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How does your MFL league handle Suspensions? (1 Viewer)

KellysHeroes

Footballguy
Been commish for about 7 leagues for almost 10 yrs or so now, and it seems that NFL suspensions are way more frequent now.

I feel for my owners that get stuck with the Blackmon's, Gordon's and any of these other players that eat up roster spot. Right now our IR rule is that a player must be on the NFL IR so therefore a Suspended player must be maintained on the active roster.

Would like to hear how some other leagues have been handling suspensions

 
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My league allows the suspended player to be put on IR.

As a FF owner, if they are missing the entire season for injury or suspension it is the same for me. No need to punish the owner more for a suspended player than an injured player.

Edit: not an MFL league, but is dynasty

 
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IR stands for "Injured Reserve" not, "I ignored the high risk involved with drafting this player and cannot bring myselft to drop him after that risk back fired on me reserve". The punishment for drafting a high risk player should be forcing the franchise to hold the player on the active roster.

Just one man's opinion. My only dynasty does not have IR.

 
IR stands for "Injured Reserve" not, "I ignored the high risk involved with drafting this player and cannot bring myselft to drop him after that risk back fired on me reserve". The punishment for drafting a high risk player should be forcing the franchise to hold the player on the active roster.

Just one man's opinion. My only dynasty does not have IR.
I kind of agree with this...what if Gordon's situation does not get settled soon and you draft next week, for example. Someone then waits on Gordon, drafts him late and immediately stashes him on IR. While everyone had the opportunity to do that, IR is for Injured Reserve. In my keep 3 someone chose not to sell Gordon last year, even though he just came off of a suspension and was ripping it up...not sure what to say there (he knew the risks and played the odds).

 
Well, apparently the Jaguars have no issues with holding Blackmon:

The clock is stopped on Justin Blackmon's contract while he's suspended.

It's one of the many reasons the Jaguars would be silly to cut Blackmon even though he's violated the league's substance abuse policy three times. He's not taking up a roster spot, they don't have to pay his salary and they'll have him under club control cheaply for three seasons if he ever does get reinstated. Blackmon is not expected to see the field until 2015 at the earliest.
So, if his suspension doesn't cause the jags to spend any money OR burn one of their own 53 man roster spots, why should I be forced to do so on a dynasty team?

I don't see a relevant distinction between truly injured (IR) vs. Suspended. Somehow it's that players "fault" for getting suspended and not another players "fault" for getting injured, therefore one should and the other shouldn't count toward roster spots?

The only consistent way to do this is either to have "IR" or not have "IR" for dynasty. And if you have it, suspended players should be eligible. I sat through a year of holding Lattimore as well, even though he wasn't even officially earning a year of NFL credit.

 
I'm with the majority. We can argue whether it is correct or not but presently all my leagues say a player must be on IR to go on IR. Suspended players use up an active roster spot. All owners are aware of this and it's up to them to manage how to handle suspended players.

 
To bad for the owner that knowingly takes a guy that has several documented offenses. With regard to how I allocate roster spots for my teams, I view the suspended guys the same way as dudes like a Gronkowski, high injury risk types, who may only give you 8 to 12 games in a season, or start all 16. Buyer beware.

 
IR only, have to suck it up and kill a roster spot if you want to hold them. That's the strategy part of taking high risk players.

 
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Well, apparently the Jaguars have no issues with holding Blackmon:

The clock is stopped on Justin Blackmon's contract while he's suspended.

It's one of the many reasons the Jaguars would be silly to cut Blackmon even though he's violated the league's substance abuse policy three times. He's not taking up a roster spot, they don't have to pay his salary and they'll have him under club control cheaply for three seasons if he ever does get reinstated. Blackmon is not expected to see the field until 2015 at the earliest.
So, if his suspension doesn't cause the jags to spend any money OR burn one of their own 53 man roster spots, why should I be forced to do so on a dynasty team?

I don't see a relevant distinction between truly injured (IR) vs. Suspended. Somehow it's that players "fault" for getting suspended and not another players "fault" for getting injured, therefore one should and the other shouldn't count toward roster spots?

The only consistent way to do this is either to have "IR" or not have "IR" for dynasty. And if you have it, suspended players should be eligible. I sat through a year of holding Lattimore as well, even though he wasn't even officially earning a year of NFL credit.
Interesting point...I guess a league could institute a "S"uspended roster slot...but then when a guy has a death in the family and does not play, should a fantasy team then be able to put that player on the Exempt list and pick someone up off the WW for the week? Kind of opens Pandora's Box...

 
All leagues I'm in allows Suspended players to be put on IR, but we have understanding that it benefits everyone as a lot of players get suspended.

If it was so wrong MFL and other leagues wouldn't allow the possibility.

 
IR only, have to suck it up and kill a roster spot if you want to hold them. That's the strategy part of taking high risk players.
So someone who took Stedman Bailey and all of his high risk should be punished by cutting him instead of just simply putting him on IR for a few weeks?

Its not an advantage to just one team, it benefits everyone, some just like to complain about stuff though.

 
To bad for the owner that knowingly takes a guy that has several documented offenses. With regard to how I allocate roster spots for my teams, I view the suspended guys the same way as dudes like a Gronkowski, high injury risk types, who may only give you 8 to 12 games in a season, or start all 16. Buyer beware.
So those who took a guy like Stedman Bailey? People should have been on alert for him.

Thats the problem with the buyer beware argument, they fall dead in 2 seconds.

 
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Touchdown There said:
IR stands for "Injured Reserve" not, "I ignored the high risk involved with drafting this player and cannot bring myselft to drop him after that risk back fired on me reserve". The punishment for drafting a high risk player should be forcing the franchise to hold the player on the active roster.
I agree with this.

That comes from a guy who is stuck with Fred Davis' contract for 3 more seasons or paying the cap penalty....and I deserve it for ignoring all the warning signs.

 
IR only, have to suck it up and kill a roster spot if you want to hold them. That's the strategy part of taking high risk players.
So someone who took Stedman Bailey and all of his high risk should be punished by cutting him instead of just simply putting him on IR for a few weeks?

Its not an advantage to just one team, it benefits everyone, some just like to complain about stuff though.
No, they can stash him on their roster. Why is Bailey a risk? and even if he was the chances of him being FF relevant are so low that if that makes or break your team you are in trouble. Drafting Gordon, Blackmon, etc.. in round 3 or 4 of a startup should be done with risk assessment though.

 
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To bad for the owner that knowingly takes a guy that has several documented offenses. With regard to how I allocate roster spots for my teams, I view the suspended guys the same way as dudes like a Gronkowski, high injury risk types, who may only give you 8 to 12 games in a season, or start all 16. Buyer beware.
So those who took a guy like Stedman Bailey? People should have been on alert for him.

Thats the problem with the buyer beware argument, they fall dead in 2 seconds.
To my knowledge, Bailey had no priors. Now he should be on your radar. My post was related to, "already public," knowledge about players like Gronk, or Harvin, and smoker's section members like Gordon and Blackmon.

Just a few days before the Bailey news, I got him from a waiver auction, tough for me. Now I have a decision to make.

So, no, buyer beware does not fall dead in 2 seconds.

 
so if leagues offered a 1 extra suspended slot would the values of these players go up by a lot?
Too many league set up's for any answer other than "it depends". A standard suspension is 4 games, so it's similar to a injury that does not need surgery. My :2cents: is to leave it alone, you are overthinking this.

 
Well, apparently the Jaguars have no issues with holding Blackmon:

The clock is stopped on Justin Blackmon's contract while he's suspended.

It's one of the many reasons the Jaguars would be silly to cut Blackmon even though he's violated the league's substance abuse policy three times. He's not taking up a roster spot, they don't have to pay his salary and they'll have him under club control cheaply for three seasons if he ever does get reinstated. Blackmon is not expected to see the field until 2015 at the earliest.
So, if his suspension doesn't cause the jags to spend any money OR burn one of their own 53 man roster spots, why should I be forced to do so on a dynasty team?

I don't see a relevant distinction between truly injured (IR) vs. Suspended. Somehow it's that players "fault" for getting suspended and not another players "fault" for getting injured, therefore one should and the other shouldn't count toward roster spots?

The only consistent way to do this is either to have "IR" or not have "IR" for dynasty. And if you have it, suspended players should be eligible. I sat through a year of holding Lattimore as well, even though he wasn't even officially earning a year of NFL credit.
Yes, it is the players fault for getting suspended-He's not a victim. Injuries are common, that's not a

"fault" thing. Lattimore was injured and you can stash him. I don't see how you can't see the distinction.

One player got injured the other got player stupid-in cases of suspensions multiple times

 
so if leagues offered a 1 extra suspended slot would the values of these players go up by a lot?
Too many league set up's for any answer other than "it depends". A standard suspension is 4 games, so it's similar to a injury that does not need surgery. My :2cents: is to leave it alone, you are overthinking this.
The 4 gamers are one thing, but would the extra spot increase Blackmon or Gordon value a lot?

 
Well, apparently the Jaguars have no issues with holding Blackmon:
The clock is stopped on Justin Blackmon's contract while he's suspended.

It's one of the many reasons the Jaguars would be silly to cut Blackmon even though he's violated the league's substance abuse policy three times. He's not taking up a roster spot, they don't have to pay his salary and they'll have him under club control cheaply for three seasons if he ever does get reinstated. Blackmon is not expected to see the field until 2015 at the earliest.
Is your league a salary cap league? If so, you may have a point but if not, thEn it is much more like what has been said. You invest your resources into what you want, knowing and weighing the risks and you live with it, during good and bad times.

So, if his suspension doesn't cause the jags to spend any money OR burn one of their own 53 man roster spots, why should I be forced to do so on a dynasty team?

I don't see a relevant distinction between truly injured (IR) vs. Suspended. Somehow it's that players "fault" for getting suspended and not another players "fault" for getting injured, therefore one should and the other shouldn't count toward roster spots?

The only

Well, apparently the Jaguars have no issues with holding Blackmon:
The clock is stopped on Justin Blackmon's contract while he's suspended.

It's one of the many reasons the Jaguars would be silly to cut Blackmon even though he's violated the league's substance abuse policy three times. He's not taking up a roster spot, they don't have to pay his salary and they'll have him under club control cheaply for three seasons if he ever does get reinstated. Blackmon is not expected to see the field until 2015 at the earliest.
So, if his suspension doesn't cause the jags to spend any money OR burn one of their own 53 man roster spots, why should I be forced to do so on a dynasty team?

I don't see a relevant distinction between truly injured (IR) vs. Suspended. Somehow it's that players "fault" for getting suspended and not another players "fault" for getting injured, therefore one should and the other shouldn't count toward roster spots?

The only consistent way to do this is either to have "IR" or not have "IR" for dynasty. And if you have it, suspended players should be eligible. I sat through a year of holding Lattimore as well, even though he wasn't even officially earning a year of NFL credit.
Is your league a salary cap league? If so, you may have a point but if not, thEn it is much more like what has been said. You invest your resources into what you want, knowing and weighing the risks and you live with it, during good and bad times.

My leagues are all "cut or carry, fwiw, and I have no problems with that, even though I have a couple of these knuckleheads from time to time. I enjoy when I have them and gripe when they get out of line, just like what most people do.
 
Just because something happens one way in the NFL does not mean it is the way it "should" be handled in FF.

The fact is there is no correct answer here, it comes down to league rules. We all may have personal preferences on how things should be handled, but that does not mean they are the "right" way. Realistically, no "right" way truly exists.

My personal preferences:

1. Redraft - No IR or special rules for injured/suspended players. Owners can choose to manage their team how they want and that means making a decision on whether or not to carry an injured/suspended player in a roster spot knowing they will not contribute for X amount of time. Obviously no point carrying someone done for the season in this format regarless of the reason they are done.

2. Partial Keeper - I prefer the same rules as redrafts, no IR available, make owners make the tough roster decisions about the value of carrying an injured/suspended player, especially someone done for the year as they must evaluate the need for a contributor now vs. the potential keeper value of the player.

3. Dynasty - I prefer some form of IR. My personal preference is that any injured player can be put on IR, but it is a permanent move for the FF season. This means if I decide in week 4 to put my WR that is out 4-6 weeks on IR, he remains there all season, even if he returns to his NFL teams avtive roster in week 8. If I want the option to use him when he returns from his injury, then I must keep him on my FF active roster. It adds more strategy to the roster decisions IMO. Now, I have played in leagues that allow players to come and go from FF IR based on their injury status. I'm not a huge fan of this as, depending on how the rules are set up, it allows for a lot of gray areas and potential for conflict (i.e. a player must be listed as questionable to be on IR, once they hit probable status they must come off). It just creates potential confusion, especially with injury reports coming out at different times of the week, etc. I am not a fan of allowing Suspended players to be put on IR (or a suspended list) in FF... and I own Blackmon with 4 years on his contract in my main dynasty - my options are hold on to him where he takes up a roster spot and 4 of the 100 year cap on contracts, or cut him to free up the roster spot but take the contract hit (would count for 1 year in this league). Of course, I could try and trade him if I so desired.

 
In my keeper league, years ago we converted the IR spot to a regular roster spot and then it wasn't an issue what a player's status is.

For my dynasty league, fantasy IR requires an NFL designation of Injured Reserve. I don't see a reason worth changing it for suspended players.

 
Right now our IR rule is that a player must be on the NFL IR so therefore a Suspended player must be maintained on the active roster.Would like to hear how some other leagues have been handling suspensions
Back in the day, when I was in leagues that had an IR, suspended players did not qualify. Don't see any reason they should.

Carry the player.

If that's a problem, maybe rosters should be increased.

But allowing owners a special slot for suspended players? Not good.

As I alluded above, I ain't played in leagues with an IR slot for some time. Administering IR became a hassle. How does this or that software handle it? What are the rules? It seemed that some would perceive others taking advantage of it, no matter what the case. At the same time, the logic for having an IR could be used to justify asking that IR be expanded or any manner of request. Got rid of it in my main league. Now, much less whining about fairness and wah, wah, wah, blah, blah, blah. Now, performing waivers and making trades is simpler and more streamlined, as there are never the IR bugs which creep in with just about any league management software.

But I digress...

IMO, Suspended players shouldn't be eligible for IR.

 
Good topic. This came up in my dynasty league (est. 2001) just last week as we voted on whether the salary of a suspended player should count against a team's cap. A few years ago, as commish, I allowed an extra spot on one team to compensate for losing S Tanard Jackson to suspension back when he was with the Bucs. As a contract/salary league that now uses actual player salaries via spotrac.com, my argument was to not charge for year long suspensions (a la Daryl Washington) if an NFL team is off the hook for the salary. Same with the Blackmon situation. Some owners felt the salary should be carried for 'punishment'; I argued against as we do not have a 'morality rule' nor did I care to legislate one.

In the end, the result was no extra roster spot, you will carry a suspended player with no salary or a portion thereof (if it has been pro-rated down for less than a year suspensions) on your active roster. IR is and always has been for players placed on IR by their NFL team. I would keep the two separate.

MFL just needs to add options for an Inactive List, Suspended List, Non Football Injury list, Reserve Retired List, etc. Just like the NFL. Problem solved.

 
We also had this issue of suspended players come up for discussion at our annual awards meeting in March. As a league we voted for no changes to our rules.

Our IR rules aren't too complicated. For a player to be placed on IR he must officially be on his NFL teams IR. Once placed on fantasy IR he must remain there for the entirety of the fantasy regular season and playoffs. If the player is on the IR-DFR list (designated for return) in the NFL the fantasy owner has a choice to make. Keep the player on the active roster in hopes he will be available later -or- IR the player, lose his services for the year regardless if he returns to play for his NFL team, and find a replacement on the waiver wire.

This is how we approach suspended players also.

Last year I drafted Blackmon knowing full well the risks associated with him and knowing I could not use him the first 4 weeks. He held a spot on my bench until I could start him. It comes down to how risk averse you are and whether you are willing to take those risks. Blackmon helped me win games when he started for me until he got suspended again. Thus, he helped me win the title. I promptly dropped him after his most recent suspension was announced and another team (my eventual opponent in our championship game) immediately picked him up. He is still rostered.

One other thing I wanted to mention. This is NOT an MFL issue. This is a league rules issue, no matter the host site. MFL does not set our rules...we as a league do.

 
I'm commish of a 10yr old MFL keeper league with no turnover. Each team has a single IR spot which can only be used if the player is declared O(ut) or I(nactive) or IR after a team acquires him. The player must return to active roster as soon as he practices. Only the commish can execute IR moves.

This season's suspensions have begged the question of whether this reserve roster spot should include Suspendees. They have been unusual due to 1) length, 2) surprise, 3) profile (high draft pick).

With Welker, we only had condition (2). No big deal.

With Rice, we had (1) + (2), but perhaps one could argue there was a red flag in-place before draft day.

With AP, we have all 3 conditions.

(Disclosure: My team is none of the above.)

If an owner had just lost 1.03 AP to an RG3 type injury, he'd use the IR slot and find an immediate replacement. Unlike the Rice owner, he can't drop AP yet. That's a double whammy. Granted, suspension is not injury, but both are similar in unpredictability and effect on a fantasy team.

Thus, I'm tempted to put the following to a vote:

"Each team has a single reserve spot which can only be used if the player is declared O(ut) or I(nactive) or IR or (S)uspended after a team acquires him. The player must return to active roster as soon as he practices."

Silly, or Sensible? Thanks.

 
We allow suspended players to go t I.R for as long as they are suspended. Works lretty well so far for us. Thie is the fullest I have ever seen our IR ever though lol...

 
I feel IR exists for one very important reason. To maintain competitive balance. If someone drops Peterson week 4 because they need a body for bye week issues and he gets scooped up by a strong team that can afford to stash him.... that upsets the competitive balance.

Injury or Suspension. Either way, I don't want a weak owner to drop studs for the sharks to gobble up.

 
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so if leagues offered a 1 extra suspended slot would the values of these players go up by a lot?
Their value goes up significantly. If people were drafting right now Gordon would go much higher in a league where he can be put on IR.

I don't think suspended players should be able to go on IR but think there can be reasonable disagreement on that point.

 
IR stands for "Injured Reserve" not, "I ignored the high risk involved with drafting this player and cannot bring myselft to drop him after that risk back fired on me reserve". The punishment for drafting a high risk player should be forcing the franchise to hold the player on the active roster.
Agreed.

Not sure why we needed the OP's fantasy football resume, but IR does not mean for any player that might miss a game for any reason at all. It is an injury provision.

 
What about this rarely used (until now) situation: "Exempt - Commissioner's Permission"

It is neither IR nor a suspension. The player does not count against the team's roster and still gets paid. I can see this situation coming up more an more for team/league PR purposes for out of the blue events. I have read that it is equivalent to a leave of absence.

 
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Yesterday, ESPN listed Adrian Peterson as "Out", which allowed an owner to place him in the "IR" spot.

However, this morning his status was changed to "Suspended", which means that he's no longer eligible for IR.

Seems kind of arbitrary, especially when you consider that Peterson is not technically on the "Suspended" list. (He's on the Reserve/Exempt list.)

 

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