Entries from November 2008 ↓

Q: I am in a keeper league that allows teams to keep 3 players provided they are not drafted in the first three rounds. So basically anyone drafted in round 4 is keeper eligible. However there is a stipulation in the rules that could possibly make players drafted in rounds 1-3 keeper eligible. The rule posted by the commissioner stated that any player selected via free agency or waiver is keeper eligible regardless of were they were selected.

That is the overview, now here is the situation. I drafted Tom Brady with my first pick and then cut him after he went down to injury. At that point Brady was keeper eligible. Brady was then picked up and dropped by another team. When I saw him listed as a free agent again I added him to my roster, and stashing him for next season. Several members of the league made comments on how this is a good move on my part and I agreed. The commissioner has notified me stating that Brady is not keeper eligible.  I have the keeper rule document that was posted by the commissioner and it reads as follows.

“  Keeper League (ID# 132593)

KEEPER DECISION
Posted by: Jacob G (Seattle Seahawks)

Message ID: 24 Jul 21 4:31pm | Reply | Post | < Previous | Next >

I have decided that 1)you can keep any 3 players chosen after round 3 in this years draft. This is so that in next years draft players like manning, brady, LT, AP and other top fantasy players will still be available.
2)Any players picked up off waivers regardless of when they were selected are eligible to be keepers.
The main factor in this decision is that it is not hard to select a good keeper in round 1 because all the players from round 1 are automatic keepers. It is more challenging though, to pick a player after round 3. Only the smart fantasy players will survive in this league. Good luck in this draft guys!!”

I also have the transaction transcripts from the league as well:

drop transaction by the jets:
Oct 1 7:19am    Tom Brady IR (NE – QB)     Drop    New York Jets    Waivers    cheeselanders

and the add transaction by my team the NE Patriots:
Nov 14 9:39am    Tom Brady IR (NE – QB)     Add    Free Agents    New England Patriots    smithstreet m

Thank you for taking the time to review this we appreciate you assistance.

A: We’ve come across a number of keeper policy disputes this season specifically related to Brady.   In your situation, the answer is very obvious.   As highlighted below, Any players picked up off waivers regardless of when they were selected are eligible to be keepers.  Not only is the Brady protected by this rule, but since another owner in your league picked him up (and then dropped him) in the time between your original drop and your most recent pickup, your commissioner really doesn’t haven’t a valid argument.

It will be frustrating of course to your commissioner and your other opponents that your strategic pickup will make youlr team hard to beat next year.   But those aren’t legitimate grounds to change a pre-established league rule.

Q: Hi the commissiner of our leagues made this trade, he’s the beneficiary of the unbalanced trade described below

Lee Evans, Buf WR , Antonio Bryant, TB WR, Tim Hightower, Ari RB

for

Greg Jennings, GB WR, Clinton Portis, Was RB,  Edgerrin James, Ari RB

A:  Well Portis is a huge upgrade a RB obviously, because while Hightower has the same number of total TDs, Portis has three times the total yards.   James’ impact on the trade is negligible.  If the team receiving Portis is upgrading at one position, then it makes sense that they are sacrificing in some other area.  However, that is not the case with this trade.   Evans and Bryant are both starting receivers, but Jennings has as many TDs as they do combined and also more total yards.   We’d veto this trade.

Q: Our league uses CBS Sportsline website.  It has fill a spot where the commissioner has to fill in the blank with a date for the trade deadline.  November 15, 2008 was put in.  I’ll copy/paste the rules pertaining to the trade deadline.
• Trades are subject to a 2-day voting period, where at most 5 objections are allowed. Trades receiving more than 5 objections are sent to the commissioner for approval.
• No trades can be made after the trade deadline of 11:59 pm et 11/15/08.

There were 3 trades made that this ruling would effect; 11/13/08 @ 6:43 pm, 11/14/08 @ 6:08pm, and 11/15/08 @ 10:10 am.  All 3 trades were agreed upon by each of the teams involved by clicking on the “accept trade” button before the trade deadline of 11/15/08 @11:59pm.

One arguement is saying that the trades past the deadline because the trade veto process would extend
past the trade deadline.  Therefore the trades should be null and void.
The other side is saying that the trades should go through because the trades were accepted by each team prior to the trade deadline, our league has used CBS Sportsline for about 8yrs without any changes to the trade deadline rule, and CBS Sportsline would not have had the “accept trade” button available if the veto process was part of the trade deadline.
.
Since this issue has arisen, the 2 teams involved in the trade on 11/13/08 have each asked out of their trade due to their players not being available for 11/16/08.  The other trades are Matt Schaub for Jeff Garcia.  The team getting Schaub has Rosenfels as the backup and if Schaub comes back he would have either Texan QB.  Garcia would be the backup for the other team.  The last trade would be Felix Jones for Jonathan Stewart.  Both would be 4th or lower RBs.

Please give your advise as there seems to be no happy medium here.

A: This is actually a fairly common dispute and since we participate in a number of Sportsline leagues ourselves, we believe the answer to be very cut and dry.   The rule states:  No trades can be made after the trade deadline of 11:59 pm et 11/15/08.   This should be interpreted as all trades need to be ACCEPTED by that date/time.   Once the trade is accepted, the trade has technically been made.   Because the veto process is optional (read: if all owners do not vote one way or another the trade will pass anyway), we feel strongly that all three trades should pass.

Due to the fact that internal league disputes on this matter prevented the trades from taking place in time to allow owners to use their new players on 11/16, we also feel that it is only fair that the trade in which both teams would like to opt out should be overturned.   The other two trades should stand.

Q: Our league plays in a CBS sportsline format, which locks lineups 5 minutes prior to gametime.

this past Thursday (Jets @ Patriots), I put Leon Washington in (whoo hoo!) and set my receivers as Chad Johnson, Calvin Johnson, and Dwayne Bowe.  Friday, I took out Ocho Cinco, and replaced him with Devery Henderson (I was thinking 85′s matchup against Philly would tough, and Brees as my QB presented a good double hook up opportunity with D Henderson).

My opponent called me and said “Haha, thanks for the win.  You changed your lineup, so you’re disqualified.”   He claims there is a precedent for this 5 years ago when someone in our league did the same thing.  Recollections are vague, but my memory is that the previous incident involved someone changing a player who was PLAYING at that time, not playing two days away.

Our commissioner has been silent, but is my opponent’s brother! (i think he’ll rule in his favor).  Most of the league (at least 5 of 10 members) agrees with me.  What’s your opinion?

SCARY FROGS (from “Kings of Fantasy Football”)

A: This is certainly a strange inquiry.   In this situation, it is best to defer to Sportsline’s rulebook.   If a transaction is allowed by Sportsline, it should be legitimate.   Now, your league can definitely override Sportsline rules if all league owners (or a majority) are in agreement.  That said, it is the responsible of the commissioner to ensure that all such revisions to the standard Sportsline rules are clearly posted on your league website and that all owners are reminded from time to time (at least once a year).

We do not believe that simply the fact that a dispute occured five years ago is sufficient enough to warrant enforcement of the rule revision so if this rule was not clearly posted on your site and/or if the commissioner did not notify all owners, the transaction should be allowed.

Q: Two owners have clinched their respective divisions.  They now want to sit their players to basically help out weaker teams that they are facing, allowing them to win and make the playoffs.  This obviously changes the chances that each team in the league has of making the playoffs. Is this fair, should the commisioner force teams to play their best players?  Thanks for the input.

A: Hmm.  Tough situation.   One the one hand, there is no logical reason for these teams to sit their players, its not like they could get injured.   On the other hand, we’re assuming it has not been specifically addressed in your league rules that this is not allowed.  Furthermore, since they are going to sit their best players against all opponents it really doesn’t show any favoritism.   Basically since there is no rule stating otherwise, your commissioner doesn’t really have any grounds on which to force these owners to change their starting rosters.

However, this is a clearly a douchebag move by these owners, so while it isn’t really fair to force them to change their lineups, we would kick them out of the league for their actions and not look back.

Q: I am involved in this trade,This trade went through a league review for 2 days, where it could have been vetoed. The trade was not vetoed. Some think the the 11th place owner is dumping his team, because he made some comments that he wanted to quit. He is a long shot for the playoffs but it still mathematically in the playoff hunt.

Q: Team A is 8-3 and tied for first place, while Team B is 4-7 and sitting in 9^th. We are a PPR league, and Team A is dealing Kevin Smith and Anthony Gonzalez to Team B for Tony Romo. Team A lost Tom Brady and needs a QB, and K Smith and Gonzo are on his bench. Team B is holding only Kerry Collins and Matt Schaub at QB after the trade. Their rationale is that they lost Ernest Graham for the year and need a RB (his next best would be Lendale White and Fred Taylor). While I don’t doubt that Team B sucks, his team would not be better without Romo, no?

A: Hi Larry.   We don’t necessary agree that Team B would be better off holding onto to Romo.   Sure, Romo is the best player involved in this trade.   But Kerry Collins has been putting together a solid season (1,755 YDs, 8 TDs, 4 INT, 59% Completion %).    Team B can slide him into the starting QB role and it shouldn’t only be a moderate downgrade.   In return, Team B can improve an injured RB stable with Smith (725 YDS, 5 TDs) and with the Colts heating up and Marvin Harrison fading, Gonzalez can be a solid starter at WR as well.

Q: The commissioner of our league just traded Derrick Ward, NYG and Ray Rice, Bal for Brandon Jacobs, NYG and Dallas Clark, Ind.

Our commissioner is in 4th place and the person he traded with is in last place.  I think this is clear collusion but wanted to get your ruling as well as a suggested punishment. FYI, it has been a friendly league to date ($50 per person, members mostly friends from b-school) but that could all change…

A: Hi Thor.   Sorry for the delay.   Statistically both Ward and Rice are having solid seasons (797 YDs, 1 TD and 583 YDs, 0 TDs, respectively).   That said they are both clearly members of running back by committee backfields (and in both cases there are three RBs that receive a significant number of carries Jacobs, Bradshaw, Ward and McGahee, Rice and McClain) .

For this reason would don’t feel that the last place team is receiving enough value to offset the loss of both a top 5 RB and a top 5 TE.  Seems like collusion to us on the grounds that the last place team doesn’t stand to make any significant improvements to their squad.  Even if it isn’t collusion, the trade is simply too lopsided to pass.  Veto it!

Q: A trade is on the table and there are mixed feelings about it.  Let us know what you guys think.  First off, this is a 2 player keeper league, all standard Yahoo scoring.
Team 1 – QB-Warner, WR- A.Johnson, T.Owens, A.Boldin.  RB- T.Jones, R.Brown.
Team 2 – QB-Campbell, WR-R.Moss, D.Driver, D.Jackson(PHI). RB- M.Turner, M.Jones-Drew

The trade is R.Moss for T.Owens straight up.  Team 1 is in 1st place.  Team 2 is in 6th place.  If you need anymore info please let me know.  Thanks for your insight.  Great site.

A: According to ESPN standard scoring, Owens is the 23rd ranked WR and Moss is the 22nd.   After Moss’ poor start and the loss of Brady, it is easy to perceive this as a lop-sided trade.  But the stats don’t lie and you really can’t get more evenly matched in a trade in terms of production to this point in the season. Trade should stand.

Q: The second place team trading with the 4^th place team

L.J. KC Cheifs from 3^rd place team for D.Rhodes on Second place team.  The 3^rd place team already has Gore, and DeAngelo Williams, the Second place team is saddled with the following RBS, Portis, Parker, Felix Jones, Carnell Williams

This is also a keep two players a year league.

A: Hi Jason.  This trade should pass.   Johnson and Rhodes have almost identical stats this season (Johnson 429 total yds/3 TDs vs. Rhodes 435 total yards/4 TDs).  This is just about as even as a trade can get.  Johnson has slightly more keeper potential, but it is very possible that he will never regain the elite form he had a couple years ago.