Practice Squad renegotiation question

[emerald]

Are Practice Squad players elgible for contract renegotiation? I wouldn't think so, in the spirit of the rules, but I would like to discuss it.
I feel that the practice squad is for longshots with a limited window (up to 5 years) with their rookie contract. The Taxi Squad has restrictions with years on taxi(0-3 NFL experience) as well as a years cap restriction as a group (20 years) so it is clear that membership is well defined but the practice squad is a little vague. Only elgible if drafted by that owner, only in 5th or 6th round with limit of yearly additions (2 max) and overall members (6). Also once promoted no return allowed.
I have a player that I would reneg if I could if the only cost to me would be the 300 cb's. Years are not restricted on practice squad. Now if he gets promoted the years would count against either Active or Taxi squad limits but while he sits on Practice Squad no limits.
When I signed DBowers I knew he had a serious knee issue BUT he also had a ton of talent. I gave him a low year salary because I was tight in Active squad years with all my renegs after taking over Mutts squad and wanted to have room in case he was needed. This year he looked very good in preseason but tore up his leg (nonrelated injury) and landed on IR before the season started. Now here he is, though limited, trying to play the end of this season.
I'm thinking if I reneg I have to promote him to at least Taxi and have room for his new total years and NFL elgibility there but it's not clear. If I can reneg and leave him on practice I will, what do you guys think?

[Burt the Butcher]

Hmm..very interesting...John, you are constantly finding things not specifically mentioned in our rules...

I do not see anything specifically stating that it cannot be done. It does raise a question or two. The TS and PS are reserved for Drafted rookies only - as long as he is on the PS, would the new contract still be subjected to rookie bonuses? And as John mentioned, is this against the spirit of the rule?

I believe renegotiation was instilled to try to create a more Dynasty style league, and to encourage more trading. Was the intent for Renegotiation geared towards our active rosters. I guess my initial reaction would be yes. But then again, my mind has never gone to this conclusion of renegotiation on a PS player - I don't think mine have ever held value for that long without being promoted.

More thoughts? I will text Mike to see what his thoughts are and post those here later...

[Burt the Butcher]

Bouncing things off Mike. Lots of questions for sure - I think the spirit of the rule was this was not considered in Renegotiation rule...only active roster was the intent.

Mikes thoughts are to allow it, but the new contract becomes guaranteed and players loses PS eligibility, so would need to move to TS or active.

So I could go either way...we have "Spirit of law' precedence to say no...but I could also say we allow it, and if people object, we discuss it over the offseason and attempt to tighten the loophole.

What are the Rules Committee's thoughts? Matt, Pat and rules still say Jake, but I think John took that over by proxy by updating rule book in Frenzy...so weigh in....

[Preds]

Burt, you forgot to mention that rookie bonuses would be payable through the term of the original contract as well.

[Burt the Butcher]

Right Mike, but everyone here already understands that when it comes to renegotiating a rookie contract. I don't think that is anything different. Unless I am misunderstanding your point.

If a player has two years left on original rookie contract, and they renegotiate to 5 years after season ends, but before contract rollover, rookie bonuses still will be applied in 1st year of new contract.

[emerald]

My intention is to keep him on the practice squad for the rest of this active season and decide whether or not to reneg with group (rule committee) input about what the concequenses are (I like Mikes must promote and contract guaranteed) so before his years flip from 2 to 1 in off season I chose my actions. I just didn't want to force Burt and the committee to make a hasty ruling while I was reneging.
My solution would be to reword the rules after this precedent is set. It would have been sweet to raise his salary to 420 and years to 5 with no penalty for cutting him for the next bunch of years unless he was promoted!!!

[pacificscrub]

The problem I see with this:
"Each team will be allowed a 8 player Taxi Squad for players with 0-3 years of NFL experience (Players entering their 4th NFL season are NOT eligible for the Taxi Squad and will be automatically promoted to the Active Roster unless dropped). Only players drafted in the SAC'D rookie draft are eligible to be newly added to the Taxi Squad, unless a player is traded from the Taxi Squad of another team."

Seems like we'll be making some significant changes to the "only players drafted" and "0-3 years of experience" sections of the Taxi Squad portion of the rules if we make this change.

[Scorpions]

We should only be allowed to renegotiate an active player.

[Burt the Butcher]

Originally Posted by pacificscrub

The problem I see with this:
"Each team will be allowed a 8 player Taxi Squad for players with 0-3 years of NFL experience (Players entering their 4th NFL season are NOT eligible for the Taxi Squad and will be automatically promoted to the Active Roster unless dropped). Only players drafted in the SAC'D rookie draft are eligible to be newly added to the Taxi Squad, unless a player is traded from the Taxi Squad of another team."

Seems like we'll be making some significant changes to the "only players drafted" and "0-3 years of experience" sections of the Taxi Squad portion of the rules if we make this change.

That rule would still apply. No one is asking for a rule change...just an interpretation of the rule. This player was drafted by the team wanting to renegotiate. If he is entering his 4th year, new contract or not, he would not be TS eligible.
I do not see anything specifically stating only Active roster is eligible for renegotiation. Whether the intent of the rule was limited to Active, seems to be up in the air. Mike wrote the rules, but he did not recall thinking about what the limit was.

I am of the mind to allow it, and if people do not like it, they can put it to a vote to amend the rules to limit it to active only. We can also put it up to vote now, but would require all 12 teams voting, and you see how hard that is to do....

Pat and Matt...anything you want to weigh in with?

[pacificscrub]

It would apply to his comment at the end of his post that said he felt he would at least need to promote the player in question to the Taxi Squad from both an adding to the Taxi Squad perspective and potentially the 0-3 years standpoint.

[Philadelphia Freedom]

Sorry I am late to the party here but a lot of others things are going on. Anyhow, I would think you could reneg the players as you wish (if they have the appropriate contract years). You would still be limited by the existing provisions of either the TS or PS.

[Burt the Butcher]

OK well I am going to say we allow it, since the rules do not specify its only limited to players on your active roster. All other rules will apply though, for example, if a player is entering his 4th NFL season, regardless of his contract, he will no longer be eligible for the TS.

I guess if people would like to limit it to Active only, bring it up in a poll and we can move to be more specific in the rules.

[pacificscrub]

When we discuss this further in the off season, I would also suggest a cap on the Practice Squad similar to the Taxi (say 5 years?). While you are limited on the number of PS roster spots, I don't like the fact that we limit the number of years on the TS to three, yet allow PS indefinitely. The NFL also caps how many years a player is eligible to be on their practice squad, so I would suggest the same.

[Burt the Butcher]

Anyone can bring up anything they want for vote. It does not lay on my shoulders only. So go for it.

we can discuss it first if you want to get ideas for sure, but its not required.

I would be against it myself. It's not often a 5th or 6th round draft pick makes an impact, but when they do, its usually with first 3 years (Arian Foster is only example I can think of)

[emerald]

By the way, with the Chris Long pick up I will not be renegotiating DBowers contact so unless someone else has practice squad renegs in mind this can be resolved more leisurely during the off season...