Free Agency

[Argot]

Ok...so, I'm sitting here with a ton of money to spend in FA next year so I started to peruse the market. Unless someone falls asleep at the wheel there is literally nothing that is going to be available. Which leads to the perennial problem of a poor FA pool every year.

In another league they instituted a rule that you could only renegotiate with players in their last year of the contract...which means pretty much all years of contract are guaranteed unless you want to cut him somewhere during his contract. Which puts him back in FA.

What all of us notice is that many older veterans that are declining will renegotiate with 2-4 years left on their contract for less money, making it pretty easy to stay under the cap as long as you are paying attention.

Just a thought...Wouldn't mind if there were other suggestions to improve the FA market from year to year.

[markc]

Ok...so, I'm sitting here with a ton of money to spend in FA next year so I started to peruse the market. Unless someone falls asleep at the wheel there is literally nothing that is going to be available. Which leads to the perennial problem of a poor FA pool every year.

In another league they instituted a rule that you could only renegotiate with players in their last year of the contract...which means pretty much all years of contract are guaranteed unless you want to cut him somewhere during his contract. Which puts him back in FA.

What all of us notice is that many older veterans that are declining will renegotiate with 2-4 years left on their contract for less money, making it pretty easy to stay under the cap as long as you are paying attention.

Just a thought...Wouldn't mind if there were other suggestions to improve the FA market from year to year.

Quick! Everyone lock up their players before Reno can have a chance to get them.
Seriously though, this seems like a pretty reasonable suggestion. I think the new salary demands in the latest version might start having an effect over the course of the next couple seasons. I think my team is good for next year, but I noticed that a few of my mediocre players have some pretty crazy demands - so that may put some pressure on my cap starting in 2023. I'm guessing the higher salary demands will be only bring a subtle improvement in the FA market whereas Argot's suggestion might have a larger impact.

[Suicane]

What Mark said. I think in the next year or two the free agency pool will start getting better.

[r00k]

Noticed the same trend as Mark ... it may take a season or two for the impact to be felt by most of the teams ... and then some hard decisions may have to follow.

[Beeznik]

You don't really see a lot of top notch players hitting FA in the NFL either. If they do, they either have something wrong with them or they are old. I don't see a problem with the FA market being bare, build through the draft and resign your guys.

[jley618]

You don't really see a lot of top notch players hitting FA in the NFL either. If they do, they either have something wrong with them or they are old. I don't see a problem with the FA market being bare, build through the draft and resign your guys.

+1

[JesterBlaze]

You don't really see a lot of top notch players hitting FA in the NFL either. If they do, they either have something wrong with them or they are old. I don't see a problem with the FA market being bare, build through the draft and resign your guys.

+1


I personally find players "dirty" if I haven't drafted them. I don't want the players from other teams.


I'm starting to notice that GMs can be broken down into at least 2 catagories: Those who like trading and the general make-up of teams changing quickly over the course of 2-3 seasons, and those like myself who are focused more on their own team and building it over time. If FOF gets to the point where FA is full of star players then my immediate guess is that I'll start drafting from round 3 on so that I know I'll be able to keep my 53 "scrubs" for their careers and not have a yearly collection of rent-a-players.

I'm not saying 1 way is better than the other.

[Matt]

the only way you will see great FA classes is if you join one of Ben's leagues where they crack into the game and reduce the cap by 25%.

[BOSS]

the only way you will see great FA classes is if you join one of Ben's leagues where they crack into the game and reduce the cap by 25%.

That is very interesting. I would be down for that for sure. Would spice up the league a lot.

I honestly do not see cap problems arising in a few seasons. Unless your brain dead you can keep whoever you want on your team.

[tarcone]

I think this is like debating politics or religion.

Some guys like to draft and keep their players on their rosters for a long time. Others like to find that stud in FA. They are not as much into developing and keeping a player, as much as letting someone else develop them and then picking them up on the free market.

I dont think this will ever have a clear winner.

[Matt]

That is very interesting. I would be down for that for sure. Would spice up the league a lot.

I honestly do not see cap problems arising in a few seasons. Unless your brain dead you can keep whoever you want on your team.

We wouldn't be able to do this......without Ben.
It is a lot of fun though. makes the league completely different. Trade value.....FA value......QB value.... changes the way you play the game.

[Matt]

I think this is like debating politics or religion.

Some guys like to draft and keep their players on their rosters for a long time. Others like to find that stud in FA. They are not as much into developing and keeping a player, as much as letting someone else develop them and then picking them up on the free market.

I dont think this will ever have a clear winner.

I agree with you on this one Tarc.

[Matt]

We wouldn't be able to do this......without Ben.
It is a lot of fun though. makes the league completely different. Trade value.....FA value......QB value.... changes the way you play the game.

further to this, even lots of GM's don't bother signing late round picks because they cost too much!!

[JesterBlaze]

One thing those who want great players in FA have to realize is that ONLY a mistake will let that happen. It happens in the NFL because of the high rate of coaching turnover and system changes along with "hidden" problems with the player so he's not actually the great player you'd think.

Being a football GM is more about resource management than anything else IMO. If you cut the cap 50% you'd still rarely see a quality Phantom in FA. I'd simply stop using my draft picks until my cap space allows. I'd trade all 7 every year for future picks. I'd build a team of very cohesive "45's" and 1-3 studs that I know I'm going to be able to continue to afford as they gel.

The bottom line and rule #1 is: NEVER let a resource just disappear. ALWAYS get something in return. Retirement is the only way a quality player should ever leave your team without getting something in return.

[Argot]

It happens in the NFL because of the high rate of coaching turnover and system changes along with "hidden" problems with the player so he's not actually the great player you'd think.

alot more players would create havoc in the IFL until they got paid what they think they should be paid. Players would see amounts that teams are under the cap and riot for more money. in this league, the ai of players is stoopid, they undersell their value...willing to renegotiate or sign contracts for pennies. if you don't believe me, we could revisit the fact that players would rather be undrafted free agents than a 5th round pick.