Basic Concept
This will be a progressive league that starts in 1980-81 and progresses two years at a time. By going two years at a time, we should have enough depth to to make it without having to use any other seasons or supplemental players. Just like most progressives go, each off-season, owners will name a basket of keepers and all other players including rookies will be thrown into a draft pool of players. All players with a WIS season in 1980 and/or 1981 is eligible. No clones, so players with a season in both years may only be used once.
As this is a franchise league, each owner will choose a franchise at sign up. You will get the Def, OL, and ST unit of your franchise, plus one additional keeper of your choice. Additionally, once per decade staring in the 90's, you may earmark one future franchise player that was part of your franchise. There will be some specific rules outlined below to try to mitigate any competitive advantages based on franchise selection.
Initial Draft
As stated above, each owner will designate a franchise upon sign-up. Obviously, it must be a franchise that existed in 1980-81. Prior to the start of the draft, each owner must name their franchise player (referred to as an "FP"). Specific rules outlining your FP will be described below. Draft order will be total salary of each team's FP + Def + OL + ST, order being lowest to highest with the following stipulations:
- If total keeper salary > $42M, then you forfeit your 1st round pick
- If total keeper salary is $40-42M, then you forfeit your 2nd round pick
- If total keeper salary is $38-40M, then you get an extra 2nd round pick (aka, compensation pick)
- If total keeper salary is < $38M, then you get an extra 1st round pick
For teams that get a compensation pick in a given round, that pick will come at the back end of the round. In other words, all teams drafting in that round will get their primary pick before any team gets to make a compensation pick. If multiple teams have a compensation pick, then draft order for these picks will be determined by salary.
At the end of each round, total salaries will be recalculated based on draft selections and a new draft order will be posted. For calculation purposes, the highest salary version of each unit and player will be used in the calculation. This will make it much easier to track and reduce the possibility of errors.
The draft will last 15 rounds. At the end of the 15th round, all teams should have between 18-20 players/units on their roster, depending on whether they forfeited a pick or had a compensation pick. After the draft is over, teams will "sign" all remaining roster spots from undrafted players until their roster is full. A team may sign one player per hour until their roster is full. The time stamp feature will be used to ensure compliance with the one hour rule.
Future Drafts
Draft order for future drafts (rounds 1-4 only) will be based on keeper salaries + draft pick salaries + FFP if applicable. At the end of each round, total salaries will be recalculated. Draft order beginning at round 5 will be locked in based on total salaries at end of round 4.
Franchise Player
Obviously, if a franchise player played for the same team in both 1980-81, then he is considered to be from that team. If a player played for more than one team during 1980-81, then whichever franchise has the highest salary version of said player gets first rights to him.
Future Franchise Players
As stated, each team may choose one FFP per decade, beginning in the 1990's. The first player-season in the WIS database will dictate which franchise each player belongs to. For example, even though Bret Favre was a rookie for the Atlanta Falcons, because he didn't have a WIS eligible season for them, he is considered a Green Bay Packer. In the year that your FFP enters the league, the trade-off is you must forfeit your #1 pick in that draft.
Other Rules
- Keepers - No Min/Max number each season. Players may be placed on IR as needed if they have gaps in service.
- Trades - Trades are allowed and encouraged. Draft picks may be traded up to two seasons in advance. Total salary of the team that originally held the draft pick is used for draft order purposes.
- League Alignment - As close as possible to 1980-81's actual alignment. It will change in the future when it changed in real life (i.e. Seahawks switched from AFC to NFC in 2002).
- Stadium - Must use the one your team used during the same time period.
- Salary Cap - $200M
- Skill Players that Kick/Punt - If a skill position player also punts or kicks, (or if a player is a K/P combo), then the drafting owner can choose to use that player in both capacities, but it is optional on their part. Obviously, if an owner opts not to use that player as his K or P, then nobody else can draft that player as a K or P.