Fixing my commish screw up (1 Viewer)

[PatrickT]

This is an ESPN league, and during setup, I mistakenly checked the box to count return TDs, thinking it was for DST. But in reality, it's counting individual return TDs IN ADDITION to DST return TDs. So, I went back and did the homework on every return TD, what week it happened and, unfortunately there is one instance where a Sproles punt return TD changes the outcome of a game decided by less than a point. The score was

Team A - 96.5

Team B - 96.2

If I go back and revise history, it will instead be a victory for Team B and a loss for Team A, obviously. To make matters more delicate, the additional loss by team A would drop him from 1st place on his own, to a tie for first place where he would lose the tiebreaker by total points scored. Team B would be moved into a tie for second, but has no hope of beating the total points to make the playoffs. No one has actually noticed, but I still feel like, if I know it's there, I should point it out. I only noticed this because I had Jamaal Charles on my bench and noticed that his FPs didn't jibe with his stats this week.

This is a friendly league, but there is still money in the pot, $50 buy in. We are all friends and neighbors, we play tennis together, golf together, so we all know each other pretty well, I think everyone would understand an honest mistake.

So what do I do? My gut says just tell the guys involved, say it was a mistake, and move on. But then again, everyone had access to the rules listed on the site, so changing the rules mid-season feels, in a way, somewhat backhanded as well. In any case, I feel rotten about it, and looking for opinions.

 

[Please See Mine]

Why do you think that you need the adjustment? Do you think the setting is that big of a deal?

I am curious as to the rationale, because I am in a league that counts them both ways. I have benefited this year, as I had Sproles active when he returned the punt and I also have the Vikings DST, but I have wondered if the settings really make sense.

As far as I'm concerned, I would just leave the way it is.

Plus if no one has said anything, they must either just accept it or not even realize, so what's the big deal? I don't think that there's any way that you can go back and adjust games that already happened.

 

[Mr. Peterson]

Did you ever make it clear to the rest of the league if return points would count or not?

If you told them the points would not count for the players and then clicked it so that it would then I feel that you might have a problem. But if you never said anything then I would just let it be. The members of the league probably just assume that is the way it is and never thought twice about it.

 

[PatrickT]

Why do you think that you need the adjustment? Do you think the setting is that big of a deal?I am curious as to the rationale, because I am in a league that counts them both ways. I have benefited this year, as I had Sproles active when he returned the punt and I also have the Vikings DST, but I have wondered if the settings really make sense.As far as I'm concerned, I would just leave the way it is.Plus if no one has said anything, they must either just accept it or not even realize, so what's the big deal? I don't think that there's any way that you can go back and adjust games that already happened.

It's an unusual setting (at least, IMO), but it wasn't really the expectation. I don't know if it's ever come up as a direct question, honestly, but if someone had asked me that question, I would've responded "no", which means, in my mind, the setting was accidental, not intended. We have no other formally written charter on that.Maybe I'm making too big of a deal out of it, I just want to make sure I'm doing the honorable thing here.

 

[Zoomanji]

Whatever you decide, you can't go back and change results from weeks ago.

I would tell the league that you messed up but aren't changing it till the offseason since its week 12 already. If you league is full of jerks and crybabies like some of mine, I wouldn't mention it

 

[Mr.Pack]

Whatever you decide, you can't go back and change results from weeks ago.

I would tell the league that you messed up but aren't changing it till the offseason since its week 12 already. If you league is full of jerks and crybabies like some of mine, I wouldn't mention it

This is the correct answer.

 

[spOOfy]

Whatever you decide, you can't go back and change results from weeks ago.I would tell the league that you messed up but aren't changing it till the offseason since its week 12 already. If you league is full of jerks and crybabies like some of mine, I wouldn't mention it

This would be my suggestion. It's been in the rules for 12 weeks and there was never a formal "charter" stating that they would NOT count. Keep it as is, and then tell everyone you are changing it in the offseason.

 

[Addai's Adidas]

You can't go back. It'll change records, total points, waiver priority. That's something that should be caught in week one.

 

[Not Sure]

Whatever you decide, you can't go back and change results from weeks ago.I would tell the league that you messed up but aren't changing it till the offseason since its week 12 already. If you league is full of jerks and crybabies like some of mine, I wouldn't mention it

I agree with this as well.

 

[Twilight]

The only way you can even consider changing it is if you have self-made rules you handed out prior to the draft detailing the scoring info for the league. If you just set up the ESPN league and left it to everyone to check the league settings prior to the draft you cannot change things.

IMO, however, it's too late no matter what.

 

[TommyGilmore]

What's the big deal? A lot of leagues will score TDs for both DSTs and individual players. It's part of the appeal of drafting WRs or RBs who also return kicks.

 

[DoubleG]

What's the big deal? A lot of leagues will score TDs for both DSTs and individual players. It's part of the appeal of drafting WRs or RBs who also return kicks.

Unless you had specifically stated one way or the other to the league, or the league has been together for several years without that rule, I really don't see the problem. Everyone had access to the rules - and no one has apparently said a word. Obviously, they're all fine with it - and so should you be.

 

[Resident A]

You can't change a game score weeks later. Once the next week's games start, all scores from previous weeks are final. If you don't have that as a rule, I'd add it.

 

[g5jamz]

You CANNOT change it now.

Once it's set...it's set. You do not change it mid-season.

You can suggest to fix it next year, but for this one...for you to even entertain the idea of changing it is disturbing.

 

[Mile High]

It is what it is. You've played the whole season this way, except it and move on.

 

[PosterNutBag]

Whatever you decide, you can't go back and change results from weeks ago.I would tell the league that you messed up but aren't changing it till the offseason since its week 12 already. If you league is full of jerks and crybabies like some of mine, I wouldn't mention it

I agree with this as well.

I agree with this too.

 

[benm3218]

It is what it is. You've played the whole season this way, except it and move on.

Making a mountain out of a mole hill. It has affected everyone the same. Just forget about it.

 

[JamesTheScot]

The only way you can even consider changing it is if you have self-made rules you handed out prior to the draft detailing the scoring info for the league. If you just set up the ESPN league and left it to everyone to check the league settings prior to the draft you cannot change things.

IMO, however, it's too late no matter what.

That's my position as well.Unless the league actually voted to not allow those types of returns or were told before draft that they wouldn't count, just roll with what you have going forward. That way the rules are consistent from week 1 through week 17 and everyone endures the same risks and rewards.

I don't even think it requires a confession since OP didn't do anything wrong by his league's rules.

Address scoring in the offseason as I think scoring should be a league-wide vote. I am leery of one person unilaterally establishing a scoring system after a draft has occured.

 

[Jokers]

Three of my four leagues have our scoring set this way. It is not unusual. Some folks consider it double dipping, but I see no difference between that and Manning/Wayne both getting points for the same touchdown (plus they get to "double dip" yardage also).

 

[PatrickT]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I appreciate everyone's opinion. still undecided as to whether to announce it or not, seems like it can only stir up bad feelings, but I agree, changing it really doesn't make sense at this point.

 

[The Mooreticians]

The first thing you need to do is bring this to the entire league's attention right away. Frankly, I'm shocked that none of the owners noticed this themselves, but here's what I would do:

1) Mea culpa. Admit your mistake, and state what happened. Fix the website so it matches the league rules moving forward.

2) Ask the league members for an emergency vote on what should happen, WITHOUT SAYING WHAT IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE STANDINGS. Do this in accordance with your league rules (there should be a stipulation saying that you have the ability to fix mistakes). If not otherwise specified, say that a 2/3 majority is needed to make this change retroactive.

3) Follow up on the vote results (don't give people a lot of time to research it). Under no circumstances will waiver orders or pickups be changed retroactively.

Personally, I think you need to fix this. The league rules state that individual returns don't count, and as commissioner you're supposed to correct that. (P.S. I'm ASSUMING you have a written set of league rules! If you don't, then you don't need to change or do anything ... except make a set of written league rules next season! The only reason you'd HAVE to fix this is if the scoring is written into the league rules.)

Good luck!

 

[TC]

If you had input FGs to count 13 points what would you do?... I suggest following the agreed rules. Mistakes happen and most adults want the adjustments to be made.

 

[The Future Champs]

The first thing you need to do is bring this to the entire league's attention right away. Frankly, I'm shocked that none of the owners noticed this themselves, but here's what I would do:

1) Mea culpa. Admit your mistake, and state what happened. Fix the website so it matches the league rules moving forward.

2) Ask the league members for an emergency vote on what should happen, WITHOUT SAYING WHAT IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE STANDINGS. Do this in accordance with your league rules (there should be a stipulation saying that you have the ability to fix mistakes). If not otherwise specified, say that a 2/3 majority is needed to make this change retroactive.

3) Follow up on the vote results (don't give people a lot of time to research it). Under no circumstances will waiver orders or pickups be changed retroactively.

Personally, I think you need to fix this. The league rules state that individual returns don't count, and as commissioner you're supposed to correct that. (P.S. I'm ASSUMING you have a written set of league rules! If you don't, then you don't need to change or do anything ... except make a set of written league rules next season! The only reason you'd HAVE to fix this is if the scoring is written into the league rules.)

Good luck!

You're going to create a huge cluster#### if you send this to a league vote. Some leagues require it, and that's fine for them, but if you have no history of league votes then I'd advise against introducing voting as the method of solving disputes. Also, I thought the OP clarified in a latter post that there were no written rules addressing this situation.

Finally, every league should have some sort of blanket fallback rule to cover the commish's butt when an unusual situation happens. My go-to rule is:

In the case of a dispute or event that is not covered by the written rules, the commish will take no action. The commish will overturn the website only when league rules specifically call for action.

It's the lazy way out, but it solves a lot of problems in an impartial manner. Commishes should avoid playing God.

 

[TommyGilmore]

2) Ask the league members for an emergency vote on what should happen, WITHOUT SAYING WHAT IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE STANDINGS. D

Huge mistake here. Do you think the league members are dumb enough not to check to see what games are affected by this?Anyone who needs the Sproles owner to lose will just vote No.

 

[Go Pack]

Leave it alone as it is way too late in the season to be adjusting it if nobody caught it up to this point. It is up to you if you want to notify the league and maybe even change the scoring before the playoffs start if that is what the league prefers.

 

[Road Warriors]

I'd suggest leaving it alone for a couple of reasons.

1. No written rule detailing that return TDs are only scored by the D/ST, not individual players. I'd suggest getting your by-laws and scoring system down in writing for next year.

2. Scoring has been in place and consistent throughout the year.

3. The scoring category is unlikely to have modified draft choices / boards, so the impact is minimal. For example, Sproles probably doesn't move up in the draft position due to a potential return TD or 2. And likewise, the guy who started Sproles in the one week where it did change the outcome likely started him for his RB value, not his return potential.

League scoring should go up for league vote in the offseason, then be written and implemented on the league site to match, but changing mid year ( anytime post-draft, IMO ) is a very bad thing for the league.

 

[Mr.Pack]

The first thing you need to do is bring this to the entire league's attention right away. Frankly, I'm shocked that none of the owners noticed this themselves, but here's what I would do:

1) Mea culpa. Admit your mistake, and state what happened. Fix the website so it matches the league rules moving forward.

2) Ask the league members for an emergency vote on what should happen, WITHOUT SAYING WHAT IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON THE STANDINGS. Do this in accordance with your league rules (there should be a stipulation saying that you have the ability to fix mistakes). If not otherwise specified, say that a 2/3 majority is needed to make this change retroactive.

3) Follow up on the vote results (don't give people a lot of time to research it). Under no circumstances will waiver orders or pickups be changed retroactively.

Personally, I think you need to fix this. The league rules state that individual returns don't count, and as commissioner you're supposed to correct that. (P.S. I'm ASSUMING you have a written set of league rules! If you don't, then you don't need to change or do anything ... except make a set of written league rules next season! The only reason you'd HAVE to fix this is if the scoring is written into the league rules.)

Good luck!

1- You can't do that, not fair to the rest of the league for the beginning of the season. Bad idea.2- TERRIBLE advice here.

Actually this whole post is as bad of advice as there could be in this thread.

You admit the mistake and leave it for the rest of the year, then fix it next year. Pretty simple.

 

[Mr.Pack]

If you had input FGs to count 13 points what would you do?... I suggest following the agreed rules. Mistakes happen and most adults want the adjustments to be made.

Don't you think the whole league would have noticed this in week 1?

 

[Black]

I always admit mistakes the minute I find them.

That being said, I am also have written into our rules that teams need to verify their lineups and league scoring prior to week 1 kickoff.

I just added to the rules that if there is a mistake discovered, I will fix it immediately, but will not retroactively change past games.

Good luck.

 

[PatrickT]

I've pretty much decided to let it lie. While I don't have a written rule ( I know, I should, been lazy), I did ask all members to confirm their rosters and the scoring prior to season start, so they all had the opportunity. At no time did I benefit at all from the error, so there's no impropriety possible.

Thanks again for the input.

 

[Dancing Bear]

PatrickT,

To me it depends on whether you sent out a proclamation of rules which were going to be used for the League.

I am Commish of 3 different leagues and I ALWAYS send out two things at the beginning of each year. A proposed set of rules to be voted on, and then after the vote, I send out a set of rules which have been ratified. My Web Sites are configured accordingly.

If you had no ratified rules, then I would not worry about this issue and leave it as is.

If you had a set of ratified rules, and the settings you have made on ESPN are not consistent with the ratified rules then you have to fix it to make it consistent. Admit your mistake and everybody has to suck it up no matter how it impacts the previous weeks.

It is impossible to know what these darn Web Sites have done each year, and everybody has to have a level of compassion as you figure out what happens.

On FoxSports for instance they used to have separate Flex positions for RB/ WR and then a second one for WR/TE. In one league, we used both last year and ratified both again this year. Guess what? FoxSports grouped them together into one Flex position for RB/ WR/ TE. In order to keep along with the ratified rules we have to self-police our lineups so that nobody submits two RB's or two TE's.

It happens ...

 

[Righetti]

if the guy who lost thought the rule was wrong he would have mentioned it that week.. he obviously thought the rule was correct as did everybody else who saw Sproles' numbers that week in your league.. so leave it be

 

[Mark Wimer]

Whatever you decide, you can't go back and change results from weeks ago.I would tell the league that you messed up but aren't changing it till the offseason since its week 12 already. If you league is full of jerks and crybabies like some of mine, I wouldn't mention it

I agree with this as well.

I agree with this too.

My

 

[mozzy84]

If you had input FGs to count 13 points what would you do?... I suggest following the agreed rules. Mistakes happen and most adults want the adjustments to be made.

lol