFADL franchise gives an HFADL tradable commodity(ies) to another HFADL franchise in exchange for other HFADL tradable commodity(ies). The only tradable commodities in the HFADL are:
1. Players currently on an HFADL franchise’s roster (active, IR or DTS).
2. Rights to an HFADL franchise’s RFA player.
3. Rights to an HFADL franchise’s Rookie draft picks (for the next two rookie drafts only).
4. HFA$.
Under no circumstances will any “real world” commodity (such as actual money) be allowed to be part of any trade. Additionally, no secret items (items not specifically listed in the post announcing the trade in the forum) will be allowed to be part of any trade.
3.9.2 Trading process.
Trades between franchises are unlimited.
When trading, the following will occur:
1. The offering owner must offer the trade in MFL.
2. The accepting owner must accept the trade in MFL.
3. Both owners involved in the trade must post in the league forum at theHuddle.com, notifying the Roster Player Commissioner that the trade has been offered and accepted in MFL.
4. The Roster Player Commissioner processes the trade in MFL.
Any trade involving the FA Player Commissioner or Roster Player Commissioner will be adjudicated by the League Commissioner.
3.9.3 Trading deadlines.
The weekly trading deadline is 48 hours before the start of that week’s first NFL game. The season trading deadline is 48 hours before the start of the first game of NFL week 10. Trades will be put on hold for 24 hours from the time of acceptance by both owners on the message board, to allow for owner/Roster Player Commissioner inspection.
* League voted 20-9 (in favor of keeping as is) to keep the trade deadline at week 10. (02/22/08)
The HFADL trading period resumes on March 1. Dues must be paid in full for all owners involved in a trade before it may be processed.
3.9.4 Trading and contracts.
Traded players contracts will be counted against the 90-year contract cap for his new franchise and removed from his prior franchise. An exchange of players between franchises cannot leave either franchise in violation of the 90-year contract cap, 35-player active roster limit, 8-player DTS limit, or 3-player IR limit. If any trade violates this rule, the Roster Player Commissioner will delay the trade until such time as the involved teams can make room under the contract cap and/or roster limits.
3.9.5 Trading draft picks.
Franchises may trade picks from the current draft and the next immediate future draft only. This means that two years of picks are available for trading at any given time. For example, once the 2006 draft concludes, 2007 and 2008 picks will be tradable. If at any time a trade will result in a franchise having fewer than one pick in the first three rounds of any draft OR less than five picks total in any draft (the draft is currently set for 6 rounds), then league dues for that draft year will be required to be prepaid by that franchise owner before the trade is processed. The Roster Player Commissioner will put the trade on hold until fees are confirmed as “received” by the league Treasurer.
3.9.6 Trading HFA$.
All HFA$ transactions that are included in any trade will be effective immediately upon League approval of the trade. Trades will not be approved if the franchise offering the HFA$ does not have the amount of HFA$ being offered. No "future" HFA$ will be allowed in any trade.
3.9.7 Vetoing trades.
If any trade appears to be excessively one-sided or otherwise unfair, the league owners may be asked to vote whether or not to approve the transaction. A vote will be called to approve/veto any trade when the League Commissioner or Roster Player Commissioner request a vote. In addition, a vote will be called if five (5) owners request a vote by posting in the league forum within 24 hours of the trade being announced. If a vote is called, a simple majority (17) of league owners is required for a trade to be vetoed.
* 2008 Rules Committee voted to change to “5 owners” necessary to call for a vote to challenge a trade (instead of 3 owners) and 17 owners must vote against the trade in order to veto (instead of 17 owners needed to approve.)
* League voted 16-13 (in favor of keeping as is) to NOT establish a time period before a player can be traded back to the team he was previously traded from. (02/22/08)
Section 10. Restricted Free Agency.
3.10.1 RFA definition.
Once a player's contract expires, he becomes a Restricted Free Agent (RFA). They are referred to as “Restricted” Free Agents, because the franchise that held the player’s contract before it expired retains limited rights to that player in the form of “matching rights”.
3.10.2 RFA schedule.
Each season will have an RFA period when all franchises can bid (using HFA$) on RFA players. RFA bidding begins April 1 and closes on April 30. No new bids will be accepted after April 30. "Bids in process" may continue beyond April 30 until a final offer is reached for a player. After the RFA signing period ends, any players that did not receive bids will remain on their current franchise’s roster at no cost.
3.10.3 RFA bid process.
All RFA bids are made in the league forum and each bid must include the player's name and the amount bid. Bids must be in whole HFA$ increments and $1HFA is the minimum bid. Franchise owners may not raise their own high bids or bid on their own players. Once a bid is posted on a player, other interested franchise owners may increase the bid. Franchise owners may drop out of the bidding process for any individual player at any time unless they currently have the high bid. They may re-enter the bidding process as long as bidding remains open for the player in question.
3.10.4 RFA bid closing and matching.
If no bid has been made in the previous 24 hours the player will be marked “CLOSED.”
Once the auction on a player is marked “CLOSED”, the franchise owner holding the RFA player’s rights will have 36 hours to match the highest bid and retain that player. Once the decision to “match” or “pass” has been announced or 36 hours passes without a decision, the auction will be marked “FINAL” for that player.
* League voted 21-8 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to keep the “match” time at 36 hours. (02/22/08)
3.10.5 RFA overbidding.
Franchise owners who place bids must have enough HFA$ available to cover all of their outstanding high bids. If a franchise owner overbids their budget at any time, the latest bid will be removed from the board. The next highest bidder at the time of the overbid will be asked by the Free Agent Player Commissioner and/or Roster player Commissioner if they would like to maintain their previous bid. The overbidding owner can no longer bid for said player. (This exclusion will remain even if the overbidding owner makes a trade for more HFA$) All other bids placed by the offending owner will remain in effect. Any owner that overbids their HFA$ balance will receive $10 less in HFA$ per infraction when HFA$ are given out under rule 3.2.1.
3.10.6 Trading during RFA period.
The rights to a player currently on the board can be traded at any time before or after bidding is "CLOSED." If a team acquires the rights to a RFA, and that team also has the current high bid on the RFA, then the bid will become “void”, and the next bid will become the high bid.
See this interpretation:
http://forums.thehuddle.com/index.php?show...p;#entry2806821
Passed for 2010:
3.10.6 Trading during RFA Period.
The rights to a player currently on the board can be traded at any time before or after bidding is "CLOSED." If a team acquires the rights to a RFA, and that team also has the current high bid on the RFA, their HIGH BID will remain the current high bid. If a team acquires the rights to a RFA that is closed and they have the high bid their bid will remain the high bid and that is the bid they will have to match to retain the player. If a team trades for a players RFA rights and they are the high bidder and that player is closed the player will be considered MATCHED as soon as the trade for rights is agreed upon by both parties (here in the HFA huddle forum)as long as the trade is agreed to before the match time has expired.
3.10.7 Acquiring TMQB or TMPK in RFA
During the RFA bidding period, any team may place a bid on a RFA TMQB and/or RFA TMPK, regardless of the bidding team’s contract with their current TMQB and/or TMPK.
Any team that acquires a TMQB or TMPK through the RFA bid process, will immediately (upon confirmation that bidding for that player is Final) transfer rights to their previous TMQB or TMPK to the team the RFA they have just acquired came from. This transfer will be referred to as a “Forced Transfer”.
That TMQB or TMPK transferred to the team that lost a RFA will immediately become an RFA (the TMQB or TMPK’s contract will be reduced to zero), if he is not one already. If the transfer occurs beyond the RFA bidding period, no new bids may be submitted and he may be assigned a contract by his new team.
* League voted 15-12 (in favor of change, but short of passing) to NOT implement a Franchise Tag rule. (02/22/08)
ElliotDiamond
Footballguy
that is some intricate, well-run stuff...how would you alter it to get rid of IDP? and did the draft take you 2 months?
Beaumont
Footballguy
Actually, yes from about early May to late June in 2006.I would just drop the IDP and keep everything else.ETA: Torero is my work account.
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ebcpastor2004
Footballguy
Here's a link to a 32 team, PPR, IDP 8 Keeper league I'm in. You can check out the scoring, rules, etc... We're drafting right now. Players drafted in the 1st three rounds are not eligible to be kept.
http://www16.myfantasyleague.com/2009/home/38523
here's the link to the message board where you can learn more:
http://nflffl.proboards.com/index.cgi?
http://www16.myfantasyleague.com/2009/home/38523
here's the link to the message board where you can learn more:
http://nflffl.proboards.com/index.cgi?
Zoomanji
Footballguy
Added to my FBG database :BigJohn:heres's another without IDP
http://football12.myfantasyleague.com/2009...=14243&O=26
I don't like the idea of a team QB or PK as much as I like the idea of flex positions.
I.e., start:
1 RB
2 WR
1 TE
1 flex (QB/RB/WR/TE)
1 flex (RB/WR/TE/PK)
1 flex (RB/WR/TE)
So you don't have to start a QB or PK -- but it's beneficial if you can (since they generally score more than a third RB or fourth WR or second TE).
I.e., start:
1 RB
2 WR
1 TE
1 flex (QB/RB/WR/TE)
1 flex (RB/WR/TE/PK)
1 flex (RB/WR/TE)
So you don't have to start a QB or PK -- but it's beneficial if you can (since they generally score more than a third RB or fourth WR or second TE).
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ElliotDiamond
Footballguy
is this your league? i like it, minus the confusing "homer stud" rule.
El Torero
Footballguy
I agree the homer rules could be jettisoned from both leagues. I can take them or leave them. The format is quite good. If you can get 32 good owners it creates serious fervor and cutthroat dealing. The right or wrong move in this means a serious change in the standings.
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ElliotDiamond
Footballguy
can you explain how you determine the original draft order in the first year, and how who gets what team is determined? do you draft the team k/d package, then that's your team?also, what would be your suggestion if you get rid of the homer rule? would you add something to have some other keeper carryover to the following seasons? i dont think i could start this and have a full draft with 32 teams every offseason. maybe you keep a certain # of players, then you have a rookie and free agent draft? looking for suggestions. want to keep it simple, yet sensible.
Stealthycat
Footballguy
http://www3.myfantasyleague.com/2009/home/11497
3rd year for the above, salary capped, live auction drafting - THE best big league I'm in
3rd year for the above, salary capped, live auction drafting - THE best big league I'm in
Beaumont
Footballguy
I would prefer an initial auction but it you have an initial draft then I say its obviously dice rolls and serpentine. I would also make rookies not available in the initial draft and then invert the initial rookie draft and also make it serpentine (No. 1 vet gets no. 32 rookie and vice versa). Let people pick their slot by dice roll priority.Why not avoid tieing the teams to NFL teams. Just let people pick Team D, Team PK and Team QB like any other player. Just drop the homer rule. Player retention would be done with contracts and a contract cap (see above rules). No "keepers", just expiring contracts and FA and RFA done with play cash. RFA is done with the play cash via auction. See above rules.ElliotDiamond said:
