Commissioners and Veto Power (1 Viewer)

[⚡DEADHEAD⚡]

I've been Commissioner for several years for several leagues. I've been commissioner of a brand new 10-team league with guys who never played FF before and in that first year, I held veto power. Other than that, I can't think of instances where veto power is necessary. Commissioner can protect against collusion without holding veto power. It's an abuse of the system and the fact that commissioners still post on this board noting that they hold veto power surprises me. What is it. A power trip or league protection?

 

[jimmyd9989]

I am a commissioner and find it a lot easier to hold all the power rather than letting every one walk all over you. Fact is that it is YOUR league and if you want your league to succeed you will be fair enough that there will not be any problems. In my league I use a vote system but still have the final say. And so far it is working great (past few seasons have been votes and a lot of guys ruin it by having a problem with every trade because they don't agree with teams getting too good). There must be a fine line between cheating and people just making unethical trades. I am in another league that uses the polls for EVERYTHING and it is absolutely awful because nothing gets done..... it takes a week for a trade to go through and the commissioner makes every vote final. If you are a good commissioner you can use the veto to help guys out and make it fun for everyone (such as submitting a roster for a guy who accidentally started a guy on a bye week or didn't realize his kicker didn't play). Things like that go a long way for people.

 

[⚡DEADHEAD⚡]

I am a commissioner and find it a lot easier to hold all the power rather than letting every one walk all over you. Fact is that it is YOUR league and if you want your league to succeed you will be fair enough that there will not be any problems. In my league I use a vote system but still have the final say. And so far it is working great (past few seasons have been votes and a lot of guys ruin it by having a problem with every trade because they don't agree with teams getting too good). There must be a fine line between cheating and people just making unethical trades. I am in another league that uses the polls for EVERYTHING and it is absolutely awful because nothing gets done..... it takes a week for a trade to go through and the commissioner makes every vote final. If you are a good commissioner you can use the veto to help guys out and make it fun for everyone (such as submitting a roster for a guy who accidentally started a guy on a bye week or didn't realize his kicker didn't play). Things like that go a long way for people.

 

[Jedi Knight]

I have been commissioner for 20 years. I do have a veto clause in the rules, but I told every owner that I will only utilize it if collusion is suspected. If a trade looks completely lopsided, I follow the following steps:

1- I call each owner and have them explain their logic. Most times it ends here as one or both owners see things from an angle I didn't think of.

2- If I'm not satisfied, I'll bring in the two other most senior owners and we'll discuss.

3- I can involve a league vote if I feel it's needed. I have only used this one time when collusion was suspected. It was followed by a vote to kick an owner out.

The only other time I will step in the middle of a trade is if we have a new owner that is clearly being taken advantage of. We have a fairly complicated league and it usually take a year for the average owner to "get" the value of IDP's. This has happened a few times, but was resolved with a couple of phone calls and a modified trade offer.

I believe that each owner has the right to run their team as they see fit. And that means taking the consequences of a bad trade. That's how you learn. Also, I think trust plays a huge role. We don't intentionally screw each other over because we have played many years together. What comes around-goes around. If you intentionally tried to screw someone in a trade last year, you will find it 10 times more difficult to trade this year just because of your reputation.

The underlying problem is player value. Every owner values each player just a little differently. So every owner is going to value any trade differently. This, along with motives to "not let another team get stronger" is a perfect reason to not let voting on trades occur.

Since I took this stance many years ago, there have been no trade complaints other than the one that involved collusion. You would be amazed how owners can act like adults when you allow them to. Sorry for the ramble. Too many late night beers.

 

[Wadsworth]

I have been commissioner for 20 years. I do have a veto clause in the rules, but I told every owner that I will only utilize it if collusion is suspected. If a trade looks completely lopsided, I follow the following steps:

1- I call each owner and have them explain their logic. Most times it ends here as one or both owners see things from an angle I didn't think of.

2- If I'm not satisfied, I'll bring in the two other most senior owners and we'll discuss.

3- I can involve a league vote if I feel it's needed. I have only used this one time when collusion was suspected. It was followed by a vote to kick an owner out.

The only other time I will step in the middle of a trade is if we have a new owner that is clearly being taken advantage of. We have a fairly complicated league and it usually take a year for the average owner to "get" the value of IDP's. This has happened a few times, but was resolved with a couple of phone calls and a modified trade offer.

I believe that each owner has the right to run their team as they see fit. And that means taking the consequences of a bad trade. That's how you learn. Also, I think trust plays a huge role. We don't intentionally screw each other over because we have played many years together. What comes around-goes around. If you intentionally tried to screw someone in a trade last year, you will find it 10 times more difficult to trade this year just because of your reputation.

The underlying problem is player value. Every owner values each player just a little differently. So every owner is going to value any trade differently. This, along with motives to "not let another team get stronger" is a perfect reason to not let voting on trades occur.

Since I took this stance many years ago, there have been no trade complaints other than the one that involved collusion. You would be amazed how owners can act like adults when you allow them to. Sorry for the ramble. Too many late night beers.

I know it's a small issue in the grand scheme of things but I hate those phone calls. I really don't want to explain to anyone the methods I use to value players and reasoning behind my trades. Any trade I make, I make because I think it increases my chances of winning. Beyond that it's really no ones business as long as I'm not conspiring with other owners. The vast majority of times collusion is obvious and a phone call isn't going to change that.I agree with much of the rest of the post, but hate leagues where the commish expects me to detail my reasoning for trading.

 

[Godsbrother]

I have been commissioner of my league for 16 years and have sole veto power although it can be overturned by majority vote by the league. So far I have vetoed ZERO trades.

 

[belljr]

I commished my league since 94. I think ONE time I vetoed a trade. Only because they were trying to do a trade trade back. This was in the early years of our league, while we were still finding our way. I've seen trades where it's obvious guys are cleaning house for next year. We draft like the NFL (based on prior season record and no snake). We only keep 1 player but can trade draft picks.

Anyway, we put checks in place to prevent total tanking, trade rules (basically no trading that player back to the original team, early trade deadline, etc)

99.9% of the time I just check to make sure it doesn't create an illegal roster situation and hit accept.

I have never asked owners why they are making the trade etc etc. I'd say it's 50/50 anyway when I think a trade is lopsided and it ends up not working out anyway.

I don't have any delusion I hold power or anything like that.

 

[shadyridr]

For you commissioners with veto power, what happens when you make a lopsided trade?

Im honestly asking because we had a huge situation in our league last night. We dont vote on trades. Im the commish and all trades go through. I dont have veto power. But I can overturn trades if collusion is suspected. In our 11 yrs of doing this league no trade has ever been overturned. However, two trades have been suspected of collusion. In both instances I asked the owners what they thought and their explanation was good enough for me and we moved on.

But last night I made a trade with another owner and one of the league members was livid and thought I ripped the other guy off.

 

[Insein]

We have co-commissioners and it would take both our votes to veto a trade. With that said, we've never vetoed a trade in the 10+ years of our league.

 

[Godsbrother]

For you commissioners with veto power, what happens when you make a lopsided trade?Im honestly asking because we had a huge situation in our league last night. We dont vote on trades. Im the commish and all trades go through. I dont have veto power. But I can overturn trades if collusion is suspected. In our 11 yrs of doing this league no trade has ever been overturned. However, two trades have been suspected of collusion. In both instances I asked the owners what they thought and their explanation was good enough for me and we moved on.But last night I made a trade with another owner and one of the league members was livid and thought I ripped the other guy off.

Anything in our league can be overturned by 3/4 vote but you would have to be a pretty big jerk to collude with another owner in your own league

 

[habsfan]

I have been commissioner for 20 years. I do have a veto clause in the rules, but I told every owner that I will only utilize it if collusion is suspected. If a trade looks completely lopsided, I follow the following steps:

1- I call each owner and have them explain their logic. Most times it ends here as one or both owners see things from an angle I didn't think of.

2- If I'm not satisfied, I'll bring in the two other most senior owners and we'll discuss.

3- I can involve a league vote if I feel it's needed. I have only used this one time when collusion was suspected. It was followed by a vote to kick an owner out.

The only other time I will step in the middle of a trade is if we have a new owner that is clearly being taken advantage of. We have a fairly complicated league and it usually take a year for the average owner to "get" the value of IDP's. This has happened a few times, but was resolved with a couple of phone calls and a modified trade offer.

I believe that each owner has the right to run their team as they see fit. And that means taking the consequences of a bad trade. That's how you learn. Also, I think trust plays a huge role. We don't intentionally screw each other over because we have played many years together. What comes around-goes around. If you intentionally tried to screw someone in a trade last year, you will find it 10 times more difficult to trade this year just because of your reputation.

The underlying problem is player value. Every owner values each player just a little differently. So every owner is going to value any trade differently. This, along with motives to "not let another team get stronger" is a perfect reason to not let voting on trades occur.

Since I took this stance many years ago, there have been no trade complaints other than the one that involved collusion. You would be amazed how owners can act like adults when you allow them to. Sorry for the ramble. Too many late night beers.

I know it's a small issue in the grand scheme of things but I hate those phone calls. I really don't want to explain to anyone the methods I use to value players and reasoning behind my trades. Any trade I make, I make because I think it increases my chances of winning. Beyond that it's really no ones business as long as I'm not conspiring with other owners. The vast majority of times collusion is obvious and a phone call isn't going to change that.I agree with much of the rest of the post, but hate leagues where the commish expects me to detail my reasoning for trading.

I'm guessing your trades don't likely require explanation to a commish who has reasonably comparable skill/experience.I always contend that the question of who has (or doesn't have) "the power" is always secondary to the level of competitive balance in the league. The real problems occur when you have a group of people playing together with different FF skill/knowledge levels.

 

[shadyridr]

For you commissioners with veto power, what happens when you make a lopsided trade?Im honestly asking because we had a huge situation in our league last night. We dont vote on trades. Im the commish and all trades go through. I dont have veto power. But I can overturn trades if collusion is suspected. In our 11 yrs of doing this league no trade has ever been overturned. However, two trades have been suspected of collusion. In both instances I asked the owners what they thought and their explanation was good enough for me and we moved on.But last night I made a trade with another owner and one of the league members was livid and thought I ripped the other guy off.

Anything in our league can be overturned by 3/4 vote but you would have to be a pretty big jerk to collude with another owner in your own league

I didnt collude. I made a trade. Another owner thought I ripped the other guy off and made a big stink.

 

[Road Warriors]

For you commissioners with veto power, what happens when you make a lopsided trade?Im honestly asking because we had a huge situation in our league last night. We dont vote on trades. Im the commish and all trades go through. I dont have veto power. But I can overturn trades if collusion is suspected. In our 11 yrs of doing this league no trade has ever been overturned. However, two trades have been suspected of collusion. In both instances I asked the owners what they thought and their explanation was good enough for me and we moved on.But last night I made a trade with another owner and one of the league members was livid and thought I ripped the other guy off.

In my league, we have a designated asst. commissioner who steps in to the role when the commissioner is one of the parties in the transaction.

 

[Road Warriors]

For you commissioners with veto power, what happens when you make a lopsided trade?Im honestly asking because we had a huge situation in our league last night. We dont vote on trades. Im the commish and all trades go through. I dont have veto power. But I can overturn trades if collusion is suspected. In our 11 yrs of doing this league no trade has ever been overturned. However, two trades have been suspected of collusion. In both instances I asked the owners what they thought and their explanation was good enough for me and we moved on.But last night I made a trade with another owner and one of the league members was livid and thought I ripped the other guy off.

Anything in our league can be overturned by 3/4 vote but you would have to be a pretty big jerk to collude with another owner in your own league

I didnt collude. I made a trade. Another owner thought I ripped the other guy off and made a big stink.

Out of curiousity, can you lay out the trade - not for an asst coach forum type post, but you have a few commissioners here that can look at it and give you feedback on how they would handle it, thought process, etc. It might shine some light on how some commissioners review trades.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I've been Commissioner for several years for several leagues. I've been commissioner of a brand new 10-team league with guys who never played FF before and in that first year, I held veto power. Other than that, I can't think of instances where veto power is necessary. Commissioner can protect against collusion without holding veto power. It's an abuse of the system and the fact that commissioners still post on this board noting that they hold veto power surprises me. What is it. A power trip or league protection?

Somebody has to hold it. I've never used in 15 years and likely never will have to use it (since I don't ever forsee collusion), but it has to be there just in case.

 

[Chaka]

For you commissioners with veto power, what happens when you make a lopsided trade?

Im honestly asking because we had a huge situation in our league last night. We dont vote on trades. Im the commish and all trades go through. I dont have veto power. But I can overturn trades if collusion is suspected. In our 11 yrs of doing this league no trade has ever been overturned. However, two trades have been suspected of collusion. In both instances I asked the owners what they thought and their explanation was good enough for me and we moved on.

But last night I made a trade with another owner and one of the league members was livid and thought I ripped the other guy off.

Anything in our league can be overturned by 3/4 vote but you would have to be a pretty big jerk to collude with another owner in your own league

I didnt collude. I made a trade. Another owner thought I ripped the other guy off and made a big stink.

Out of curiousity, can you lay out the trade - not for an asst coach forum type post, but you have a few commissioners here that can look at it and give you feedback on how they would handle it, thought process, etc. It might shine some light on how some commissioners review trades.

Just make sure they have their certificate in Commissioneering from University of Phoenix before you follow their advice. You don't want to be dealing with amateurs in a situation like that.

 

[Apple Jack]

Last year was my first year in ff and there were a husband and wife in the league. The husbands team was in last place and going nowhere so he gave up his best ayers to his wife for nothing. Slam dunk collusion. The commissioner missed it but a couple of league members, including me, caught it. This is a money league, but not a very serious one. Still a few of us brought it to the commissioners attention and he vetoed it after a poll revealed everybody agreed. They divorced and she left the league. He got a pass on that and is still in the league. I would never get involved in a league with a commissioner who can veto for any reason other than collusion. The only reason for more power than that is a novice league if they ask the commissioner to help keep them balanced.

 

[shadyridr]

For you commissioners with veto power, what happens when you make a lopsided trade?Im honestly asking because we had a huge situation in our league last night. We dont vote on trades. Im the commish and all trades go through. I dont have veto power. But I can overturn trades if collusion is suspected. In our 11 yrs of doing this league no trade has ever been overturned. However, two trades have been suspected of collusion. In both instances I asked the owners what they thought and their explanation was good enough for me and we moved on.But last night I made a trade with another owner and one of the league members was livid and thought I ripped the other guy off.

Anything in our league can be overturned by 3/4 vote but you would have to be a pretty big jerk to collude with another owner in your own league

I didnt collude. I made a trade. Another owner thought I ripped the other guy off and made a big stink.

Out of curiousity, can you lay out the trade - not for an asst coach forum type post, but you have a few commissioners here that can look at it and give you feedback on how they would handle it, thought process, etc. It might shine some light on how some commissioners review trades.

Guy in my league had DJax on the trade block for 3 weeks asking for a RB. His 3 RBs are Gore, Grant, & McCluster . He was pretty desperate since the first two guys are hurt. So I offered him my 4th RB (Jacobs) for DJax and he accepted. We didnt even negotiate further. One guy in my league made a huge stink about it. Others said it was a little lopsided but they can see why the other owner did it and wasnt even worth complaining about.

 

[Apple Jack]

The guy who made the stink just learned a littleesson about how to find value in the league. Or maybe not. What a maroon.

 

[Road Warriors]

For you commissioners with veto power, what happens when you make a lopsided trade?Im honestly asking because we had a huge situation in our league last night. We dont vote on trades. Im the commish and all trades go through. I dont have veto power. But I can overturn trades if collusion is suspected. In our 11 yrs of doing this league no trade has ever been overturned. However, two trades have been suspected of collusion. In both instances I asked the owners what they thought and their explanation was good enough for me and we moved on.But last night I made a trade with another owner and one of the league members was livid and thought I ripped the other guy off.

From my perspective, that's an easy approve, no questions asked. He is filling a clear need position, and giving up a guy that has underperformed so far. DJax Anything in our league can be overturned by 3/4 vote but you would have to be a pretty big jerk to collude with another owner in your own league

I didnt collude. I made a trade. Another owner thought I ripped the other guy off and made a big stink.

Out of curiousity, can you lay out the trade - not for an asst coach forum type post, but you have a few commissioners here that can look at it and give you feedback on how they would handle it, thought process, etc. It might shine some light on how some commissioners review trades.

Guy in my league had DJax on the trade block for 3 weeks asking for a RB. His 3 RBs are Gore, Grant, & McCluster . He was pretty desperate since the first two guys are hurt. So I offered him my 4th RB (Jacobs) for DJax and he accepted. We didnt even negotiate further. One guy in my league made a huge stink about it. Others said it was a little lopsided but they can see why the other owner did it and wasnt even worth complaining about.

That's an instant approve IMO, as it's very easy to see why each team made the move. His RB corps gets better and deeper, and he deals an underperforming WR, at least to this point of the year. You get a WR projected to be much more productive, and are buying low. This is a "name value" complaint from your league mate. Jackson has much more perceived value, a higher ADP, and a bigger rep, but this could work out to a pretty even trade points-wise by the end of the year.ETA: Also, noting that he was on the trade block for 3 weeks... He was obviously trying to move the guy. If the other owner thought so much of Jackson, he had ample opportunity to make an offer.

 

[DoubleG]

The guy who made the stink just learned a littleesson about how to find value in the league. Or maybe not. What a maroon.

Why would you call him that color? I like maroon - in fact I'm sporting a maroon sweater right now. Next time call him chartruese or mauve or something - enough with the maroon hate. We get it - you missed out on maroon - let it go.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Last year was my first year in ff and there were a husband and wife in the league. The husbands team was in last place and going nowhere so he gave up his best ayers to his wife for nothing. Slam dunk collusion. The commissioner missed it but a couple of league members, including me, caught it. This is a money league, but not a very serious one. Still a few of us brought it to the commissioners attention and he vetoed it after a poll revealed everybody agreed. They divorced and she left the league. He got a pass on that and is still in the league. I would never get involved in a league with a commissioner who can veto for any reason other than collusion. The only reason for more power than that is a novice league if they ask the commissioner to help keep them balanced.

Wow. She takes her FF really seriously.

 

[loompa17]

The guy who made the stink just learned a littleesson about how to find value in the league. Or maybe not. What a maroon.

Why would you call him that color? I like maroon - in fact I'm sporting a maroon sweater right now. Next time call him chartruese or mauve or something - enough with the maroon hate. We get it - you missed out on maroon - let it go.

Reminds me of this: Moran

 

[Nate]

I have veto power in my league. It's directly tied to permanent league banishment. Only used it once in 6 years and didn't regret it for a second.

There was another time I should have used it but didn't and I still regret that.

Not all leagues are filled with standup guys from the start.