2018 Schedule Vote

[Preds]

Bye weeks stretch from week 4 through 12 for the 2018 season.
- Weeks 4, 5, 6 and 12 have 2 teams on bye each week
- Weeks 7, 8 and 10 have 4 teams on bye each week
- Weeks 9 and 11 have a dreaded 6 teams on bye each week

We have 4 schedule options (vote for 1)
Option 1 - 14 games over a 13 week season with a Double Header (4 weeks won't involve byes), playoffs weeks 14-16. Division games will be weeks 1, 2, 3, 5 (2 teams on bye), 6 (2 teams on bye), and 13. The Double header will be week 3.

Option 2 - 14 games over a 14 week season (5 weeks won't involve byes and we won't have a double header), playoffs weeks 15-17. Division games will be weeks 1, 2, 3, 5 (2 teams on bye), 13 and 14.

Option 3 - 13 games over a 13 week season without a Double Header (4 weeks won't involve byes). Teams will play only 7 of the 8 non-division teams, playoffs weeks 14-16. Division games will be weeks 1, 2, 3, 5 (2 teams on bye), 6 (2 teams on bye), and 13.

Option 4 - 14 games over a 14 week season (5 weeks won't involve byes and we won't have a double header), playoffs weeks 15 and 16 but only 4 playoff teams (3 division winners and 1 wildcard). Division games will be weeks 1, 2, 3, 5 (2 teams on bye), 13 and 14.

FWIW for both 13 week season options, weeks 5 and 6 were chosen for division games as they have the fewest current active roster players on bye. This will mean 5 of our 6 division games are in the first 6 weeks of the season (I hate that). I would have preferred weeks 11, 12 and 13 for the last set of division games but week 11 has 6 NFL teams on bye, and week 12 has a the most players on bye of the 2 team bye weeks.

[Preds]

FWIW, NONE of the options in the poll are ideal, pick your poison.

[Preds]

Another option we could consider BTW is a 14 week season but only 4 playoff teams (3 division winners and 1 wildcard) with the playoffs weeks 15 and 16.

Eliminates a week 17 championship game, but also makes it harder to get in the playoffs.

I would vote for this option over the other 3 choices if there is enough interest.

[Liquid Swords]

Originally Posted by Preds

Another option we could consider BTW is a 14 week season but only 4 playoff teams (3 division winners and 1 wildcard) with the playoffs weeks 15 and 16.

Eliminates a week 17 championship game, but also makes it harder to get in the playoffs.

I would vote for this option over the other 3 choices if there is enough interest.

I'd vote for it if it were an option

[Preds]

Originally Posted by Liquid Swords

I'd vote for it if it were an option

I just added it as a 4th option and moved my Vote.

Burt is the only other to vote thus far. Burt if you want to change your vote to the 4th option with 14 week season, no DH, 4 playoff teams and playoffs weeks 15-16 let me know.

[Burt the Butcher]

Yah, change my vote for new option

[chasmvp19]

4 playoff teams is about the most DRACONIAN thing I have heard thus far...count CARDS out of ANY scenario where that is an option...I know I am not on an executive team or group, but that is a major change that deserved discussion with the whole group and a 100% vote to change IMO...no way...no how...

Has MLB and NFL not enriched their fan bases and encouraged teams to compete longer every season for the lure of added playoff spots? Have we not learned from those lessons? Our 6th spot is even more valuable as it is practically not record dependent...we are going down an easy path when there is the slightest roadblock...I just don't get it...

Propose a rule change for next year....Please...

[Burt the Butcher]

I think Chuck has a valid point. This turned from having to vote on our year schedule, to including a major change to the rules. The wording is a bit contradictory. In one section, it says rules can only be voted on in off season. Then it says once 'DRAFT' has begun, major rule changes take 100% majority to pass. I think intent was, once new season has begun, which is May 1 now. Correct?

[Preds]

Originally Posted by Burt the Butcher

I think Chuck has a valid point. This turned from having to vote on our year schedule, to including a major change to the rules. The wording is a bit contradictory. In one section, it says rules can only be voted on in off season. Then it says once 'DRAFT' has begun, major rule changes take 100% majority to pass. I think intent was, once new season has begun, which is May 1 now. Correct?

Incorrect.

Rules changes for the current season can be made by majority vote as long as the voting starts prior to the draft. Once the rookie draft starts, then it requires a unanimous vote.

[wchmego]

Agreed... Going down to 4 playoff teams is a major change and is not cool.

https://giphy.com/gifs/BVIUbTCsdoT2o

[Preds]

Unfortunately with the constant shifting of byes by the NFL each season we need to adjust our schedule each season as a result.

Personally I prefer it be harder to make the playoffs. 4 of 12 teams (33%) is closer to the NFL where only 37.5% of teams make the playoffs (12 of 32 teams). The Frenzy was founded with only 4 of 12 making the playoffs before a contentious vote added 2 more playoff teams a few years later. We have since allowed 50% of the teams to make the playoffs (6 of 12), more akin to NHL Hockey or NBA Basketball than the NFL.

There are no perfect solutions. We have to pick the poison we can best live with. Alternative suggestions to the schedule for the upcoming season are welcome. 7 votes are required for a motion to pass.

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

For a historical perspective, for the vast majority of the years this league has been in existence, it's had a 4-team playoff. That doesn't negate the impact for the current owners. In fact, I was a big proponent for moving to a 6-team playoff in the past.

I can see the point about this being a big change for some owners. The quest to get your name on the trophy is real. Even though I don't have a problem with it for this season, we might want to parse out the move to a 4-team playoff as a separate question for NEXT season, and stick to the first 3 schedule options for this year.

[Preds]

Originally Posted by Royal Hawaiian Opihi

For a historical perspective, for the vast majority of the years this league has been in existence, it's had a 4-team playoff. That doesn't negate the impact for the current owners. In fact, I was a big proponent for moving to a 6-team playoff in the past.

I can see the point about this being a big change for some owners. The quest to get your name on the trophy is real. Even though I don't have a problem with it for this season, we might want to parse out the move to a 4-team playoff as a separate question for NEXT season, and stick to the first 3 schedule options for this year.

Jim I honestly think we should evaluate the schedules each season, if it works with a 13 week season and lessor impact of byes than great, 6 teams that year can make the playoffs, but if it's a weird year, like this one with so many byes, and 2 weeks late in the season with 6 teams on bye, I think the league needs to consider all options.

That said, I'll certainly be fine with whatever the majority decides and will adapt accordingly. Option 2 would be my second choice but there are a few teams who despise the week 17 championship as much as others (including myself) despise the Double Headers.

Option 4 is kind of a compromise solution and impacts everyone equally.

[Preds]

If anyone wishes to change there vote, post here and I'll edit the poll numbers accordingly.

[Bounty Hunter]

All that poison is pretty bad. I guess there's a good reason for not having 14 game schedule, DH, playoff week 14 - 16. I think that was the schedule prior to all the by week craziness.

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

Just need the Knights and the Freedom to vote.

[Preds]

If Knights vote for option 4 I'll move my vote back there instead of option 2 where it currently is so we have a majority.

If Nate votes otherwise we'll have a runoff.

[Burt the Butcher]

Well then, move my vote back to option 3

[Preds]

OK so after moving Burt's vote back to option 3 we have:

1 vote for option 1 (13 wk season)
4 votes for option 2 (14 wk season)
3 votes for option 3 (13 wk season)
4 votes for option 4 (14 wk season)

We have a majority of 8 votes for a 14 week season between options 2 and 4 (vs 4 votes for a 13 week season with double headers with options 1 and 3).

IMO the runoff vote should be between the two 14 week options since there is a majority for a 14 week season with no double headers between them (the only difference between them being a 6 team playoff for weeks 15-17 vs a 4 team playoff for weeks 15-16). Thoughts on this before I post the runoff poll?

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

That works for me. So it’ll be a 14 week schedule regardless. The only thing we really need to vote on is 6 v. 4 team playoff format then.

[Burt the Butcher]

Option 3 should be included also

[Liquid Swords]

Originally Posted by Burt the Butcher

Option 3 should be included also

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

We can do three options. If none get a majority, we’ll run off the next two.

[Preds]

FWIW I totally disagree with including the 3rd option but so be it.

Burt changed his vote back to option 3 after the Nate cast the final vote, not to push an option into a majority so it could pass, but to prop up one that failed so it could be argued it belonged in the runoff. Just muddies the waters in the runoff vote and will likely mean will have a runoff after the runoff. There were 9 votes between options 2 and 4 for a 14 week season before Burt flipped after all votes were cast, to prop up failing option 3 for a 13 wk season.

I hate obstructionism.

[Preds]

Originally Posted by Bounty Hunter

All that poison is pretty bad. I guess there's a good reason for not having 14 game schedule, DH, playoff week 14 - 16. I think that was the schedule prior to all the by week craziness.

? this was listed as option 1.

[Burt the Butcher]

Originally Posted by Preds

FWIW I totally disagree with including the 3rd option but so be it.

Burt changed his vote back to option 3 after the Nate cast the final vote, not to push an option into a majority so it could pass, but to prop up one that failed so it could be argued it belonged in the runoff. Just muddies the waters in the runoff vote and will likely mean will have a runoff after the runoff. There were 9 votes between options 2 and 4 for a 14 week season before Burt flipped after all votes were cast, to prop up failing option 3 for a 13 wk season.

I hate obstructionism.

Whoa now skippy. Actually, I knew there were a few people that were strongly opposed to both options, and figured if you were changing your vote based on Nate's vote, I felt I should be able to also, to give everyone an option that both sides may be more favorable too.

Guess I really got under your skin this week...maybe I should change my team name again, to get the trifecta?

[Preds]

Originally Posted by Burt the Butcher

Whoa now skippy. Actually, I knew there were a few people that were strongly opposed to both options, and figured if you were changing your vote based on Nate's vote, I felt I should be able to also, to give everyone an option that both sides may be more favorable too.

Guess I really got under your skin this week...maybe I should change my team name again, to get the trifecta?

I was willing to change so we could have a majority if it would make a difference and avoid a runoff. Now we have a muddled runoff, and likely another after that.

So be it. Still love ya Burt

[chasmvp19]

Yeah...for sure do not agree with folks changing their votes based on others votes...that is definitely not in the spirit of serving the league...color it any way you want to "justify" changing, but I believe it was wrong...we allowed changes after a new option was added...after that no changes should have been allowed...leadership should vote first and then the rest of us can fill in...I know I will wait a while...