S18 RULE CHANGES AND ADDITIONS

[Talon]

The following changes go into effect either immediately or at the time otherwise noted.


- Starting S18/19 Off-season (next season):  The draft will (potentially) be reduced to 5 rounds.  It is recommended you do not trade for future 6th or 7th round picks as they may not exist.

- The Waiver Order will be the same as the draft order.  As you make a claim you go to the back of the list.   the order will not refresh week to week (as this was far too much trouble for me this season)

- For waivers: During the regular Season waiver claims will be processed the following week (player cut during week 1, they will be awarded when threads unlock and news posts for week 2)


THE PRACTICE SQUAD
From now on, teams will be afforded and additional 7 roster spots as a practice squad.

   > The practice squad will count against the salary cap and is completely optional.

   > Salary minimums still apply, rookie and vet minimums are the same as the main roster so that players can be moved to and from the practice squad without disrupting the salary cap rules.

   > Players from the practice squad can be activated during the season to supplement an injured player or to simply gain experience in weekly training
you do not have to utilize them but if you want them to play you can simply lock in with the following:

Promote: Harrison Butker to the active roster.

Demote: Graham Gano to the practice squad.

COACHES DECISION, LOCK IN

Players will not have an issue being moved to the practice squad / inactive for game day if they are injured or if they are simply younger players who understand their role on the team.  However demoting your first round pick or a veteran starter to the practice squad without their blessing or discussing it first will likely not sit well with them.


The catch: if you move a player to the practice squad, they must first clear waivers and to prevent anyone from sandbagging and trying to clear waivers after most teams have locked in; all teams locked or otherwise will be allowed to submit their waiver claim via PM to the mod.  A claimed player will not be moved to the claiming team's active roster until the following week unlocks.


You may NOT poach from other teams practice squad at this time.



PENALTY UPDATES:


The violation for a Bonus Budget Violation will be reduced from $5MM for the current and following season to a new tier penalty of $3MM for the current season and $3MM from the off-season, and $3MM from the following season's bonus budget.


ALSO - The old rule of forfeiting a roster spot for any cap violation is removed.  You must now still field a full 53 man roster with your reduced cap.


Finally - "The Pancho Rule"   Any violation of the salary or bonus cap AFTER the regular season has concluded will be handled in the following way:
   > The full penalty will be applied.
   > Use of the upcoming off-season amnesty will be made available.
   > Any player releases MUST be players under contract beyond the current (expiring) season.


SIGNING PFL PLAYERS AND TRADED WITH THE PFL

As the storyline suggested, the salary-must-match requirement is over with the PFL.

During the off-season you may attempt to sign players from the PFL.  They are HIGHLY unlikely to consider leaving their current club without a monster payday unless you have also scouted them, which in character gives them face time with your scouting department/coaching staff.   This means they'd be more open to a deal, but it does not guarantee anything. It is still a calculated dice roll before even getting to their salary request.

To simplify things, all scouting costs $500K, there are no more tiers of player scouting.  Keep it simple for me, means easier math for everyone.

Trading players with the PFL will not be a simple junk for gold deal and if you simply dump contracts you dont like and get trash back then there will be major backlash from your owner, the fans, agents, coaches, locker room etc depending on the team and situation.   Deal with the PFL wisely, as it will be more and more important going forward.


IFAF SIGNINGS / POSTINGS

IFAF will be similar to before with the following change.  Instead of a large list of predetermined available IFAF players, If you are interested in signing an international player, reach out via PM with a list of up to 5 players you're interested in.  I will provide an IC response with the club and player's interest.  If you wish to proceed, then a news post will announce they are being posted, alerting the rest of the league of their availability.

Once the deadline for this has expired the full list of posted players will be released and we go into the 4 phases of International Free Agency:

INTERNATIONAL FREE AGENCY

International Free Agency will consist of 4 stages. 

Stage One:
Each team will be allowed the following:
- 1 Contract Offer (negotiation) via PM


Stage Two:
Each team will be allowed the following:
- Continued negotiations with stage one player (if necessary) via PM
- 3 new contract offers (negotiations) via PM


Stage Three:
Each team will be allowed the following:
- Continued negotiations with stage one/two players (if necessary) via PM
- 3 new contract offers (negotiations) via PM

Stage Four:
Each team will be allowed the following:
- Final negotiations with stage one/two/three players (if necessary) via PM
- 3 new contract offers (negotiations) via PM