Commish Help (Holiday issue) (1 Viewer)

[Birdie048]

I am the Commissioner of a 12 Team 3 Keeper League and I need some help in addressing a situation. It is the league's 2nd season and we are still defining the rules and bylaws (I have GregR's "Rules Every League Should Consider" and will apply it this off-season). There are some gray areas in our rules and some areas that need to be better bracketed to help define.

Our league site: Carolina Gridiron League (#24672)

However, the Injured Reserve rules are clear:

3a. Injured Reserve: If a player is listed as Physically Unable to Perform (PUP), Out (O) or Injured (I) by the NFL Injury Report (which is released every Friday during the NFL Season), that player may be moved to IR to free up a roster slot. Once that player is removed from the NFL Injury Report, they must be removed from IR by that team before Kickoff of Sunday's games or they will be released to the free agent pool. Players listed as Doubtful, Questionable or Suspended do not qualify for IR in this league. Only 1 player may be listed on IR at a time. Players listed on IR may not be used in starting line-up and do not count against the 18 player roster limit. Note: Players listed as PUP must be moved to IR by the commissioner as league software does not monitor PUP status. Players listed as PUP are not listed on NFL Injury Report, but are considered as Out for 6 Weeks.The problem is that a team who was eliminated from the Championship and Toilet Bowl battles had a player (Mia RB Ronnie Brown) listed on their Injured Reserve. When the NFL Injury Report came out Friday, he was upgraded to Doubtful (D). And he even played Sunday. Thus, he was in violation of the IR Rules above. As commissioner I have the responsibility to do what is best for the league and to ensure the rules are followed. However, with the Christmas Holiday and the fact that he was traveling (Fri-Mon & no web access), should he be held accountable to the same rule when his season was essentially over and all players would carry over to next season as normal.

Appreciate your vote and input. I will open this same vote up to the league, but I don't expect more than 5 votes from the 12 teams at this point in the season.

This team will have the #5 Draft Pick next season and has Keeper Options of Steven Jackson, Roy Williams & T Bell/M Bell and Larry Fitzgerald. Most likely, R Bown is a trade commodity to improve his draft situation.

 

[Birdie048]

Okay... maybe the post is a little too long for the late night crowd....

Okay... simple version, as Commissioner, I am authorized to waive R Brown from his roster, but with the holiday and him out of the race, is that the right thing to do?

I'd appreciate more votes. Thanks!

 

[David Yudkin]

I don't see how a team no longer playing can be in violation of a rule when it is no longer even required or able to submit a lineup.

I suggest you get in touch with the owner and let him know that to the letter of the law that Brown needs to be placed on his active roster or be released and to get him to name a player to drop if your league rules limit how many players can be on an active roster. With no games to play this year for his team, I would not be all that concerned if it's in a day, a week, or even two weeks as it really does not matter.

So, no, I would not make the team lose the rights to Brown.

 

[ILoveMyLions]

As commissioner I have the responsibility to do what is best for the league and to ensure the rules are followed. However, with the Christmas Holiday and the fact that he was traveling (Fri-Mon & no web access),

First of all, I'm a commish of a dynasty league going on 9 years, and I think the whole IR is a pain for this reason. We increased the roster size and did away with it a couple of years ago and I couldn't be happier. It creates to much controversy, etc. for me to handle and takes away from the fun and trash talk. So, I would consider changing the rule as you stated either wiping the rule out, or modifying it to allow some leway from the commish and others over your team if you are the team in question.To the issue at hand, the statement above is enough for me. The guy was traveling. Some people have lives outside of football and when that comes in jeopardy, FF becomes more toruble than it's worth. I believe it is in the best interest of the league to allow the guy to recant it. I would also say that the last player the guy picked up or the guy he picked up with the waiver move should be cut and his stats should be wiped from the guys team if he started him. That's a fair compromise IMO. If anyone gives you crap, put yourself in the guy's shoes as it doesn't seem to be intentional or manipulative in any way. The guy was out of town...Spike Lee this and do the right thing...Good Luck...

 

[David Yudkin]

As commissioner I have the responsibility to do what is best for the league and to ensure the rules are followed. However, with the Christmas Holiday and the fact that he was traveling (Fri-Mon & no web access),

First of all, I'm a commish of a dynasty league going on 9 years, and I think the whole IR is a pain for this reason. We increased the roster size and did away with it a couple of years ago and I couldn't be happier. It creates to much controversy, etc. for me to handle and takes away from the fun and trash talk. So, I would consider changing the rule as you stated either wiping the rule out, or modifying it to allow some leway from the commish and others over your team if you are the team in question.To the issue at hand, the statement above is enough for me. The guy was traveling. Some people have lives outside of football and when that comes in jeopardy, FF becomes more toruble than it's worth. I believe it is in the best interest of the league to allow the guy to recant it. I would also say that the last player the guy picked up or the guy he picked up with the waiver move should be cut and his stats should be wiped from the guys team if he started him. That's a fair compromise IMO. If anyone gives you crap, put yourself in the guy's shoes as it doesn't seem to be intentional or manipulative in any way. The guy was out of town...Spike Lee this and do the right thing...Good Luck...

From what I read, the timeline as I see it was:- Team put Brown on IR- Team played out the season- Brown no longer IR eligible- League season completed- Team did not reactivate Brown so by rule (after the team's season was over) could be released for not being reactivated in a timely mannerThere are no more games to play, so to make him lose Brown when the league season is over, IMO, seems too severe a penalty.

 

[Organized Chaos]

I don't see how a team no longer playing can be in violation of a rule when it is no longer even required or able to submit a lineup.

I agree, once the team is out of contention his players should not be available to the playoff teams. What if he just dropped Brown so his buddy with waiver priority could get him??I think that the fact anyone is even arguing this is a huge reach.

I think the whole IR is a pain for this reason. We increased the roster size and did away with it a couple of years ago and I couldn't be happier. It creates to much controversy, etc. for me to handle and takes away from the fun and trash talk. So, I would consider changing the rule as you stated either wiping the rule out, or modifying it to allow some leway from the commish and others over your team if you are the team in question.

I agree with this, we did the same thing in our Dynasty league that I used to commish, its the easiest way to not have grey areas IMO.Whatever you do, good luck, but I would think that for "the best of the league" you dont do anything with Brown.

 

[JBTV]

I don't see how a team no longer playing can be in violation of a rule when it is no longer even required or able to submit a lineup.I suggest you get in touch with the owner and let him know that to the letter of the law that Brown needs to be placed on his active roster or be released and to get him to name a player to drop if your league rules limit how many players can be on an active roster. With no games to play this year for his team, I would not be all that concerned if it's in a day, a week, or even two weeks as it really does not matter.So, no, I would not make the team lose the rights to Brown.

I would make him get Brown off IR and drop a player fairly quickly, though...preferably before this weekend's games. Just in case a guy on his team suffers a freak career ending injury and he gets the advantage of an easy decision who to drop.

 

[GregR_2]

I agree that I don't think there's an expectation of the same level of activity after a team is done for the year. I'd require him to cut someone to make room, but wouldn't drop him.

 

[mcjc4]

Seasons over, turn off the computers and reintroduce yourselfs to family and friends you forgot about last August.

 

[Birdie048]

Thanks for the advice! I was torn with the decision and I realized it was a tough spot for the owner.

Since the only actions owners are entitled to make now is drop players, I will complete the transaction to correct the situation.

THANKS AGAIN!

 

[Sweet Love]

Birdie,

Thanks for putting this up for debate. I run the team in question and just want to thank everyone for their responses. Basically, David Y. hit the nail on the head. Once I was eliminated in Week 15, I figured the season was over for me and I did the "family thing" during X-Mas. Had I still been in contention, I would have certainlycontinued to manage my team. Thanks again!