Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Friday, October 29, 2010
Eye Gouging, Crotch Grabbing and Biting -- Are the 3 Stooges Now Playing in the NFL?
More and more media time about what goes on in pile-ups in the NFL.....hold your nuts fellas!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
NFL Draft Visits: Most Media Have No Clue
I always get a laugh when I see media mouthpieces -- which include some of the supposed 'big boys - "report" that Player X will visit a NFL team before the draft to "work out." Doesn't happen. Unless its a invited local workout for draft-eligible players who are from the team's metropolitan area (term defined by the NFL) most player invites to team HQ before the draft are 'meet and greet' sessions -- they can include medical testing but per NFL rules no "physical testing" can occur (this directly from the NFL Personnel department). Get your facts straight people.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Player Fines: How the Wrong Nasal Strip Can Cost You 5 Grand
Besides the nuances of the salary cap and a bunch of other issues, the Collective Bargaining Agreement that governs the relationship between the players and the NFL clubs also creates the authority of both the Club and League to impose various fines upon the player in relation to his various on the field activities. This week, I will discuss the fines that the League can assess (having too many cars or wearing ugly suits is not included):
Uniform/Equipment Violation: anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000
$5000 fines
- High/Low whites on socks
- Pants not covering knees (no skin should show below the waist)
- Bandana
- Wrong nasal strip
- Hand towel alterations - towel must be 6 by 8 inches and have no tape on it
- Tape not the same color of the shoe
- Jersey untucked (usually there is a warning for this one)
- Jersey cut too short
- Sleeves coming out of jersey - only QB can have this and only a certain amount can come out
- Chinstrap undone ($7500)
$10,000 fines
- Personal messages
- Any second offense fine
- Wrong attire 90 minutes previous and after a game - clothes must be Reebok apparel
- Tinted visor - must have a doctors note for a tinted visor
In regard to the "Other Uniform/Equipment" League fines, the following rules are applied to each NFL player (Note: before the season each player receives a copy of the uniform rules both in narrative and picture version):
Jersey -- has to be tucked in. Extra short or jerseys cut above the waist are prohibited. Sleeves can not be torn or cut.
Towels -- are limited to a maximum of 6 inches wide and 8 inches long. Must be tucked into the front waist of the pants.
Exterior Socks -- must be a one-piece solid white from the top of the shoe to the mid-calf with the approved team color(s) going from the mid-calf to the bottom of the pant leg, which is to be pulled down below the knee.
Pants -- must be pulled down over the knees. The knee area of the pants must not be altered or cut away.
Shoes -- Each team must have either all-white or all-black shoes throughout the team. Note that tape on shoes and stockings must be transparent or a matching color. (Note: even though proper taping of shoes is allowed by the League, this "spakking" of shoes could cause the player to violate the terms of a shoe endorsement he may have).
Sideline Appearance -- the only caps that players are permitted to wear on the sidelines is headwear provided by an NFL authorized supplier. Smokeless tobacco is also prohibited on the sidelines.
The NFL has hired various ex-players to attend games and assess violations of the beforenoted uniform violations (the "Uniform Police"). For purposes of a player violating the cap and/or smokeless tobacco rules, the Game Referee is also authorized to use his judgment to determine whether a breach occurred.
Other fines include:
Overweight: maximum fine of $453 per lb. overwieght, the fine to be assesed no more than two times a week and at least 3 days apart
Unexcused late reporting for mandatory minicamp, team meeting, practice, transportation, curfew, scheduled appointment with Club doctor or scheduled promotional activity: maximum fine of $1,500
[Note: if player misses any of the above the fine is increased to $9,079]
Losing, damaging or altering Club-provided equipment: maximum fine of $1,500 and replacement cost
Unexcused late reporting for or absence from pre-season trainng camp by a player under contract: maximum fine of $15,888 per day
Loss of all or part of playbook, scouting report or game plan: maximum fine of $9,079
Material failure to follow rehab program prescribed by Club doctor or trainer: maximum fine of $9,079
Physical Contact with Game Official: $15,000 first offense, $25,000 second offense
Verbal or other Non-Physical Offense Against Official: $15,000 first offense, $25,000 second offense
Flagrant Personal Foul: $7,500 or higher, fine and/or suspension determined by degree of violation
Fighting: $5,000 first offense, $12,500 second offense or in extreme cases suspension
Unnecessarily entering Fight Area (active involvement): $2,500 first offense, $5,000 second offense
Unnecessarily entering Fight Area (no active involvement): $1,000 first offense, $5,000 second offense
Excessive Profanity toward Opponents, Game Personnel, Fans, Your Mom, Media, etc.: $5,000/$7,500
Taunting: $5,000/$7,500
Ejection from a game: maximum fine of $15,888
Throwing Football into Stands: maximum fine of $1,500
Foreign Substances on Body/Uniform (i.e., Grease): $10,000/$15,000
[Note: Team management and coaching staff can also be fined for permitting foreign substance violation]
Note a player can challenge the imposition of any fine and/or suspension imposed by the League through the use of an independent arbitrator to determine the sanction's validity (both in terms of whether an infraction occurred and/or the amount of fine/suspension). Usually the fine is taken out of the player's paycheck by his Club when imposed and them later refunded to him if he is successful on his appeal in having it reduced or eliminated.
Uniform/Equipment Violation: anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000
$5000 fines
- High/Low whites on socks
- Pants not covering knees (no skin should show below the waist)
- Bandana
- Wrong nasal strip
- Hand towel alterations - towel must be 6 by 8 inches and have no tape on it
- Tape not the same color of the shoe
- Jersey untucked (usually there is a warning for this one)
- Jersey cut too short
- Sleeves coming out of jersey - only QB can have this and only a certain amount can come out
- Chinstrap undone ($7500)
$10,000 fines
- Personal messages
- Any second offense fine
- Wrong attire 90 minutes previous and after a game - clothes must be Reebok apparel
- Tinted visor - must have a doctors note for a tinted visor
In regard to the "Other Uniform/Equipment" League fines, the following rules are applied to each NFL player (Note: before the season each player receives a copy of the uniform rules both in narrative and picture version):
Jersey -- has to be tucked in. Extra short or jerseys cut above the waist are prohibited. Sleeves can not be torn or cut.
Towels -- are limited to a maximum of 6 inches wide and 8 inches long. Must be tucked into the front waist of the pants.
Exterior Socks -- must be a one-piece solid white from the top of the shoe to the mid-calf with the approved team color(s) going from the mid-calf to the bottom of the pant leg, which is to be pulled down below the knee.
Pants -- must be pulled down over the knees. The knee area of the pants must not be altered or cut away.
Shoes -- Each team must have either all-white or all-black shoes throughout the team. Note that tape on shoes and stockings must be transparent or a matching color. (Note: even though proper taping of shoes is allowed by the League, this "spakking" of shoes could cause the player to violate the terms of a shoe endorsement he may have).
Sideline Appearance -- the only caps that players are permitted to wear on the sidelines is headwear provided by an NFL authorized supplier. Smokeless tobacco is also prohibited on the sidelines.
The NFL has hired various ex-players to attend games and assess violations of the beforenoted uniform violations (the "Uniform Police"). For purposes of a player violating the cap and/or smokeless tobacco rules, the Game Referee is also authorized to use his judgment to determine whether a breach occurred.
Other fines include:
Overweight: maximum fine of $453 per lb. overwieght, the fine to be assesed no more than two times a week and at least 3 days apart
Unexcused late reporting for mandatory minicamp, team meeting, practice, transportation, curfew, scheduled appointment with Club doctor or scheduled promotional activity: maximum fine of $1,500
[Note: if player misses any of the above the fine is increased to $9,079]
Losing, damaging or altering Club-provided equipment: maximum fine of $1,500 and replacement cost
Unexcused late reporting for or absence from pre-season trainng camp by a player under contract: maximum fine of $15,888 per day
Loss of all or part of playbook, scouting report or game plan: maximum fine of $9,079
Material failure to follow rehab program prescribed by Club doctor or trainer: maximum fine of $9,079
Physical Contact with Game Official: $15,000 first offense, $25,000 second offense
Verbal or other Non-Physical Offense Against Official: $15,000 first offense, $25,000 second offense
Flagrant Personal Foul: $7,500 or higher, fine and/or suspension determined by degree of violation
Fighting: $5,000 first offense, $12,500 second offense or in extreme cases suspension
Unnecessarily entering Fight Area (active involvement): $2,500 first offense, $5,000 second offense
Unnecessarily entering Fight Area (no active involvement): $1,000 first offense, $5,000 second offense
Excessive Profanity toward Opponents, Game Personnel, Fans, Your Mom, Media, etc.: $5,000/$7,500
Taunting: $5,000/$7,500
Ejection from a game: maximum fine of $15,888
Throwing Football into Stands: maximum fine of $1,500
Foreign Substances on Body/Uniform (i.e., Grease): $10,000/$15,000
[Note: Team management and coaching staff can also be fined for permitting foreign substance violation]
Note a player can challenge the imposition of any fine and/or suspension imposed by the League through the use of an independent arbitrator to determine the sanction's validity (both in terms of whether an infraction occurred and/or the amount of fine/suspension). Usually the fine is taken out of the player's paycheck by his Club when imposed and them later refunded to him if he is successful on his appeal in having it reduced or eliminated.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Free Agency: If You Don't Play The Game Right You May Become "Free" From Your Client
As the commencement of the NFL free agency signing period approaches, I thought it may be wise to remind the reader of several issues that the astute Contract Advisor is cognizant of when he and his unrestricted free agent client are "shopping the market":
Free Agency Time Table. Even though I have not researched the actual numbers, it seems that a substantial number of the higher value free agent deals are done in the first 7 to 10 days of the free agency period – during this time teams tend to overpay a player rather than lose him to another team (whether the interest of competitors in the same player is real or not). After the initial 10 days, teams tend to adopt a “wait and see” approach and try to get players at a cheap price (you start to hear things like "your client really isn't very good so why doesn't he sign for the veteran minimum" while at the same time the clubs tells you Mr. Minimum can start for them).
Determining the Interest of a Team in Your Free Agent. For a player in demand, it is best to discuss preliminary contract figures with the club before your client visits. Otherwise, the client could waste an entire day at the team’s facility and in return you receive a $1 million a year offer rather than the $3 million a year you (and he) are expecting (and which would have been gladly paid by the other team that you stiffed that has now signed someone else for the position). It should be noted, however, that some teams will use “team speak” (“yeah, we can work with those numbers”) to induce your client to visit and then try to pressure your client to sign a lower deal while he is at the team facility. Forms of pressure include the free agent’s flight to another team being supposedly mysteriously cancelled ("they said something about meteor showers so you better go ahead and sign with us because it may be days before that clears up”) and the ever popular “you have 5 minutes to accept this offer – after that we’ll pull it off the table” (they almost never do).
Media. Constant media attention goes with a client who is a sought-after free agent. The media can be helpful in not only providing you information concerning management’s interest in your client (i.e., potential contract numbers) but the media also can be your mouthpiece to signal to a particular team that your client has interest from other NFL clubs (“Print it -- my client has been contacted by every professional football club in the world -- and a few from that new league on Pluto”).
Personnel Matters. Lack of knowledge regarding a potential team’s intentions on how your client fits into their scheme (i.e., starter/reserve, DE or DT, etc.) not only precludes the Contract Adviser from determining the actual interest of the team in his player but also could result in the player signing with a team that is a wrong fit -- and probably causing your client to believe you no longer fit as his agent ("you guys still have Jim Brown playing running back here, don't you?").
Judging the Market. All clients want to be paid “market value.” Obtaining contract information from the NFL Players Association as to other free agent offers for players at the same position (in terms of signing bonus, total monies paid, length of deal, incentives, etc.), and utilizing contacts you have from various teams who are competitors with the team that is pursuing your client are some of the areas that are essential to competent representation. Determining how many strip clubs, car detail joints and/or Sushi bars that are located in the city of the club that is interested in your client is not.
Contract Matters. Review the contracts of other players who play the same position as your client -- items such as signing bonus language, incentives, and deferral of money should all be known before your negotiations begin. Your guy will know what the other guys who play his position make -- and if he thinks you are doing a bad deal he'll make sure he gets the cell numbers of the agents of the other guys.
Bluffing. The interest of other teams in your client can be communicated -- but the worst scenario is for your bluff to be called by the team and you have no alternative plans. Always remember an employee for one club has a friend/contact at other clubs. Statements like "my guy is going to the Hall of Fame" or “Signing bonus?! – I thought that was his away game per diem” are not considered good negotiating techniques.
Know Your Client. If your client is not a risk taker don't try to make him one – even though it is your job to get the best possible deal for the player, you still must leave the final decision to him. During this process the opinions of a player’s wife, parents or other trusted confidants may come into play if the player wants them to be involved. Note, however, that the opinions of the player’s pet monkey Billy, former third grade class buddy Tommy or uncle Two Ton Tony should not be listened to.
You Are Only as Good as Your Client. The better the client, the more leverage the agent has. If your player is a “street” free agent (recently released with little previous playing time), haggling over a $2,000 greater signing bonus will most likely result in the potential new team saying “next.” Also note that an expected big 'payday' for your client can be influenced in a chilling manner by his off the field activities (arguing that Player X was, at the time of the accident, actually training for a public service spot titled "If I Really Drink A Lot and Drive Into A Tree I Will Promote The No Drinking and Driving Rule" is not recommended to increase his market value).
Free Agency Time Table. Even though I have not researched the actual numbers, it seems that a substantial number of the higher value free agent deals are done in the first 7 to 10 days of the free agency period – during this time teams tend to overpay a player rather than lose him to another team (whether the interest of competitors in the same player is real or not). After the initial 10 days, teams tend to adopt a “wait and see” approach and try to get players at a cheap price (you start to hear things like "your client really isn't very good so why doesn't he sign for the veteran minimum" while at the same time the clubs tells you Mr. Minimum can start for them).
Determining the Interest of a Team in Your Free Agent. For a player in demand, it is best to discuss preliminary contract figures with the club before your client visits. Otherwise, the client could waste an entire day at the team’s facility and in return you receive a $1 million a year offer rather than the $3 million a year you (and he) are expecting (and which would have been gladly paid by the other team that you stiffed that has now signed someone else for the position). It should be noted, however, that some teams will use “team speak” (“yeah, we can work with those numbers”) to induce your client to visit and then try to pressure your client to sign a lower deal while he is at the team facility. Forms of pressure include the free agent’s flight to another team being supposedly mysteriously cancelled ("they said something about meteor showers so you better go ahead and sign with us because it may be days before that clears up”) and the ever popular “you have 5 minutes to accept this offer – after that we’ll pull it off the table” (they almost never do).
Media. Constant media attention goes with a client who is a sought-after free agent. The media can be helpful in not only providing you information concerning management’s interest in your client (i.e., potential contract numbers) but the media also can be your mouthpiece to signal to a particular team that your client has interest from other NFL clubs (“Print it -- my client has been contacted by every professional football club in the world -- and a few from that new league on Pluto”).
Personnel Matters. Lack of knowledge regarding a potential team’s intentions on how your client fits into their scheme (i.e., starter/reserve, DE or DT, etc.) not only precludes the Contract Adviser from determining the actual interest of the team in his player but also could result in the player signing with a team that is a wrong fit -- and probably causing your client to believe you no longer fit as his agent ("you guys still have Jim Brown playing running back here, don't you?").
Judging the Market. All clients want to be paid “market value.” Obtaining contract information from the NFL Players Association as to other free agent offers for players at the same position (in terms of signing bonus, total monies paid, length of deal, incentives, etc.), and utilizing contacts you have from various teams who are competitors with the team that is pursuing your client are some of the areas that are essential to competent representation. Determining how many strip clubs, car detail joints and/or Sushi bars that are located in the city of the club that is interested in your client is not.
Contract Matters. Review the contracts of other players who play the same position as your client -- items such as signing bonus language, incentives, and deferral of money should all be known before your negotiations begin. Your guy will know what the other guys who play his position make -- and if he thinks you are doing a bad deal he'll make sure he gets the cell numbers of the agents of the other guys.
Bluffing. The interest of other teams in your client can be communicated -- but the worst scenario is for your bluff to be called by the team and you have no alternative plans. Always remember an employee for one club has a friend/contact at other clubs. Statements like "my guy is going to the Hall of Fame" or “Signing bonus?! – I thought that was his away game per diem” are not considered good negotiating techniques.
Know Your Client. If your client is not a risk taker don't try to make him one – even though it is your job to get the best possible deal for the player, you still must leave the final decision to him. During this process the opinions of a player’s wife, parents or other trusted confidants may come into play if the player wants them to be involved. Note, however, that the opinions of the player’s pet monkey Billy, former third grade class buddy Tommy or uncle Two Ton Tony should not be listened to.
You Are Only as Good as Your Client. The better the client, the more leverage the agent has. If your player is a “street” free agent (recently released with little previous playing time), haggling over a $2,000 greater signing bonus will most likely result in the potential new team saying “next.” Also note that an expected big 'payday' for your client can be influenced in a chilling manner by his off the field activities (arguing that Player X was, at the time of the accident, actually training for a public service spot titled "If I Really Drink A Lot and Drive Into A Tree I Will Promote The No Drinking and Driving Rule" is not recommended to increase his market value).
Friday, January 22, 2010
Get Ready for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the NFL ...
In his recent post at the National Football Post, fellow agent Jack Bechta reconfirmed what I have been saying for months now regarding NFL team salaries in the uncapped (2010) year: with no minimum team salary, some clubs are going to use the Pittsburgh Pirate/Florida Marlins model and flood the team roster with first, second and third year players (low base salaries) in exchange for releasing (or to a lesser degree trading) veteran players who are making higher amounts in the terms of base salaries, bonuses and incentives.
Per Bechta: "... some small-market teams will take their player payrolls to as low as $50-$60 million in 2010 from the current minimum floor of $109 million per team."
Remember the minimum salaries for players will still be in effect for the uncapped year. First year players in 2010 will generally make $320,000 and 2nd year players $395,000 -- while the four-to-six year vets will be owed minimum base pay of $630,000 and seven-to-nine year vets $755,000. But like the baseball model, teams in 2010 will not be required to spend a minimum overall team salary. So if I'm an owner in Jacksonville or Tampa or St. Louis -- and my team is going to stink and/or not draw well anyway -- and I have no idea what the new CBA will eventually be like economically -- do I really have much to lose if I cut marginal vets (higher coin to pay) for a bunch of younger guys?
Another way to look at this is that the possibility of teams curtailing their overall payroll with the release of veteran players -- coupled with a lockout year -- could be a boon for a new football league (can you say "UFL?").
Per Bechta: "... some small-market teams will take their player payrolls to as low as $50-$60 million in 2010 from the current minimum floor of $109 million per team."
Remember the minimum salaries for players will still be in effect for the uncapped year. First year players in 2010 will generally make $320,000 and 2nd year players $395,000 -- while the four-to-six year vets will be owed minimum base pay of $630,000 and seven-to-nine year vets $755,000. But like the baseball model, teams in 2010 will not be required to spend a minimum overall team salary. So if I'm an owner in Jacksonville or Tampa or St. Louis -- and my team is going to stink and/or not draw well anyway -- and I have no idea what the new CBA will eventually be like economically -- do I really have much to lose if I cut marginal vets (higher coin to pay) for a bunch of younger guys?
Another way to look at this is that the possibility of teams curtailing their overall payroll with the release of veteran players -- coupled with a lockout year -- could be a boon for a new football league (can you say "UFL?").
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Minor League Football and the NFL: Has the Time Come?
With the demise several years ago of NFL Europe and the fact that nothwithstanding the recent influx of more players from the Canadian Football League its format really only benefits skill postion players (i.e., QBs, WRs, RBs, and DBs) in preparing for the NFL, I think its time for the NFL to implement its own minor league system.
Sports fans are familiar with the minor league format of baseball and hockey. To a less organized degree, NBA teams have utilized the Continental Basketball Association and foreign leagues to supplement their teams. NFL teams do not have a formalized affiliation with another professional league in terms of the development of prospects. Based on a format similar to that used in Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, the following is a framework of a NFL Minor League system ("NFL Minor"):
Teams: NFL Minor would be composed of 8 teams, consisting of two 4 team divisions. 4 NFL clubs will have a direct relationship with one of the eight particular NFL Minor teams (i.e., 32 NFL teams, 4 NFL clubs per NFL Minor team.) Each NFL Minor club would be owned by the NFL, and be located in those cities (as determined by the NFL) that do not have a regular NFL club nor a perennial NCAA Division I college football power.
Allocation of Players: Each NFL club would allocate, after the completion of its NFL training camp, 15 players from its initial training camp roster to its NFL minor affiliate. There would be no restriction on age or years of NFL experience for allocated players.
Management/Coaches of NFL Minor Clubs: To be determined solely by the NFL. The advantage of such a system would be the training of management and coaching personnel for future NFL opportunities, and accelerated implementation of the NFL's affirmative action program.
Roster Determination: NFL Minor training camps would open the Saturday before the first game of the regular NFL season (i.e., around Labor Day). From the initial 60 man roster (i.e., each of 4 teams allocates 15 players), a final 50 man roster would be finalized within 21 days after the beginning of the NFL Minor camps (which is approximately the same day after the 3rd week of the regular NFL season).
Player Salaries: Any player who is allocated to NFL Minor by his original NFL club will receive $4,500 per week (which is lower than the general $5,200 a week for NFL practice squad players in 2010 and generally more annually than the overall average salaries in the United Football league and CFL). Note that any NFL Minor player who is elevated to a regular NFL club during the season (see below) would be paid the regular NFL minimum salary ($320,000 for 1st year players in 2010, etc.) while on the regular NFL club.
Player Movement: Each NFL club would be allowed to bring up one of its allocated players from its NFL Minor affiliated team without said player being subject to a claim by any other NFL club, up to a maximum of 5 times during a regular NFL season. Any attempt to bring up a player after the "5 time rule" is satisfied will not be automatic and will cause said player to be subject to claim by any other regular NFL team via a waiver system similar to the one currently used by the NFL (team with worst record gets first choice, etc.).
Note that when a NFL Minor player is elevated to his NFL Club, the club will have the option to allocate to its NFL Minor affiliate any player that it has to release to make room for the elevated player, provided that the released NFL player is not claimed on waivers per the NFL waiver system (if applicable). Any NFL player allocated to NFL Minor during the NFL regular season will earn the beforenoted $4,500 week NFL Minor salary, unless a different amount was negotiated in the allocated player's regular NFL contract. This is similar to the NHL, where players are given (after negotiation) "2 way" contracts, providing that they make a lower base salary if they play in the minor league system of the NHL club.
A team's allocated NFL Minor player can be claimed by another NFL club (the "Claiming Club") for activation to the Claiming Club's regular NFL roster at any time, subject to the right of the original NFL club, when provided notice of said claim by the rival club, to preclude said claim by electing to activate the player in question to its NFL roster (note the beforenoted "5 time rule" will not be applicable in this situation thereby allowing the original NFL club to be able to retain its NFL minor player even though it has already had 5 call-ups to the regular NFL team to date). If, however, a NFL club elects to activate to its regular NFL roster another club's NFL Minor player and the original NFL club does not elect to activate the same player to its roster, the new (claiming) NFL club must transfer its 7th round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft to the original NFL club (or if the claiming club does not have a 7th round pick in the upcoming Draft then it must transfer its 6th round pick, or if it doesn't have a 6th round pick then its 5th round pick . . . ).
Games: NFL Minor games would be played during the same time as the NFL regular season, except that a 12 game schedule would be implemented and all games would be played on Wednesdays and/or Saturday nights. The intent of this type of format is that fans would be more receptive to an NFL-affiliated league if it were played during football season and at a time (Saturday or Wednesday night) that does not conflict (usually) with college football games. Upon the completion of the NFL Minor schedule (which would coincide with the ending of the regular NFL regular season schedule), a play-off format would involve the top 2 teams in each division playing in the first round of the playoffs (#1 seed in East plays #2 seed in West, etc.), with the NFL Minor championship being played the following week. Note the NFL Minor playoffs would be on Friday nights since the NFL clubs could have playoff games on Saturday during the same time period.
Completion of NFL Minor Season: All allocated players still on the affiliated NFL Minor team would count against the NFL club's 80 man roster for the next NFL season. Any NFL Minor players released during the subsequent off-season would be subject to the regular NFL waiver rules.
The advantage of the NFL Minor system is that it would allow a NFL club to get a "second look" at a player that does not initially make its regular NFL club without actually having to relinquish that player's rights for any such players could be allocated to the club's NFL Minor affiliate. Also, by having the teams play during the regular NFL season and in the U.S., an NFL club would be able to shuffle players between its minor league affiliate and the NFL club in a manner similar to the system used by MLB and NHL clubs. Unlike the Canadian and Arena Football Leagues, the NFL Minor player would also be playing with the same set of rules and conditions that are used in the NFL. Finally, by locating NFL Minor teams in U.S. cities that would be identified by the NFL as being receptive to NFL-affiliated football, the operating cost of the league should be less that the NFL paid to maintain NFL Europe.
Sports fans are familiar with the minor league format of baseball and hockey. To a less organized degree, NBA teams have utilized the Continental Basketball Association and foreign leagues to supplement their teams. NFL teams do not have a formalized affiliation with another professional league in terms of the development of prospects. Based on a format similar to that used in Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, the following is a framework of a NFL Minor League system ("NFL Minor"):
Teams: NFL Minor would be composed of 8 teams, consisting of two 4 team divisions. 4 NFL clubs will have a direct relationship with one of the eight particular NFL Minor teams (i.e., 32 NFL teams, 4 NFL clubs per NFL Minor team.) Each NFL Minor club would be owned by the NFL, and be located in those cities (as determined by the NFL) that do not have a regular NFL club nor a perennial NCAA Division I college football power.
Allocation of Players: Each NFL club would allocate, after the completion of its NFL training camp, 15 players from its initial training camp roster to its NFL minor affiliate. There would be no restriction on age or years of NFL experience for allocated players.
Management/Coaches of NFL Minor Clubs: To be determined solely by the NFL. The advantage of such a system would be the training of management and coaching personnel for future NFL opportunities, and accelerated implementation of the NFL's affirmative action program.
Roster Determination: NFL Minor training camps would open the Saturday before the first game of the regular NFL season (i.e., around Labor Day). From the initial 60 man roster (i.e., each of 4 teams allocates 15 players), a final 50 man roster would be finalized within 21 days after the beginning of the NFL Minor camps (which is approximately the same day after the 3rd week of the regular NFL season).
Player Salaries: Any player who is allocated to NFL Minor by his original NFL club will receive $4,500 per week (which is lower than the general $5,200 a week for NFL practice squad players in 2010 and generally more annually than the overall average salaries in the United Football league and CFL). Note that any NFL Minor player who is elevated to a regular NFL club during the season (see below) would be paid the regular NFL minimum salary ($320,000 for 1st year players in 2010, etc.) while on the regular NFL club.
Player Movement: Each NFL club would be allowed to bring up one of its allocated players from its NFL Minor affiliated team without said player being subject to a claim by any other NFL club, up to a maximum of 5 times during a regular NFL season. Any attempt to bring up a player after the "5 time rule" is satisfied will not be automatic and will cause said player to be subject to claim by any other regular NFL team via a waiver system similar to the one currently used by the NFL (team with worst record gets first choice, etc.).
Note that when a NFL Minor player is elevated to his NFL Club, the club will have the option to allocate to its NFL Minor affiliate any player that it has to release to make room for the elevated player, provided that the released NFL player is not claimed on waivers per the NFL waiver system (if applicable). Any NFL player allocated to NFL Minor during the NFL regular season will earn the beforenoted $4,500 week NFL Minor salary, unless a different amount was negotiated in the allocated player's regular NFL contract. This is similar to the NHL, where players are given (after negotiation) "2 way" contracts, providing that they make a lower base salary if they play in the minor league system of the NHL club.
A team's allocated NFL Minor player can be claimed by another NFL club (the "Claiming Club") for activation to the Claiming Club's regular NFL roster at any time, subject to the right of the original NFL club, when provided notice of said claim by the rival club, to preclude said claim by electing to activate the player in question to its NFL roster (note the beforenoted "5 time rule" will not be applicable in this situation thereby allowing the original NFL club to be able to retain its NFL minor player even though it has already had 5 call-ups to the regular NFL team to date). If, however, a NFL club elects to activate to its regular NFL roster another club's NFL Minor player and the original NFL club does not elect to activate the same player to its roster, the new (claiming) NFL club must transfer its 7th round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft to the original NFL club (or if the claiming club does not have a 7th round pick in the upcoming Draft then it must transfer its 6th round pick, or if it doesn't have a 6th round pick then its 5th round pick . . . ).
Games: NFL Minor games would be played during the same time as the NFL regular season, except that a 12 game schedule would be implemented and all games would be played on Wednesdays and/or Saturday nights. The intent of this type of format is that fans would be more receptive to an NFL-affiliated league if it were played during football season and at a time (Saturday or Wednesday night) that does not conflict (usually) with college football games. Upon the completion of the NFL Minor schedule (which would coincide with the ending of the regular NFL regular season schedule), a play-off format would involve the top 2 teams in each division playing in the first round of the playoffs (#1 seed in East plays #2 seed in West, etc.), with the NFL Minor championship being played the following week. Note the NFL Minor playoffs would be on Friday nights since the NFL clubs could have playoff games on Saturday during the same time period.
Completion of NFL Minor Season: All allocated players still on the affiliated NFL Minor team would count against the NFL club's 80 man roster for the next NFL season. Any NFL Minor players released during the subsequent off-season would be subject to the regular NFL waiver rules.
The advantage of the NFL Minor system is that it would allow a NFL club to get a "second look" at a player that does not initially make its regular NFL club without actually having to relinquish that player's rights for any such players could be allocated to the club's NFL Minor affiliate. Also, by having the teams play during the regular NFL season and in the U.S., an NFL club would be able to shuffle players between its minor league affiliate and the NFL club in a manner similar to the system used by MLB and NHL clubs. Unlike the Canadian and Arena Football Leagues, the NFL Minor player would also be playing with the same set of rules and conditions that are used in the NFL. Finally, by locating NFL Minor teams in U.S. cities that would be identified by the NFL as being receptive to NFL-affiliated football, the operating cost of the league should be less that the NFL paid to maintain NFL Europe.
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