Rogers get another chance to go to the Islands

[Philadelphia Freedom]

After much back and forth the Opihi and Freedom and have struck a deal that should be acceptable to the powers that be.

The Freedom will send RFA Curtis Martin and Charles Rogers to the Opihi for RFA Travis Henry and the Opihi's second round pick in 2005.

Jim will confirm before he leaves for LA (I hope).

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

Confirmed. Please place Rogers on the DS so he'll be elligible for the taxi squad.

[Preds]

I want to allow this deal to go through (I really do), but again we hit a bit of muddy water that needs clarification from Brian & Jake ASAP.

The rules state that RFA's cannot be traded until August 15th, however, there is no specification of when this period STARTS. I'd say it has to be either March 24th when RFA's must be declared by, or April 1st when RFA bidding opens. I really am not sure how we should handle this one (aside from the fact that it brings up another issue for us to address pertaining to trades).

If I recall, we voted this restriction into place to eliminate the sign and trade deals that had been done in the past (particularly by me ;)). I do not think it was meant to inhibit the movement of RFA's before the bidding period began, but again, the language doesn't specify either way.

Basically we need to decide when is a RFA a RFA I guess. Is it at the March 24 deadline (after which RFA's cannot be changed once declared)? or is it when bidding begins on April 1st? I'm inclined to say we should set this date as April 1st, but want the input of the Board.

Brian & Jake, can you both chime in on this ASAP?

BTW, here's what the rules specifically state about trading RFA's

RFA's cannot be traded prior to the start of in-season free agency (August 15^th). The team winning the rights to the RFA (either the tendering team if they decide to match, or the highest bidding team if the tendering team declines to match) cannot trade that player until the start of in-season free agency has begun.

[Mutts]

I feel this deal should be allowed - if for no other reason than the sanity of the league. As Mike stated, I believe the prohibition against trading RFAs is meant to restrict sign and trade deals. This doesn't violate that spirit. For definition in the future, I think April 1st is a good cut-off point for trading of players tagged as RFAs.

[Nittany Dodgers]

Originally Posted by Wonder Mutts

I feel this deal should be allowed - if for no other reason than the sanity of the league. As Mike stated, I believe the prohibition against trading RFAs is meant to restrict sign and trade deals. This doesn't violate that spirit. For definition in the future, I think April 1st is a good cut-off point for trading of players tagged as RFAs.

I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier, but I agree with Jake's thoughts. My beef was the sign and trade deals. I have no problem with this trade.

[Preds]

Originally Posted by Nittany Dodgers

I'm sorry I didn't see this earlier, but I agree with Jake's thoughts. My beef was the sign and trade deals. I have no problem with this trade.

Good, we're all in agreement then! I'll reword the RFA rules to specify a start date to the trading ban (from April 1 through August 15).

Nice work Matt & Jim, glad to see you were able to work something out (though I think Jim got a bit of the better end this time with CMart or a 1st if he lets him go).

[Philadelphia Freedom]

I liked the other deal better but I like this one because it guarantees my another Top 30 pick (possibly Top 25) and cleared a lot of cap space for me.