2016 Off-Season Update

[Henderson]

For the college draft (which normally goes across 4 days), I'm thinking starting around the 20th or 27th, with some roster activity opened prior to that once I get everything set.

20th would be ideal for me as well

[Goodell]

Any idea when this years picks can be signed?

I've been behind with the new leagues but need to get going on that now that we're into the NFL preseason. As usual, the league has auto-signed the 3rd-7th rounders based upon NFL draftee slotted contracts. That's for AFFL, CFFL, and DFFL. I'll be working on the ability for teams to sign their own 1st and 2nd rounders soon. Thanks

[Goodell]

For AFFL, CFFL, and DFFL, you should be able to click next to the players name to sign your own 1st and 2nd rounders to contracts now. For teams that don't do this prior to the NFL season starting, the league will automatically sign those if cap space to do so.

We're just 2 1/2 weeks to the start of the NFL season, so start thinking about how you'll get down to the 53 man roster limit by the 9/8 deadline.

[Goodell]

Schedules for the 2016 season have been uploaded, so you should be able to see your schedule (which mirrors the NFL schedule) by clicking on schedule link from your team roster. Let me know if any problems. Thanks!

[bpboguta1483]

With roster cuts coming soon for NFL teams (August 30th I believe) does our league follow the same format as the NFL, cutting rosters from 90 to 75, and then final cuts from 75 to 53? The next question would be in regards to the practice squads. Do our teams keep the same number as the NFL, which is currently at 10?, and do the same eligibility rules apply where a player can only be eligible for a practice squad roster spot if certain criteria's are met? And last question, any player (especially the UDFA'S) who are cut goes back in the FA pool and then resigned and lands up on the practice squad? I have to say learning all the in's and out's of a keeper league like this makes it challenging and fun. Any answers given is much appreciated...

[Goodell]

With roster cuts coming soon for NFL teams (August 30th I believe) does our league follow the same format as the NFL, cutting rosters from 90 to 75, and then final cuts from 75 to 53? The next question would be in regards to the practice squads. Do our teams keep the same number as the NFL, which is currently at 10?, and do the same eligibility rules apply where a player can only be eligible for a practice squad roster spot if certain criteria's are met? And last question, any player (especially the UDFA'S) who are cut goes back in the FA pool and then resigned and lands up on the practice squad? I have to say learning all the in's and out's of a keeper league like this makes it challenging and fun. Any answers given is much appreciated...

No we just have two roster limits (90 in the off-season and 53 when the NFL regular season starts). The 75 and 53 cut down dates are so close together in the NFL, it's just too much administration. However, we do use the NFL's 75 man cut down date as a kick-off to start getting our teams ready for the 53 man roster. We'll turn on practice squad cutting at that time, and switch from the Rule of 51 off-season cap to everybody counts against the cap as we transition to regular season mode.

We do have the same number of practice squad spots (10) as the NFL. Next week you'll have another option on the roster. Instead of just cut, you'll have a cut to the practice squad option also. That'll only be available for players with 3 years of experience or less. You have to be cut to eventually land on the practice squad. if a player cut to the practice squad goes unclaimed, he lands on your practice squad if you don't already have 10 there. If he's claimed, he goes to the claiming team's active roster. After next week there will also be a new link in the free agency area called practice squad where you can see who is already not on a team and eligible for you to immediately pop onto your practice squad. But most get to the practice squad by first being cut to the squad and then unclaimed.

In the past we ran into games where a player was cut to the practice squad by one team, claimed, cut to their practice squad by that team, claimed, cut to the practice squad by another team, etc. circles, so there is also a requirement that a claimed player cannot be cut to practice squad if they've been on your roster less than 3 weeks. So claiming a player means you want them on your active roster and want to pay that player, not claiming them to add to practice squad. Only teams that originally acquired the player (draft pick or UDFA contract), or have had them on the roster at least 3 weeks if claimed from another team, can cut them to practice squad.

Hope that helps. Thanks

[Goodell]

Speaking of roster cuts, as teams start to think about who to cut to get down to their 53 man rosters (deadline 9/8 first NFL game of the season), here's a reminder to existing GMs and a note for the new ones.

VETERAN GUARANTEED SALARY
Veterans (over 3 years experience) will have their full season salary guaranteed if they are on your roster for week 1, similar to the NFL. If you have a highly paid veteran that you're not quite sure you want him or not, keep that in mind. Young players (3 years or less) on your roster week 1 are not guaranteed their entire salary, so if you cut them in week 8, you only pay half of their salary. If you sign a veteran from week 2 and cut him in week 10, you'd also just pay him half the annual salary. But if you have a veteran on your team when the season opens in week 1, and then decide to cut him in week 2, he's still owed his full salary because veterans on your roster in week 1 have their full annual salary guaranteed at that point.

It's very easy to create cap space during the off-season before players start earning game checks. Cut a player and their entire annual salary drops off your books in the off-season because it's not guaranteed and they aren't going to be on the team to earn that salary. But it's much more difficult during the season to create cap space when people start earning their salaries. Any cut during the regular season has costs. You'll either pay their entire salary for guaranteed veterans or a prorated portion of their annual salary.

Additionally, since all teams must fairly pay 53 active players whether they have 53 players on their active roster or not, there are empty cap space charges if your team is under 53 players. So if you're at 53 and cut someone, you have the costs associated with that player's earned salary plus the replacement cost of needing an extra body to get you to 53 active players again. During the regular season empty roster spot charges (for players under 53) cost a rookie minimum salary, so if you're at 52 then you'll have 450K added empty roster spot cost against the cap to effectively be paying 53 active contracts as all must at all times during the season.

So if your team is very close to the salary cap going into the season, your options for in-season transactions that tend to be more costly are much more limited.

[bpboguta1483]

Very helpful, thank you for the information.

[Goodell]

Now that all league drafts are completed, 2018 draft picks should be available for trade.

[Goodell]

Now that the NFL's at it's first cut-down date, time for our sim teams to start thinking about how they'll get down to their 53 man rosters by Sept. 8 -- next week when the first NFL game starts on Thursday night.

PRACTICE SQUAD
We've made more tools for cutting down your roster available now. You should now see a "Cut to Practice Squad" option when you go to cut a player from your team roster. Only players with 3 years experience or less are eligible for that. The only way to get a player from your active roster to your practice squad is to cut them to practice squad. They must then clear waivers, and once they do they'll show up on your practice squad two days later if you have space (only 10 practice squad spaces).

Players on practice squad do not have a contract. They are still free to sign with any team willing to pay them as active roster players. You will have the additional benefit of being able to match any offer your practice squad players get (if you have cap and roster space) within a week of their signing, but they are still free agents that can be signed by any team any time.

You can also add players to your practice squad if they are eligible and available in free agency, just click on the practice squad link from free agency. If you want to eventually sign the player, do not add them to practice squad first as you cannot bid on your own practice squad players until they've been on your roster a week.

There are going to be many cuts soon. Do not claim a player unless you have every intention of having him on your active roster and paying him, because claimed players cannot be immediately re-cut to practice squad by another team. You must have a claimed player on your roster 3 weeks before you can cut him to practice squad.