So with the rules summit concluding and the results posted I wanted to explain an issue with one of the rules in the rulebook that allows for teams to abuse the contract system we have in place.
This ruling has to do with extensions, the 3 year max rule, and the rookie contract rule.
First, let's talk about the rookie contract rule:
Rule II. D. 15
The purpose of this rule is to prevent GMs/rookies from abusing their low TPE to sign players to more than 3 years at the $1m minimum. This is a good rule that has been famously enforced. Take note that a 1 year rookie contract can only get a 2 year extension. This prevents anyone from abusing and buying an extra year at the $1m minimum on rookies.
So now let's talk about the extension rule:
Rule II. D. 11
Rule II. D. 10
Following these two rules a player can only get an extension in their final season which begins when free agency begins. Currently, free agency begins the day after the ultimus. This means a player can sign their new extension before receiving any offseason TPE or even unclaimed TPE from the previous season such as Playoff Predictions. Basically the extension period works as signing them as free agents.
The rules summit had a new rule (which has been brought up multiple times and obviously voted down):
Move the extension period open date from season open to trade deadline.
This was voted down with 8 for and 13 against.
Normally when something is voted down its due to poor wording and looking at the wording this rule change implies that the extension period begins when the season begins which is wrong. The extension period begins when the offseason begins. This is a small tricky tacky wording but I've seen rules voted down for less.
Now you may be wondering what this rule would actually change? If you're not then honestly I don't blame you because its not something that's super obvious.
Basically with the rule the way it currently is (and always has been) a player can sign a 1 year contract at $2m the day after the ultimus and immediately sign an extension at the same time (since technically they're in their last season of their contract) for 3 years at $2m a year. So now a 599 TPE player has a 4 year contract at $2m a year.
HO has aggressively forced the rookie rule (which is understandable) to insure that GMs aren't taking advantage of their rookie players contracts to have more than 3 seasons at the $1m cap hit which is basically nothing to a teams cap space.
However,
HO (and GMs as well since they obviously abuse this) refuse to make a change to a rule that allows GMs to bend the cap room by singing these makeshift 4 year deals (which are illegal btw) just to keep players on longer for cheaper.
So what would this new rule change actually do?
1st it would force all extensions to happen after the trade deadline. Meaning a player can no longer sign a 1 year deal and immediately sign a 3 year extension. This bans all the 1+3 deals. Now if a player wants an extension they have 2-3 weeks of TPE they've earned since signing that 1 year deal which could place them in a higher TPE bracket meaning their extension would be worth more. Now there may be some players that stay in the same bracket from offseason to deadline and thats fine but the max earners (that probably make up a lot of the leagues 1+3 deals) would no longer be able to play way under their worth TPE wise.
Below is the most recent example of this loophole being abused.
Berlin signs Hunt to a 1 year deal on 1/15 (https://forums.sim-football.com/showthre...#pid412168)
Then signs Hunt to a 3 year extension also on 1/15
(https://forums.sim-football.com/showthre...#pid412450)
So now Hunt (who at the time of signing was at 774 TPE) signed a 1+3 deal which basically equals 4 years a $3m a year. This may not seem like a big deal but had the extension have to wait until the deadline theres very very good chance that Hunt is over the 799 TPE limit which would push him into the $4m bracket. So basically this sign and extension bought Berlin $1m in Hunt's 4th season. Which again may not seem like a lot but thats another rookie that they could call up for free in his 4th season of the deal.
If your arguement to this is, "Whats $1m? Why make a rule change for $1m?" Then my argument to you is, why have the rookie deal when a 1+3 for a rookie is illegal and all it adds is $1m in their 4th year instead of $2m TPE wise. Both of these scenarios cause the same outcome but only 1 is illegal.
So my arguement is either make them both legal (which would be dumb imo) or make them both illegal (which I've been saying since s19.)
And to the GMs that are against this because its too much work, I'd like to remind you of something that was said when the "limit strat changes" rule was being debated; If you don't want to do work then don't become a GM.
Balancing cap space is just as important for a GM as sim testing or drafting. This rule change might not force more free agents or players leaving teams more often but it will make teams actually have to juggle a check book instead of just having 4 years of minimum every contract.
This ruling has to do with extensions, the 3 year max rule, and the rookie contract rule.
First, let's talk about the rookie contract rule:
Rule II. D. 15
Code:
If a rookie signs a 1-year contract, they can only sign at most a 2-year extension or other new contract. This includes situations such as a 2-year rookie deal with an option on the second year that is used to accomplish the
same thing.
The purpose of this rule is to prevent GMs/rookies from abusing their low TPE to sign players to more than 3 years at the $1m minimum. This is a good rule that has been famously enforced. Take note that a 1 year rookie contract can only get a 2 year extension. This prevents anyone from abusing and buying an extra year at the $1m minimum on rookies.
So now let's talk about the extension rule:
Rule II. D. 11
Code:
.Players may extend their contracts if they are in the final year of their current contract. A player may NOT extend their contract at any other point.
Rule II. D. 10
Code:
A player’s contract does not end until free agency starts as defined in the league schedule.
Following these two rules a player can only get an extension in their final season which begins when free agency begins. Currently, free agency begins the day after the ultimus. This means a player can sign their new extension before receiving any offseason TPE or even unclaimed TPE from the previous season such as Playoff Predictions. Basically the extension period works as signing them as free agents.
The rules summit had a new rule (which has been brought up multiple times and obviously voted down):
Move the extension period open date from season open to trade deadline.
This was voted down with 8 for and 13 against.
Normally when something is voted down its due to poor wording and looking at the wording this rule change implies that the extension period begins when the season begins which is wrong. The extension period begins when the offseason begins. This is a small tricky tacky wording but I've seen rules voted down for less.
Now you may be wondering what this rule would actually change? If you're not then honestly I don't blame you because its not something that's super obvious.
Basically with the rule the way it currently is (and always has been) a player can sign a 1 year contract at $2m the day after the ultimus and immediately sign an extension at the same time (since technically they're in their last season of their contract) for 3 years at $2m a year. So now a 599 TPE player has a 4 year contract at $2m a year.
HO has aggressively forced the rookie rule (which is understandable) to insure that GMs aren't taking advantage of their rookie players contracts to have more than 3 seasons at the $1m cap hit which is basically nothing to a teams cap space.
However,
HO (and GMs as well since they obviously abuse this) refuse to make a change to a rule that allows GMs to bend the cap room by singing these makeshift 4 year deals (which are illegal btw) just to keep players on longer for cheaper.
So what would this new rule change actually do?
1st it would force all extensions to happen after the trade deadline. Meaning a player can no longer sign a 1 year deal and immediately sign a 3 year extension. This bans all the 1+3 deals. Now if a player wants an extension they have 2-3 weeks of TPE they've earned since signing that 1 year deal which could place them in a higher TPE bracket meaning their extension would be worth more. Now there may be some players that stay in the same bracket from offseason to deadline and thats fine but the max earners (that probably make up a lot of the leagues 1+3 deals) would no longer be able to play way under their worth TPE wise.
Below is the most recent example of this loophole being abused.
Berlin signs Hunt to a 1 year deal on 1/15 (https://forums.sim-football.com/showthre...#pid412168)
Then signs Hunt to a 3 year extension also on 1/15
(https://forums.sim-football.com/showthre...#pid412450)
So now Hunt (who at the time of signing was at 774 TPE) signed a 1+3 deal which basically equals 4 years a $3m a year. This may not seem like a big deal but had the extension have to wait until the deadline theres very very good chance that Hunt is over the 799 TPE limit which would push him into the $4m bracket. So basically this sign and extension bought Berlin $1m in Hunt's 4th season. Which again may not seem like a lot but thats another rookie that they could call up for free in his 4th season of the deal.
If your arguement to this is, "Whats $1m? Why make a rule change for $1m?" Then my argument to you is, why have the rookie deal when a 1+3 for a rookie is illegal and all it adds is $1m in their 4th year instead of $2m TPE wise. Both of these scenarios cause the same outcome but only 1 is illegal.
So my arguement is either make them both legal (which would be dumb imo) or make them both illegal (which I've been saying since s19.)
And to the GMs that are against this because its too much work, I'd like to remind you of something that was said when the "limit strat changes" rule was being debated; If you don't want to do work then don't become a GM.
Balancing cap space is just as important for a GM as sim testing or drafting. This rule change might not force more free agents or players leaving teams more often but it will make teams actually have to juggle a check book instead of just having 4 years of minimum every contract.