Constitution

CONSTITUTION

Historical Background

The NFL has come crashing down in a sports scandal of unprecedented magnitude. Accused of criminal connections with major betting interests in Las Vegas, all NFL owners have had their teams seized by a special Federal Prosecutor following a Grand Jury indictment. Hundreds of professional football players suddenly find themselves without jobs, their contracts voided by draconian bills passed in haste by the House of Representatives and confirmed by the Senate. The NFL itself can no longer operate as all their assets have been frozen or seized.

Across the continent and even in Europe and Asia, big business interests, wealthy entrepreneurs, municipal and state governments, citizen’s committees, charlatans, and even the Sultan of Brunei, are scrambling to fill the entertainment void suddenly and dramatically created by the collapse of the world’s most lucrative sports league. It is a heady and chaotic time fueled by the promise of great riches and rewards from the major television networks for the group that can assemble the league with the greatest talent and chance of success. Everyone in the sports industry is watching and waiting to see who will build the next Elite Football League.

Scenario

You have been appointed General Manager and Operations Director of a newly established professional football franchise owned by a powerful financial backer. As a known and respected football genius, unconnected to the betting scandal that brought down the old NFL, you have been given complete control over all football operations and football decisions, down to the name and colors of your team. Your team is one of twelve teams hastily assembled to form a league that aims to grab the attention of the world and the most lucrative television contract in sports. Your league is the Elite Football League (EFL).

All former NFL players are looking for work. Recently drafted College players are also in the hunt – suddenly devastated by unpaid signing bonuses and worthless contracts. But all of these players have agents, and they have certain minimum demands that must be met, or they will be happy to sign elsewhere. Your first order of business is to sign as many good former NFL players as possible with the money you have been given. The league owners have agreed that an entry draft will determine which team has the rights to negotiate with a given player. They have also agreed to a hard salary cap which cannot be exceeded.

The recently drafted college players are desperate. Without professional experience, only the most promising can expect to be offered big money to sign with the new professional teams. The rest will take what they are given, in their first year, to get on board.

The Elite Football League has many supporters in the media industry. It is viewed as the odds-on favorite to grab the hearts of America’s football fanatics. However, there are other leagues – rivals in hot pursuit of the EFL who are willing to do anything to reach the pinnacle of success.

The Superior Football League (SFL), based in the Great Lakes Region of the US, is an aggressive rival with the ability to sign top NFL stars. Former NFL standouts bypassed by the EFL will likely find their way there.

The Canadian Football League (CFL) continues, as always, to be a safe haven for those who were good, but not good enough, for the NFL.

The Tex-Mex Football League (TMFL) is the wildly popular organization with teams in the American Southwest and Mexico which uses radically modified rules such as two downs to gain five years or else a mandatory punt on third down (implemented during the loop’s inaugural season to increase the interest of futbol crazy fans in Mexico) have purist up in arms. Players looking for any kind of work will find their way to the TMFL.

Preamble to the Constitution

The rules and procedures set out in this Constitution are founded upon three key principles:

· Fairness

· Sportsmanship

· Competition

They are ideal concepts, whether implied or expressed, to which every good league aspires, the pillars that support the league. When one is lacking member dissatisfaction follows - resulting in poor participation, instability and abandonment of the league.

The first goal of the EFL Constitution is to continually strengthen all three of the above pillars through active membership participation at all levels of league-building and maintenance.

A simulation football league where the members do not receive pay for their time and effort is presumed to be a “fun league.” No one should have to be reminded of that. When a coach needs to be reminded, or is no longer having fun, it is a warning sign that something is not right – with the coach, the league, or both. Whether the problem lies with an individual or a league rule, an appropriate resolution must be found as soon as possible. Disputes and disagreements are important factors in developing good rules systems, enabling the league to test the strength and integrity of its Constitution.

The second goal of the EFL Constitution is to develop and maintain a fair, transparent, efficient, and accountable dispute resolution process.

Over time, many leagues tend to become static – a select few members dominate and excel year-after-year while transient members come and go, often leaving broken teams behind. Competition deteriorates and fairness is questioned as new coaches spend their early days fending off predatory traders. Long serving coaches break into informal trading cliques and eventually “help” each other against rivals. Most of us are probably all too familiar with such scenarios, but this does not have to happen – not if the league has a strong core membership and a multi-faceted, dynamic player acquisition system that enables teams to rebuild quickly through different avenues, separately or simultaneously.

The third goal of the EFL Constitution is to promote competitive balance by providing incentives for making the playoffs and penalties for losing games that carry over into the following year.

Some simulation leagues that become unbalanced experience a lack of strong competition and a corresponding decline in sportsmanship. They eventually develop a problem known as “tanking,” when a coach strips his team down for the purpose of getting the top pick in the draft. For a chronically sick team, with few assets and no immediate hope, this option may be the only viable one. But, when several coaches at once dismantle decent teams wholesale for a shot at dominating the early rounds of the rookie draft, it can become a serious problem for the league.

The fourth goal of the EFL Constitution is to improve the quality and impact of game day coaching on league competitiveness.

Game day coaching appears to be a declining art in some leagues. The expression that begins, “on any given Sunday…” to describe the current competitive balance of the NFL apparently does not apply very often to simulation football contests when the talent gap between the two teams is wide. While the EFL cannot change the Action game engine to make “anything possible” (nor would that be desirable) the league can encourage sound and creative coaching by rewarding upsets and recognizing those who have done “the most with the least.”

The fifth goal of the EFL Constitution is to offer diverse opportunities and avenues for player acquisition and player movement that mirror those of the NFL.

While most leagues employ a simple player acquisition paradigm the EFL will use a multi-faceted approach - including: a College Draft, Re-signing of Players, Contract Extensions, Free Agency, Rival League Raiding, Player Franchising and Waiver Draft – requiring each team to “mix and match” in order to build the most cost effective roster (hard salary cap in effect) and compete for the League Championship.

Membership

The EFL was established in 2007 in order to provide the true thinking football simulation gamer with the opportunity to run a football franchise. Each EFL General Manager is afforded the opportunity to build and control a football franchise which will compete yearly for the EFL championship trophy, the Gale Sayers Trophy. While a competitive approach is a must, member integrity and a spirit of friendship is of paramount importance – “win but not at any cost.”

The inaugural season of the EFL was comprised of 12 charter franchises run by 12 hand picked General Managers who jointly laid down the foundation of a dynamic league that is second to none. The EFL, through expansion, is now a 24 team league. Each General Manager will be expected to participate in all phases of the EFL and a nominal monetary commitment in the form of annual dues will be made. Expansion will be discussed at the conclusion of each season, with a ¾ vote required to implement an increase in the size of the EFL Upon a successful ¾ vote new members will be sought, with priority given to those sponsored by active EFL members.

The same ¾ vote is required to implement any rule(s) change(s) submitted to the league for approval during the New Rule Proposal phase which takes place immediately following the EFL Championship Game. New Rules must be submitted in writing to the League Office and will subsequently be posted league wide for discussion and voting.

All members must have Instant Messenger (IM) as all league activities will take place in “real time,” including: re-signing players, free agency and the College Draft. IM also enhances trade talks and the playing of games. Additionally, each member is required to join the EFL’s Yahoo Group site, EFL-Posts – which will facilitate league communication.

League Format

The EFL is a computer based football league using the latest version of Action PC Football, including the annual projection ratings disk. The league is comprised of 20 teams grouped into two conferences, each with 2 divisions of 5 teams. Each team is subject to a 140 million dollar hard cap.

Playoff Format.

The first place team in each division as well as the best two non-first place teams (wild card teams) in each conference will qualify for the playoffs. The three division winners will be seeded #1 (best division winning percentage and applicable tie breakers), #2 (second best division winning percentage) and #3 (third best division winning percentage). The two wild cards teams will be seeded #4 (best non-division winning percentage and applicable tie breakers) and #5 (second best non-division winning percentage).

The two wild card teams in each conference will play a Wild Card Game to determine who moves on.

The #1 seeded team plays at home against the winner of the Wild Card Game between the #4 and #5 seeded team (with a home field advantage of 4) and the #2 seeded team plays at home against the #3 seeded team (with a home field advantage of 4). The two winning teams will then meet for the conference title, with the higher seeded team receiving home field advantage of 4. The two conference winners will then meet at a neutral site for the EFL Championship – Gale Sayers Trophy.

A newsletter shall be published weekly, with each home team responsible for a game summary / recap to be submitted with the game file. The newsletter will typically contain game write-ups and statistics of the week’s games, league news and any other submissions of interest – with EFL members encouraged to actively participate in its production.

Games must be played on a weekly basis, using the Schedule feature and with Side-By-Side Box Scores. Game files will be due at the League Office no later than midnight (Eastern) on Saturday, allowing for the timely production of the newsletter and updated league disk.

If a mutually agreeable time cannot be found in order to play a week’s game efforts should be made to find a substitute coach. As a last resort the game shall be played against the computer, with the emergency coaching file (COA) used. If a game result is not received by the midnight deadline the game shall be auto-played by the League Office, with the negligent member receiving a warning. Two warnings in one season and the league may revoke the member’s franchise.

Powers of the Co-Commissioner(s)

Disputes:

The commissioner(s) shall resolve any conflict(s) that arise(s) where it is determined that a league vote is not practical. With the ruling made, ANY member may request (with a written application stating their reasons) that the commissioner’s decision be overturned through a league-wide vote where a simple majority is REQUIRED to veto the commissioner’s decision (commissioner and involved members are excluded from the final vote).

League Affairs:

The day to day running of the league shall be handled by the commissioner(s) with the “final product” presented to the members, the exception to this coming when a “dice roll” is required to determine some team function. In these cases the General Manager may leave the matter in the hands of the commissioner with the understanding that the end result cannot be appealed or they can be an active participant and “roll” the dice using the dice-rolling feature of IM.

College Draft

At least one week prior to the NFL draft (April) the EFL shall hold its annual College Draft, with all declared players eligible to be selected by EFL teams. The College Draft will consist of 8 rounds, with 2 minutes allotted per selection. Selected rookies will be available to their teams immediately, using the Action PC Projection Ratings Disk.

Draft order will be determined in the following manner:

DRAFT LOTTERY

24th seed - 15% chance of Pick #1
23rd seed - 20% chance of Pick #1
22nd seed - 25% chance of Pick #1
21st seed - 40% chance of Pick #1

Once the #1 overall pick is determined - Round 2

Lowest remaining seed - 25% chance of Pick #2
2nd lowest remaining seed - 35% chance of Pick #2
3rd lowest remaining seed - 40% chance of Pick #2

Once the #1 and #2 overall picks are determined - Round 3

Lower remaining seed - 40% chance of Pick #3
Higher remaining seed - 60% chance of Pick #3

4th pick goes to the remaining team

Teams seeded 5-12 will pick in reverse order of standings
The worse the record the better the draft pick.

The lottery for the top 4 seeds only applies to Round 1.
Usual draft slotting is applicable in Rounds 2-8.

Teams OUT OF Lottery:

• The team with the lowest winning percentage at the end of the previous season drafts #5 in the EFL College Draft.

The remaining teams are then slotted from lowest winning percentage to highest winning percentage.

• The Gale Sayers Trophy champion selects last in each round regardless of winning percentage.

• The Gale Sayers Trophy loser selects next to last in each round regardless of winning percentage.

• Strength of victories from the previous season is the first tie-breaker for teams with the same winning percentage.

The team with the lower strength of victories percentage getting the better draft slot.

• Strength of schedule (Opponent's Records) from the previous season is the second tie-breaker for teams with the same

winning percentage. The team with the lower won-loss percentage getting the better draft slot.

• Divisional records are the next step in the tie-breaking procedure.

• As a last resort, a coin toss is used to determine the order of selection for teams with the same winning percentage.

*** Non-playoff teams are slotted 1-14 / Playoff teams are slotted 15-24.

Eliminated playoff teams draft higher than teams that advance within the playoff bracket (regardless of division standing).

Usual tie-breakers apply to teams eliminated in the same round of the playoffs.

Rookies will be signed to predetermined contracts based on the round and slot they are selected at, as follows:

All rookie contracts are set for 4 years, with the exception of 1st round picks which have a 5th year club option.

5th year option must be declared at the start of the 4th season (off-season).

Rookie Contract Values:

EFL Compensatory Draft Picks to be awarded based on RFA "net" losses (matching rights required).

Over + 10,000,000 = 3rd round pick awarded

Over + 8,000,000 to 10,000,000 = 4th round pick awarded

Over + 6,000,000 to 8,000,000 = 5th round pick awarded

Over + 4,000,000 to 6,000,000 = 6th round pick awarded

Under 4,000,000 = NO pick awarded

Compensatory picks will come at the end of each applicable round.

If there is a tie in net loss the team that lost the player with the largest NEW contract will receive the better draft slot.

If a tie still exists a dice roll will determine the team with the better draft slot.

Contract Extensions

In a player’s “contract year” (during the final season of an existing contract) the owning team may enter into negotiations with the player to extend his contract at any time before the end of the season. The player, however, will be more apt to sign a contract extension prior to the start of the NFL season and the chance of signing him will decrease each week. Players coming off rookie contracts are not eligible to be extended and must be resigned.

Whether or not a player engages in contract extension talks with his team will be determined using the following chart:

Contract Extension (Agree or Refuse to T

If the player refuses to engage in contract extension negotiations with the team all talks will cease until the end of the season when the player will be subject to the usual retention / release procedures.

If the player agrees to engage in contract extension negotiations with the team an offer will be presented to the player and his agent for their approval. Whether or not a player accepts the team’s offer will be determined using the following chart:

Extension Value

If the player accepts the contract extension offer he is signed to that contract. If the player rejects the contract extension offer all talks cease until the end of the season when the player will be subject to the usual retention / release procedures. If a player is insulted by the offer all talks cease until the end of the season when the player becomes a free agent and looks to move to a new team (unless franchised).

Players cannot be extended after they are signed to a one year contract as it would constitute two contracts (contract negotiations) in the same year.

Players cannot be extended if they are currently working off a previously signed contract extension, regardless of length (1 to 3 years).

Teams can trade players who reject contract extensions - during the players' contract year or at the conclusion of the season, prior to the Free Agent Auction. The team trading for such a player, however, must offer an equal to or better contract than the one the player rejected (or was insulted by) with his original team.

Once a team declares its intention to extend a player to the League Office they are obligated to follow through on extension talks.

Re-Signings

Upon completion of a player contract the player becomes a free agent. The team for which the player last played for has the first option to sign him to a new contract. The player’s agent will come to the team with an opening offer and the team / agent will negotiate from there. Upon conclusion of negotiations the player agent will present to player with the agreed upon contract terms and it will be up to the player to accept / reject the offer. Players not signed by June 30 and not franchised become free agents.

Contract terms are established in the following manner.

· Previous EFL Salary + 3 (“Koch Scouting Services” Value) = Baseline Value (BV) / 4

· The team and player agent then begin negotiations starting from the BV, establishing a Preliminary Salary (PS) per season

figure based on a percentage of the BV. The minimum PS figure a player agent will listen to is 50% of BV and the maximum

PS figure a team will offer is 150% of BV (increments of 5%).

· The PS is then modified for age (as noted in the Action PC FB game) and length of contract using the following chart to get

salary per season.

With the salary per season and contract length established in the negotiations between the team and the player agent the contract is presented to the player for his approval. Acceptance / Rejection of the negotiated contract will be determined using the following chart:

Example – A thirty-one year old player with an expired contract worth 2.5 million

and a “Koch Scouting Services” Value of 3.2 million looking for a two year contract at 120% of BV would break down as follows:

2.5 million + 3(3.2 million) = 3,025,000 (BV) / 4

3,025,000 X 120% = 3,630,000 (PS)

3,630,000 X 115% (Length of Contract / Age Chart – 31 year old at 2 years) = 4,174,500 salary per season

Contract Offer = 4,174,500 per season for two years

The contract is then presented to the player who decides whether to accept it or not using the Contract Acceptance Table. In this case the following line of the table would be used:

% BV Accept Reject Insulted

120 1-70 71-94 95-100

Thus, on a percentile roll of 1-70 the contract is accepted, on a percentile roll of 71-94 the contract is rejected and on a percentile roll of 95-100 the player is insulted and will have nothing more to do with the team (unless franchised).

Teams can trade players (or the rights to players) who reject (or are insulted by) contract re-sign offers. The team trading for such a player, however, must offer an equal to or better contract (years and %BV) than the one the player rejected with his original team.

Renegotiation

Each team may attempt two (2) contract renegotiations per year during the off-season no later than one week prior to the restricted free agent auction (RFA).

The following conditions must be met in order to initiate a contract renegotiation:

· Player must agree to talk

· Player is approaching the second or subsequent years of a multi-year contract

· Player is not currently subject to a renegotiated contract, and;

· GM has not previously attempted to renegotiate the contract in the current year

Renegotiation is a two-step process: the Approach and Bargaining.

The Approach – This is when the GM declares the intention to attempt to renegotiate the contract of an eligible player by requesting that player to take a pay cut in order to remain with the team.

Bargaining may only occur if the player agrees to talk.

The chance that a player will talk increases with the player’s age as displayed in the current player rating set.

The Approach is conducted using the following table:

If the player refuses to talk, the process ends immediately and there is no renegotiation.

A GM may approach any number of players and request renegotiations. However, once a GM has approached two (2) players, word gets around the locker room that the team’s owner is cheap and the chance of players agreeing to talk is reduced.

Reduce the chance of a player agreeing to talk by 10% for each approach after the first two.

Bargaining – If the player agrees to talk, the GM proceeds to bargain with the player. This process is simulated by tendering the player a final “offer” from the team. This “offer” represents the price the team can afford to pay the player in order to stay with the team. The pay cut can be for any amount less than the player’s current yearly salary, expressed in 5% increments, or to the player’s current ‘Koch Value,’ but not lower than the ‘Koch Value.” (If cutting a player’s salary to ‘Koch Value’ round the difference to the nearest 5% for purposes of the table). The minimum pay cut is 5%.

Renegotiation is conducted using the following table:

If the player “accepts” the pay cut, the current and any remaining year(s) of his contract are adjusted to the new salary and a “no trade” clause is added to the contract for the current season only.

However, if the player is subsequently released in the current contract season, the cut costs are calculated at the original contract salary (prior to the pay cut).

If the player takes the pay cut and makes the team in the current season, the renegotiated contract becomes the player’s official contract for all purposes, including cut costs, in subsequent years of the contract, if applicable.

If the player “refuses” to take a pay cut he is insulted and immediately released to the free agent pool, with the usual cut costs. Moving forward the team cannot bid on the player in free agency or match any offer the player receives.

An “attempt” is defined as one roll on the Renegotiation Table.

Therefore, once two rolls have been made, successful or not, the GM may attempt no more renegotiations in the current off-season.

Free Agency (Protected)

Upon completion of a player contract teams may designate up to two (2) players from their previous year's roster as Protected Free Agents. After tagging up to two PFAs the team must tender a qualifying five (5) year contract offer to the PFA player(s) by the last Sunday prior to the EFL College Draft. A qualifying offer must meet one of the offers which appear in the chart below.

If the player accepts the tender offer he signs for the predetermined amount. If, however, the player rejects the tender offer any team may bid on the PFA in accordance with the current restricted free agent rules, with three exceptions:

1. The bidding team must possess the compensatory draft picks.

2. The opening contract amount must be equal to the tender offer.

3. The contract length must be 5 years.

Bidding teams will submit their best offer to the player's agent in accordance with current EFL rules, with the player signing with the highest bidder. The player's prior team does NOT have the right to match the high offer for the player. Instead, the player's prior team is awarded one or more draft picks from the team tendering the highest bid to the PFA player. The draft pick(s) awarded will be based on the following chart:

Accept Compensation (own draft pick)

Offer equal to average of the top 5 players at position 1-75 1st + 3rd round picks**

Offer equal to average of the top 10 players at position* 1-70 1st + 4th round picks**

Offer equal to average of the top 15 players at position* 1-65 1st round pick**

Offer equal to average of the top 20 players at position* 1-60 2nd round pick**

Offer equal to average of the top 25 players at position* 1-55 3rd round pick**

(*) A player cannot be tendered at Levels 2-5 if the value is LESS than his current contract.

(**) Draft picks are the BEST available owned by the team (best available is defined as the earlier draft slot).

The following PFA Draft Value Chart will be used to determine highest bid:

* Player contracts from the most recently completed EFL season will be used to slot the tender offers. If a player receives no bids

he is re-signed by his prior team at the tendered offer.

* Players tagged as Protected Free Agents cannot be Franchised.

* Players acquired through the PFA process CANNOT be traded in the first year.
* Compensatory Draft Picks CANNOT be used as compensation.

Free Agency (Restricted)

RFAs will hit the open market in distinct groups of fifteen - one player (as applicable) per offensive and defensive position (C, G, T, QB, RB, WR, TE, and K on offense and DE, DT, OLB, ILB, CB, S and P on defense).

RFAs to be included in each grouping will be determined by their Koch Value as found in the newest Action PC FB game, starting with the highest value players being grouped together and moving down to the lowest value players.

If a position is exhausted a "replacement" position/player, the highest Koch valued one(s), will be included to bring the grouping to fifteen.

Once each group is identified the league office will announce the first grouping (highest value players at each position) and open a two day bidding process.

Day One: Teams will submit their offers to each player they wish to bid on to the league office.

Bids will be in the form of a contract monetary figure and a contract length of 1 to 5 years.

Once all bids are in (5 PM Eastern Time deadline) the league office will post the bids received by each player.

Minimum RFA contract value offer = Koch Value.

For example: Player X (26 years old ) - Durham 1,100,000 for 3 years

Samoa 2,200,000 for 2 years

Cowtown 2,150,000 for 3 years

Pickering 1,750,000 for 2 year

Day Two: After reviewing the bids posted at the conclusion of Day 1, teams WHO HAVE PLACED A BID on a player will have the opportunity to revise their offer.

Offers cannot be retracted / withdrawn and can only be revised upward, not downward. Contract length cannot be changed.

This phase can be viewed as a “final tuning” of the contract before the offer is accepted.

Once all bids are in (5 PM Eastern Time deadline) the league office will announce the team each player signs with, as determined by the highest average Weighted Contract Value using the Weighted Contract Value Chart (see below):

For example: Player X (26 years old ) - Durham 1,200,000 for 3 years (revised offer – increased)

Samoa 2,200,000 for 2 years (standing pat)

Cowtown 2,150,000 for 3 year (standing pat)
Pickering 2,350,000 for 2 year (revised offer – increased)

Teams, having the high bid on more than one player in any one Tier, are allowed one (1) withdrawal of a WINNING bid in the 8-round RFA process.

In the case of a winning bid being withdrawn the second highest bid will be considered the winning bid.

Teams who rescind a contract offer will have a 10% premium added to all future signings in the RFA auction. The 10% premium will not factor into the "desirability" of the contract, it will simply be added after the fact to simulate word getting out to other RFAs that the team may not be entirely truthful in their dealings.

Thus, Player X agrees to a contract with Cowtown for 3 years at 2,150,000 per season as they offered the highest Weighted Contract Value (1,935,000).

The player's original team now has the opportunity to match the contract offer and sign the player as long as they hold matching rights (have not cut or insulted the player). If a team does not having matching rights the player signs with Markham.

The order of "desirability" for Player X (and his agent) is as follows:

1. Cowtown 2,150,000 for 3 years (Weighted Value of 1,935,000)

2. Samoa 2,200,000 for 2 years (Weighted Value of 1,870,000)

3. Pickering 1,750,000 for 2 years (Weighted Value of 1,487,500)

4. Durham 1,200,000 for 3 years (Weighted Value of 1,080,000)

Regardless of the Weighted Contract Value (which is simply an abstract means of ascertaining the "desirability" of the contract offer to a player and which forms the basis for his decision as to which team's offer to accept) a player signs for the ACTUAL contract offer.

In our Player X example – the player signs with Markham for 3,650,000 for each of the next 3 years.

The process then repeats itself with the second highest grouping (second highest value players at each position), followed by the third highest grouping, followed by the fourth highest grouping until seven groupings have been made available (105 players).

An eighth, and final, grouping of all remaining players will then be made available.

Players that do not receive any contract offers can be RETAINED by their original team (as long as they have not INSULTED the player in previous contract negotiations) at their Koch Value to a team determined 1 to 5 year contract length.

Players that are not retained are waived and made available in The Waiver Draft.

At the conclusion of bidding on Day 2 of each Tier teams who hold matching rights will have 24 hours to respond as to whether or not they will match an offer. If a team does not respond within the 24 hours the player will move to the high bid team.

EFL Compensatory Draft Picks to be awarded based on NET RFA Losses.

Team MUST own Matching Rights to lost players.

10,000.000 + 3rd round pick awarded

8,000,000 to 9,999,999 4th round pick awarded

6,000,000 to 7,999,999 5th round pick awarded

4,000,000 to 5,999,999 6th round pick awarded

Under 4,000,000 NO pick awarded

Compensatory Draft Picks will come at the end of each applicable round with the order determined by won-loss record (reverse, with ties broken by strength of victories).

Rival League Raiding (Unrestricted)

The EFL does not operate in a vacuum. While the top players make up the ranks of EFL there are other leagues with other talented players such as the Stupendous Football League (SFL), the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the Tex-Mex Football League (TMFL).

Players with expired contracts in the SFL, CFL and TMFL are available to all EFL franchises. The league office shall publish a list of all players looking to “jump leagues” and the leaked contract offers they have received from their existing team / league upon receipt of said information from their agents. Typically this information will be made public in February / March with two “blind” bidding processes taking place, one before the EFL College Draft (primary) and a second, for players not selected in the primary phase, shortly after the conclusion of the RFA Auction (Secondary).

UFA-Phase One (primary) player contracts are "preset" at 1 to 5 years while UFA-Phase Two (secondary) player contracts are determined by the signing team at 1 to 5 years.

Bidding franchises agree to take on the terms of the leaked contracts, with the player ultimately going to the team offering the highest signing bonus which will count towards the salary cap. The bonus can be spread throughout the length of the player contract but will reduce the team’s salary cap by the amount of signing bonus allocated to each upcoming year – with a ten percent premium (cumulative) paid EACH future year on ALL remaining bonus monies. The signing bonus is in ADDITION to the player's contract.

Example – Several SFL, CFL ad TMFL players make it know that they are interested in jumping to the EFL, for the right price of course. Included in this group is a player from the SFL who will accept a four year contract worth 2.35 million (Action PC value) per season. This player receives the following three offers from EFL teams.

Team “A” offers 2.35 million per season over 4 years with a bonus of 500,000

Team “B” offers 2.35 million per season over 4 years with a bonus of 350,000

Team “C” offers 2.35 million per season over 4 years with a bonus of 625,000

With Team “C” offering the highest bonus (625,000) they are awarded the player’s service for the next four seasons. Team “C” must now decide how to best distribute the signing bonus to maximize their salary cap space - keeping in mind the 10% premium to be paid EACH year bonus monies are deferred. Bonuses MUST be paid off within the "timeframe" of the player contract.

Players signed as UFAs can be traded in the first year of their new contract with the signing team paying 25% of the bonus and the
player's new team paying 75% of the bonus. Trades can only be executed AFTER the release of the Action Rookie Projection Disk.

Deferred bonus monies CANNOT be clawed back.

Waiver Draft

Players cut in order to reach the 53 player figure and those not signed to contracts during the off-season are “waived” and available to all EFL teams in a Waiver Draft - with signing priority, round by round, based on the teams’ previous season’s finish (lowest winning percentage to highest winning percentage). Once a team passes they are no longer eligible to select players in subsequent rounds. The Waiver Draft will continue until all teams have passed.

Players selected in the Waiver Draft are signed to their “Koch Scouting Services” Value for 1-5 years, as determined by the selecting team.

At the conclusion of the "exhibition season" each EFL team must trim its roster down to 53 players. Any team cutting a player and replacing him with a waiver selection must pay the associated cut costs.

WAIVER DRAFT RESTRICTION (The Brady / Heaton Clause) Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:58 pm

1) No team may select with its first pick in the Waiver Draft a player released by that team AFTER the RFA Auction, unless that team is the final team to select in the first round.

2) A team may elect to "hold" its first pick in the Waiver Draft, deferring selection until such time as all remaining teams have either selected or passed in the first round, after which the team may immediately claim any remaining eligible player, including a player previously released by that team.

3) Multiple "hold" claims in the first round are resolved in order of draft.

4) Once every team has selected or passed once and all first round "holds" are resolved, the Waiver Draft will proceed to the second round without restrictions on selection.

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RATIONALE & DEFINTIONS

- The "hold" is simply a mechanism that allows teams to effectively defer their first round pick until all other teams have had a chance to either

select or pass on all available players, meeting the essential requirement that a player clear "waivers" before becoming eligible for re-acquisition.

- "First Pick" is defined as the selection of a player in the first round of the draft in the normal order of draft. If a team elects to "hold" its pick until

all other teams have selected or passed in the first round, the team is picking out of order at the conclusion of the first round and therefore

does not breach the provisions of Item 1).

- The term "hold" is used to distinguish the action from a "pass," which carries meaning and eliminates a team from the Waiver Draft.

For example: If a team picking at #1 was hell-bent on re-signing a player it cut as a salary dump (let's say Tom Brady) at the earliest opportunity, the team would exercise a "hold" in the first round instead of selecting immediately. If, by some stroke of luck, Brady remained unclaimed after all other teams had had a shot at him in the first round, the "holding" team would be able to claim that player immediately, prior to the second round. However, if the sharp GM picking at #2 selected Brady, the team exercising the "hold" would be shit out of luck and would have to wait until the end of the first round to pick somebody else.

Trading

EFL teams may trade through the fourth week of the regular season (Trade Deadline: Saturday at midnight ET - when Week 4 games are due). Contracts will be pro-rated and count against the cap for the period of time the player spent on each respective roster. Once a trade has been made and duly reported to the league membership by all involved teams the trade shall become official. A confirmed trade is final.

Teams can trade players (or the rights to players) who reject (or are insulted by) contract offers (extensions and re-sign attempts). The team trading for such a player, however, must offer an equal to or better contract than the one the player rejected with his original team in comparable negotiations (extensions / re-sign attempts) if applicable.

Conditional trades involving players who refused (or were insulted by) contract extension offers can be transacted but an ACTUAL trade must be made. In other words: The player MUST go to the team which traded for him - he cannot go back to his original team if the new team fails to sign him to a contract extension.

The following is acceptable:

"If I sign the player - I will send you player X or draft pick X."
"If I cannot sign the player - I will send you player Y or draft pick Y."

Note: Players cannot be traded directly back to the same team they were acquired from in the same year / season.

Note: Rookie picks can only be traded one season past the current season. This restricted is lifted at the conclusion of the season when an additional season's picks can be traded until the commencment of the College Draft.

Player Franchising

Each EFL team can also “Franchise” one player whose contract has expired and who the team was not able to sign during the re-signing period (Rejected / Insulted – during contract negotiations). Franchise players are given a one-year contract at the average salary of the top 5 players at his position or a 20% increase to his existing salary (whichever is higher), automatically becoming a free agent at the conclusion of the “Franchise Year.” Franchised players CANNOT be traded.

If the player was franchised after “rejecting” the clubs offer or he was directly franchised without being offered a contract he can negotiate with any team, including the team that franchised him (match option) in the subsequent free agent period. If the player was franchised after being “insulted” during contract talks he can negotiate with any team EXCEPT the team that franchised him (no-match option).

Release Cut Costs

Players whose contracts have expired can be dropped at no cost to the team. Players who are currently under contract can be released at a financial cost to the team as follows:

1 year remaining on current contract

50% of salary (against cap)

Cap penalty – current season

2 + years remaining on current contract

50% of 1st year salary plus 25% of each additional year under contract (against cap)

Cap penalty – each applicable season

Transaction Reporting

Transactions (Trades and Cuts) must be reported to the commissioner and league membership via the EFL-Posts (Yahoo Groups) immediately upon completion. Timely reporting will allow for up to the minute roster information and financial data to be made available to all franchises.

Rosters

Each EFL team MUST carry 53 players, with the sum total of player contracts below the Salary Cap. Teams may have more than 53 players on their roster during the off-season but must cut down to the 53 player limit prior to the start of the regular season. Players out for the season (not RATED by Action PC Football) are NOT counted towards the 53 man roster limit but their salary counts towards the salary cap. (Amended 2014 - from "no games played" to "no ACTION CARD")

Roster Makeup: While each owner can determine the makeup of his team it is suggested that upon “breaking camp” each team have the following position minimums.

If a team falls short in the aforementioned specialist requirements - the lowest ranked (Koch Value) player at said position will be assigned to the team by the commissioner, with the transaction following the usual roster and salary cap rules.

FLEX PLAYERS

With the versatility of today’s players it is not unusual for head coaches to move players around (with limitations) in order to get the most out of their roster. Thus, the following changes can be made during training camp and into the season.

Defense:

One defensive lineman (DE or DT) rated 6 or less can be designated as a DL and used without penalty at either DT or DE.

One linebacker (ILB or OLB) rated 6 or less can be designated as a LB and used without penalty at either ILB or OLB.

One defensive back (CB or S) rated 6 or less can be designated as a DB and used without penalty at either CB or S.

Exception: DE-OLB rated players cannot be flexed to LB.

Offense:

One offensive lineman (T, G or C) rated 6 or less can be designated as a C-G-T and used without penalty at either T, G or C.

TAXI SQUAD (1 man)

One 1st, 2nd or 3rd year "carded" player can (optional) be retained as the 54th man on a team's roster. This player will not be active on game day but must be accounted for within the team's 140M Cap. This player can, however, be called up as a replacement for an injured player on the active 53 man roster but must be made inactive once the injured player returns.

Injury / Practice Squad

If at any point during the season a team falls below the position minimum (see below) they may activate designated practice squad player or sign a player from the Free Agency pool (unselected players from RFA) with a DK Value of $350,000 to temporarily meet the needed number of players at that position. These players' salary will be added to the teams cap at a prorated weekly rate and are not eligible to be extended or re-signed by the team for the following season. A team MUST have the applicable funds available (Under the CAP) in order to secure such players.

Teams who do not have the recommended minimum number of players (see below) on their roster at the time of injury may not use this rule for their benefit.

The claim process works in reverse order of record (worst to best), with a team's first claim moving the team to the bottom of the order. If two teams with the same W-L record claim the same player the first team to have officially announced the pickup to the league will be awarded the player.

Claims MUST be submitted to the League Office, and announced league wide, before the Sunday release of the weekly disk.

Playoffs

The two wild card teams in each conference will play a Wild Card Game to determine who moves on.

The #1 seeded team plays at home against the winner of the Wild Card Game between the #4 and #5 seeded team (with a home field advantage of 4) and the #2 seeded team plays at home against the #3 seeded team (with a home field advantage of 4). The two winning teams will then meet for the conference title, with the higher seeded team receiving home field advantage (4). The two conference winners will then meet at a neutral site for the EFL Championship – Gale Sayers Trophy.

Tie Breaker Rules:

The postseason participants from each conference are seeded as follows:

The division champion with the best record.
The division champion with the second-best record.
The Wild Card club with the best record.
The Wild Card club with the second-best record.

The following procedures will be used to break standings ties for postseason playoffs.

NOTE: Tie games count as one-half win and one-half loss for both clubs.

TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION

If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.

Two Clubs

Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in common games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

Three or More Clubs (Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated during any step, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format).

Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in common games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

TO BREAK A TIE FOR THE WILD-CARD TEAM / CONFERENCE TOP SEED

If it is necessary to break ties to determine the two Wild-Card clubs from each conference or the conference top seed, the following steps will be taken.

If the tied clubs are from the same division, apply division tie breaker.
If the tied clubs are from different divisions, apply the following steps.

Two Clubs

Head-to-head, if applicable.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in conference games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss.

Three or More Clubs

(Note: If two clubs remain tied after third or other clubs are eliminated, tie breaker reverts to step 1 of applicable two-club format.)

Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two Wild-Card participants.
Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in conference games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

When the first Wild-Card team has been identified, the procedure is repeated to name the second Wild-Card, i.e., eliminate all but the highest-ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. In situations where three or more teams from the same division are involved in the procedure, the original seeding of the teams remains the same for subsequent applications of the tie breaker if the top-ranked team in that division qualifies for a Wild-Card berth.

OTHER TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURES

Only one club advances to the playoffs in any tie-breaking step. Remaining tied clubs revert to the first step of the applicable division or Wild Card tie-breakers. As an example, if two clubs remain tied in any tie-breaker step after all other clubs have been eliminated, the procedure reverts to Step 1 of the two-club format to determine the winner. When one club wins the tiebreaker, all other clubs revert to Step 1 of the applicable two-club or three-club format.

In comparing records against common opponents among tied teams, the best won-lost-tied percentage is the deciding factor, since teams may have played an unequal number of games.

To determine home-field priority among division-titlists, apply Wild Card tie-breakers.

To determine home-field priority for Wild Card qualifiers, apply division tie-breakers (if teams are from the same division) or Wild Card tiebreakers (if teams are from different divisions)

To determine the best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed, add a team's position in the two categories, and the lowest score wins. For example, if Team A is first in points scored and second in points allowed, its combined ranking is "3." If Team B is third in points scored and first in points allowed, its combined ranking is "4." Team A then wins the tiebreaker. If two teams are tied for a position, both teams are awarded the ranking as if they held it solely. For example, if Team A and Team B are tied for first in points scored, each team is assigned a ranking of "1" in that category, and if Team C is third, its ranking will still be "3."

Schedule

A 17 game schedule will be played, with teams playing one home game and one away game against teams in their own division. The rest of the scheduled will be determined based on the order of finish from the previous season.

Each team will play the following games based on Division and Conference alignment:

2 games (1 home, 1 road) versus each own Division opponent = 8 games

4 In-Conference games versus other Division opponents = 4 games

5 Inter-Conference games = 5 games

Divisional seeding will be based on Divisional finish the previously played season, applying playoff tie-breaking formula. This will determine In-Conference Divisional opponents.

Conference seeding will be based on won-loss record from the previously played season, with strength-of-victory percentage from previous season determining the higher seeding in event of a tie. This will determine a team’s Inter-Conference opponents.

In-Conference other-Division match-ups are as follows:

Your Seed Opponent’s Seed

1 1,2,3,4

2 1,2,3,5

3 1,2,4,5

4 1,3,4,5

5 2,3,4,5

Inter-Conference match-ups are:

Your Seed Opponent’s Seed

1 1,3,6,8

2 2,4,5,7

3 1,3,6,10

4 2,4,5,9

5 2,4,7,9

6 1,3,8,10

7 2,5,7,10

8 1,6,8,9

9 4,5,8,9

10 3,6,7,10

Game Preferences

Stadium:

Each EFL franchise will “build” their stadium with public funds and be bound by lease to said stadium for 5 years. At the conclusion of a stadium lease the franchise can chose to extend the lease or “re-locate.”

EFL franchises will:

· Name their stadium

· Determine the wind factor (1-5 )

· Determine the precipitation factor (1-5)

· Determine surface (Turf / Grass)

· Determine temperature – using the following ranges:

August 70 to 110 degrees

September 60 to 100 degrees

October 50 to 90 degrees

November 40 to 80 degrees

December 20 to 70 degrees

January 10 to 60 degrees

Determining Home Field Advantage:

Over the course of the first 10 weeks of the EFL season the League Office shall determine home field advantage on a weekly basis using the following chart:

Starting in week 11 home field advantage will be determined on a weekly basis using the following chart:

Game Rules / Limitations:

Two Point Conversion – The EFL allows two point attempts after touchdowns.

Audibles – Each team’s quarterback will be allowed to audible at the line of scrimmage when faced with specific defensive alignments.

Overtime – If after the conclusion of regulation play (4 quarters) the score is tied a 10 minute overtime shall be played with both teams getting a possession UNLESS the team with first possession ends the game with a TD or by allowing a defensive score.

Replay Challenges – Each team is allowed two replay challenges per game.

Special Teams Usage – Season usage for special teams will NOT be used (kickers and punters are not real football players anyway and special teamers are looking to impress so they don’t tire).

Quarterback Game Usage – Game usage will NOT be used.

Game Fatigue – Game fatigue will be used.

Home Field Advantage – Home field advantage will be used (see above).

Play Clock – While the internal game calls delay of game penalties the EFL will be using the Play Clock in order to speed things along, especially with the in-game scouting options provided by APCFB.

Season Usage – Season usage will be used, with the following set levels:

Mild – set at 110% of actual attempts

Moderate – set at 120% of actual attempts

Major – set at 140% of actual attempts

Trick Plays – The following plays listed under the “Special Offensive Plays” section of the game screen are considered “trick plays,” and while their use is unlimited the defense will adapt and their continued use will bring forth less effective results:

· Hail Mary

· Flea Flicker

· End Around

· Reverse

· Fake Reverse

· Double Reverse

· Trick Pass

· Hook and Ladder

· Direct Snap

· Reverse Flicker

· Pass to QB

Rules Menu – The following Configuration will be used:

· Rules Year 200X – Last year played

· Season length – 16

· Homefield Advantage – √ (Use actual Stadium)

· Two Point Conversion – √

· Allow Audibles – √

· Play Overtime – √

· Replay Challenges/Team – 2

· Minutes/Quarter – 15

· Use salary Cap – √ (100000)

· League Type – Draft

· Field Goal Missed Line – Kick Spot

· Kickoff Line – 30

· Goalpost Location – Endline

· Injuries – √ (Normal Frequency)

· Game Era – Standard Off/Def Blend

· Game Fatigue – √

· Season Usage penalties – √ ( 110 / 120 / 140)

· Game Usage (Playoffs only) – √