NFL Asks Teams To Stop Tampering During Legal Tampering Period (1 Viewer)

[12punch]

http://nesn.com/2015/03/nfl-asks-teams-to-stop-tampering-during-legal-tampering-period/

The legal tampering period officially has become a farce. The NFL sent a letter to teams Monday morning, asking them to stop making monetary offers to impending free agents. The legal tampering period began Saturday at noon, and free agency doesn’t officially begin until the new league year starts Tuesday at 4 p.m. NFL media’s Albert Breer got a hold of the email and posted it on Twitter: “Clubs were advised of the rules for the three-day negotiating period in PP-23-15 (attached). These rules include limitations such as that a club cannot make an “offer;” or enter into a written or oral agreement of any kind, express or implied, or make promises or representations of any type concerning the terms or conditions of employment to be offered to any Unrestricted Free Agent for inclusion in a Player Contract after the start of the new League Year; or provide assurances of intent as to the future execution of an NFL Player Contract. Clubs were further advised that “Any attempt to undermine the purpose of this negotiating period may be considered conduct detrimental to the League.” At this time, the League office is beginning investigations into a number of reported agreements with clubs. Violations will be dealt with accordingly.”

Read more at: http://nesn.com/2015/03/nfl-asks-teams-to-stop-tampering-during-legal-tampering-period/

frankly, I'm appalled by the blatant lack of regard for the rules these teams have

 

[Dezbelief]

Must be hoodie getting mad about all the moves inside his division.

 

[Hang 10]

What a farce this whole process is. What was wrong with the way it was before?

 

[flapgreen]

Roger needs something to do

 

[12punch]

What a farce this whole process is. What was wrong with the way it was before?

I think it was pretty much the same the way it was before, you just couldn't leak the numbers.

 

[MattFancy]

Reminds me of the "capped" uncapped year in which the Redskins and Cowboys got penalized.

"Hey guys, you can tamper, just don't "tamper", got it?"

 

[Rubi]

Roger needs something to do

I felt Big Bad Bud Selig was the worst commish in pro sports history.

I was wrong,it's Roger the Dodger.

 

[flapgreen]

Roger needs something to do

I felt Big Bad Bud Selig was the worst commish in pro sports history.I was wrong,it's Roger the Dodger.

It's close

 

[GregR]

Alright, now I'm confused. In the Free Agency thread I made a post criticizing Rich Eisen's comment about free agency seeming to have started... but this was news to me that teams weren't supposed to be talking about money now.

I've got no clue what they are supposed to be doing now if they can't discuss money and years. I see a tangible benefit in having the negotiating window before anyone can sign in that teams don't have to tamper with it. But that only happens if you let them actually negotiate details to the point they can decide what team they will end up going with.

 

[heckmanm]

Alright, now I'm confused. In the Free Agency thread I made a post criticizing Rich Eisen's comment about free agency seeming to have started... but this was news to me that teams weren't supposed to be talking about money now.

I've got no clue what they are supposed to be doing now if they can't discuss money and years. I see a tangible benefit in having the negotiating window before anyone can sign in that teams don't have to tamper with it. But that only happens if you let them actually negotiate details to the point they can decide what team they will end up going with.

They're allowed to pass a note that says "Do you like us? Circle one: YES NO"

 

[Skoo]

Does seem a little weird that all this info is coming out days before free agency even starts.

Heck, most people (especially in the Eagles threads) are acting as if free agency is over already.

I could be wrong but I don't think we ever had so many "confirmations" of moves this far ahead of time in years past.

 

[Hang 10]

It was supposed to just be the sniffing butts stage.

 

[B-Deep]

pretty sure all the inflategate people should be up in arms with the blatant violation of league rules going on here

cheating is cheating

 

[12punch]

what they need to do next year is have a legal tampering period start 3 days prior to the legal illegal 3 day window, but you couldn't actually leak numbers in the first tampering period, only agree to contracts which would then be leaked in the second window, and signed during the first minute of actual legitimate legal free agency.

 

[Skoo]

pretty sure all the inflategate people should be up in arms with the blatant violation of league rules going on here

cheating is cheating

Is there an NFL team that isn't breaking these rules?

 

[B-Deep]

pretty sure all the inflategate people should be up in arms with the blatant violation of league rules going on here

cheating is cheating

Is there an NFL team that isn't breaking these rules?

umm

pretty sure that is not a defense to deflategaters

 

[Hang 10]

what they need to do next year is have a legal tampering period start 3 days prior to the legal illegal 3 day window, but you couldn't actually leak numbers in the first tampering period, only agree to contracts which would then be leaked in the second window, and signed during the first minute of actual legitimate legal free agency.

Still less complicated than what is and what isn't a catch rule.

 

[BroadwayG]

I hope it was the Patriots pressuring the league office. Serves the other 31 cheaters right.

 

[12punch]

what they need to do next year is have a legal tampering period start 3 days prior to the legal illegal 3 day window, but you couldn't actually leak numbers in the first tampering period, only agree to contracts which would then be leaked in the second window, and signed during the first minute of actual legitimate legal free agency.

Still less complicated than what is and what isn't a catch rule.

actually, now that I think about it, the deal would get done during the actual illegal tampering period, just as it's traditionally been done, prior to the first legal tampering window in which they would pretend it unofficially got done, but not really 'cuz you can't agree to terms

 

[Toomuchnv]

They should just take a page from fantasy football and have a live auction draft on all the free agents.

 

[FUBAR]

Alright, now I'm confused. In the Free Agency thread I made a post criticizing Rich Eisen's comment about free agency seeming to have started... but this was news to me that teams weren't supposed to be talking about money now.

I've got no clue what they are supposed to be doing now if they can't discuss money and years. I see a tangible benefit in having the negotiating window before anyone can sign in that teams don't have to tamper with it. But that only happens if you let them actually negotiate details to the point they can decide what team they will end up going with.

yeah, this is stupid.

It was supposed to just be the sniffing butts stage.

perfect comment paired with your avatar.

 

[Hang 10]

You're one to talk.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Suppose to be exchanging contact info, expressing general interest, and scheduling visits or conference calls so that when the window opens folks can be productive immediately.

 

[Van Dyman]

Suppose to be exchanging contact info, expressing general interest, and scheduling visits or conference calls so that when the window opens folks can be productive immediately.

Seriously? Three DAYS of THAT!!??

 

[FUBAR]

Suppose to be exchanging contact info, expressing general interest, and scheduling visits or conference calls so that when the window opens folks can be productive immediately.

right, because it's so difficult to get ahold of these agents.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Suppose to be exchanging contact info, expressing general interest, and scheduling visits or conference calls so that when the window opens folks can be productive immediately.

right, because it's so difficult to get ahold of these agents.

I'm not defending the policy, I am simply stating what, according to my memory and understanding, the policy hoped to accomplish or allow. My understanding was that it was meant to allow teams, agents, and free agents to hit the ground running the moment free agency started. It was meant to reduce temptation towards agents and teams trying to get a jump on competitors in lining up visits prior to the window opening as they could all, now, have time to express interest and to try to line up visits if they desired. This was a time period to book flights and hotels and to set up itineraries for multiple team visits, not for negotiations. Typically though, in a hypercompetitive business boundaries will always be pushed, and typically the league is pushing back.

 

[GregR]

I depend on/trust PFT a lot less these days, but since they are the ones with a copy of the memo... here is their summary of it:

1. A team is allowed to submit a written summary of its negotiating position to agents for free agents still under contract with other teams, including length of contract, signing bonus, compensation, and related subjects.

2. A team is allowed to adjust its negotiating position based on the position presented by a player’s agent.

3. While negotiations may occur, teams must say that they are not making offers.

4. Teams cannot execute contracts with free agents from other teams, submit a draft contract, enter into an express or implied agreement or make any promises about the terms that would be available once the free-agency period opens, or provide assurances of intent as to the future execution of a contract.

5. Teams also cannot discuss or make travel arrangements for a player to visit once the market opens, or to communicate directly with a player.

6. If a player has no agent, the team can’t negotiate with the player at all.

7. The period applies only to looming unrestricted free agents; it doesn’t include restricted free agents or players who have been tagged.

and this commentary:

Some of the rules are illogical. It’s impossible to negotiate without making and exchanging offers. And while teams are prohibited from making representations that the negotiating positions will become offers once Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET arrives, why else would the teams be outlining negotiating positions?

In theory, a team could toss around inflated negotiating positions without delivering once the market opens. But if a team starts behaving that way, agents won’t trust those teams — which will make it harder for those teams to do business.

Regardless of the annual “thou shalt not” memo from the league, these negotiating positions are offers. What else could they be? Any other approach ignores the reality of transacting business in the NFL.

The goal is to give a team that currently holds a player’s rights one last chance to sign the player based on the market that likely will emerge for his services. In that respect, it helps players get paid.

 

[FUBAR]

Suppose to be exchanging contact info, expressing general interest, and scheduling visits or conference calls so that when the window opens folks can be productive immediately.

right, because it's so difficult to get ahold of these agents.

I'm not defending the policy, I am simply stating what, according to my memory and understanding, the policy hoped to accomplish or allow. My understanding was that it was meant to allow teams, agents, and free agents to hit the ground running the moment free agency started. It was meant to reduce temptation towards agents and teams trying to get a jump on competitors in lining up visits prior to the window opening as they could all, now, have time to express interest and to try to line up visits if they desired. This was a time period to book flights and hotels and to set up itineraries for multiple team visits, not for negotiations. Typically though, in a hypercompetitive business boundaries will always be pushed, and typically the league is pushing back.

sure, still a stupid policy. It's designed to make 4pm EDT today an exciting 5 minutes.

this is one time the NFL should make the rule fit the practice.