League Constitution
(last updated on
March 05, 2004)
Article I: League Structure
The league is composed of 28 franchises ( teams) subdivided into 2 conferences. Each
conference is further subdivided into 3 divisions. Current
Conference and Division alignment are as outlined below.
Federal Football Conference
| Lombardi Division |
Payton Division |
Brown Division |
| Houston |
Boston |
Chicago |
| San Paulo |
Hollywood |
Northlake |
| San Diego |
Jersey City |
Philadelphia |
| San Francisco |
New York |
Port Aransas |
|
West Palm |
Philadelphia |
American Football Conference
| Unitas Division |
Shula Division |
Butkus Division |
| Dallas |
Kansas City |
Daytona Beach |
| Odessa |
Corpus Christi |
Detroit City |
| Oklahoma City |
Oklahoma |
Kentucky |
| San Antonio |
Pittsburgh |
Southern California |
|
Seattle |
Norman |
|
|
|
Article II: League Positions
Officers:
Section A: Co-Commissioners
League decisions/rules are enacted and administered by a
"Congress". Congress is headed by two Co-Commissioners.
Commissioners are lifetime appointments. They have the final say in
all rule changes. They are the only Congress members with veto
power. In order to veto however, the decision must be agreed upon by
both Commissioners. The Commissioners are responsible for simulating
league games and the running of league meetings.
Article III: The Game
Section A: Game used
The Dedicated Football League uses Sierra's Front Page Sports Football Pro
'98 running in league mode.
Section B: Games played
League games will have 15 minute quarters and will all be simulated by one of
the Co-Commissioners using the depth charts set by the owners of the teams. Injuries
and fatigue settings will be used. The game results will be posted on the
Dedicated Football League Home Page each week.
Article IV: Weekly Schedule
Section A: The Schedule of the DFL Season
A regular season & off-season schedule
will continue to be made by Pistolpete. Although these are in fact
"schedules," they are NOT set in stone and are always subject to be
altered.
This season's
schedule has been planned to run parallel with the 2003 NFL season
(Week 1 in early/mid September).
Section B: Trading and Signing Deadline
The trading and free agent signing deadline is established as Wednesday
11:59 P.M. Central Time Zone (Standard or Daylight Savings as applicable).
Trades/signings are to be sent to the Commissioner or his designated
representative. Trades between teams are allowed from the conclusion
of the Dedicated Bowl through the Wednesday Midnight prior to the
simulating of Week Eights games.
Currently, Isatoner is the Free Agent Coordinator. All free agent
bids should be sent to Isatoner@aol.com
no later than 11:59 PM Central Time the Wednesday prior to Friday
Game Day.
Section B: Depth Charts and Team Profiles
The Depth charts and team profiles are due to the Roster Coordinator
(currently LKSchlegel) from each team for the weeks games. Use the following to make your moves.
Look at your roster on the web-page and tell me how you would like it to be different from that. In other words if you want your HB2 to be HB1 just say that. And if you are making major modifications on a certain position you are welcome to list every player in that position.
Do NOT simply list your entire roster.
That will not be accepted.
Section C: Game Simulation Time
The principle time for the games to be simulated by one of the
Co-Commissioners will be on Friday evenings at 9:00 PM Central Time.
The deadline for submission of game plans and any moves to the
return teams is one hour prior to game time. Roster moves must be
submitted no later than 11:59 P.M. Central time the Wednesday prior
to the game. Game plans/roster moves submitted after these deadlines
will be ignored. Exceptions will be made in the case of teams being
awarded free agent contracts and roster moves will be accepted only
as they relate to the players awarded.
Section D: Game Results
The weekly results of all the league games will be posted at the
Dedicated Football League home page by Sunday, Midnight Eastern
Time.
Article V: Team Ownership
Section A: Responsibilities
1. The owners are responsible for keeping their team under the salary cap and keeping at least 46 players signed with no more than 53 total (Including 7 inactive players).
If a team has less than the minimums
required to simulate the game, a player(s) will be signed at the
discretion of the Commissioner simulating the games. In the case of
not enough Active depth slots being filled, the Commissioner will
select at random in order to fill a teams roster with the necessary
minimums. In the case of not enough "Open" slots being
filled, an additional punter will be signed. Contract lengths for
these players will be for one year at the league minimum for a
veteran free agent (currently $400,000).
2. League Roster Minimums/Maximums: You must have a minimum of these
players in Active slots on your roster. You must also have 12 Open
Active slots filled with any position player for your roster to be
considered valid for league simulations. If you don't, FBPro 98 will
not allow the simulation to take place. 2 QB; 3 RB; 5 R; 6 OL;
4 DL; 5 LB; 7 DB; 1 K; 1 P
Roster maximum is 53 players. To add a
player to your roster, you must make room prior to acquiring through
trades, college draft or free agency. Any attempt to add additional
players without sufficient roster room will invalidate the trade or free
agent acquisition.
3. Owners should check their E-mail 2-3 times a week at a minimum and should notify
the league of any reason that they will not be able to meet this requirement or face
punishment as decided on by the league Officers. Owners will respond to Critical messages. Failure to do so can and will result in immediate expulsion from the DFL.
4.
Each of the team owners are to do everything in their power to try to win, loosing intentionally will not be tolerated and could result in dismissal
from the league. Keep up with the draft picks and make sure your roster is correct, or face a serious penalty for trading a pick you don't own.
Section B: Consequences of "Sleeping" on Your Franchise
The DFL has a low tolerance for owners who
abandon their franchise for extended periods of time. An owner can be
ousted if necessary.
Section C: Bringing New Blood into the DFL/Mentorship
"I have a friend that wants to join the
league…"
This scenario is very much welcomed by the
league. Many already have friends, family, and co-workers in the league.
These relationships give the league a personal & competitive flavor that
makes each rivalry that much more interesting. After all, it IS all
about bragging rights. However, the league has enforced a new rule…If
you introduce someone into the league as a new owner, you will become
his/her personal "mentor." The role of a mentor is to teach the basics
of the league as well as being there for the freshman owner as a
consultant in all transactions. A new owner CAN'T make any
transactions with the person that brought them into the league. This
rule is in effect to avoid situations that may include, "Oh, I owe you
one man…" or "I need to repay you $25 for that DVD you bought me last
week?…maybe to make up for it, I'll just trade you LaVar Arrington."
Section D: Cheating
Cheating of ANY
KIND in the DFL…(i.e. owning multiple franchises, helping another team
as revenge on another, etc) is NOT tolerated and will most likely result
in EXPULSION from the DFL after a vote by the Board of Directors. This
league is meant for pure fun, it is NOT to be taken "TOO SERIOUSLY," we
all love this league and it functions on the simple common bond of trust
in one another. If a member were to break this trust, that GM will no
longer have a place in this league.
Section E: Waiting List
The league recruits
new owners on a regular basis. We currently have a waiting list of
GM's that will fill spots when they open. If you know of any
prospective owners that want to join this list, contact a Congress
member.
Article VI: Salary and Contracts
Section A: Salary
Each player has been assigned a base salary which will be used to determine contract
values using the following table:
Contract Length Minimum Salary (For the entire contract length)
1 YearBase
2 YearsBase+(1.1)*Base
3 YearsBase+(1.1)*Base+(1.25)*Base
4 YearsBase+(1.1)*Base+(1.25)*Base+(1.5)*Base
5 YearsBase+(1.1)*Base+(1.25)*Base+(1.5)*Base+(2)*Base
Section B: Contract Length
No player can be signed for more than 5 years. Once a contract is signed, it cannot be restructured for any reason.
Section C: Salary Cap
The Salary cap is currently set at $200 million. That is for the total salary of all of your player's on a team. For example if your QB has a base salary of $4 million and you sign him for 5 years that would be $ 4 + 4.4 + 5 + 6 + 8 = $27.4 million to him which leaves you with $172.6 million for the rest of your team. The QB which makes up 1/53rd. of your team makes almost 14% of your teams salary over the next 5 years.
If, during the season, a team is in violation of the salary cap
(over the $200 millions limit) they will be given a one week grace
period to get with the limit. After one week, if still not under the
CAP, the team will have its best offensive and defensive players (as
determined by the Executive Council) benched until they comply.
Section D: Releasing Players
A player can be released with remaining years left on his contract, but the owner must buy out his contract for 50% of the players total contract.
Section E: Retiring Players
If a player retires with remaining years left on the contract then the team is repaid 100% of the contract. Using the example above the QB retires after the 4th season. So the team has the players salary removed from their cap.
Section F: Free Agents
Players may be signed during the regular season and the off season, they still retain the same Base salary regardless of the point in the season. They must sign a contract with the team also.
Minimum base salary for veteran Free Agent players is $400,000.
If a player is signed to a free agent contract past the PHASE III
signing period and before the end of the current season, the player
in question shall be signed to a minimum of a 1 year contract
for $400,000 for a veteran and $250,000 for an unsigned
rookie. If there is more than one bid for a player in a given week
the player shall be awarded to the team with the current worst
record, tiebreakers applied the same as determining playoff
seeds.
The only allowable bid beyond the designated Free Agent bidding periods
is the league minimum base (400K for Vet and 250K for a rookie). The
contract period is for 1 year. The reasoning behind this was the
congress at the time did not want owners adding players near the end of
the season to circumvent the upcoming free agency at the end of the
season. Also, we figured since the player being added would be a Plan D
free agent at the end of the season, if the owner wanted to sign that
player to a longer contract he would have that opportunity.
Thus in the event someone decides to cut a player the team with
worst record in league gets the first opportunity to sign that
player, 2nd worst team getting next chance and so on.
Additional note: If you cut a player during the season - AT
NO TIME CAN YOU RESIGN THIS PLAYER DURING THAT CURRENT SEASON - YOUR
FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO RESIGN THIS PLAYER WOULD BE PHASE I OF FREE
AGENCY IN THE OFF SEASON.
Article VII: Trading
Section A: Trades
Any number of players may be traded, with the exception that the trade cannot leave the team in a situation that they are either not abiding by the roster requirements or they are over the Salary
cap.
For a trade to be official, an e-mail must be sent to
the league or congress from both teams confirming agreement by both
parties involved in the trade. The e-mails must come DIRECTLY from
BOTH teams. No forwarding e-mails allowed. Also, No Pasted AOLIM,
ICQ, etc... messages will be accepted as proof. Any questionable
e-mails or trades regarding this policy will be decided by congress.
Any new owner entering the DFL shall be put on a 2 season
probationary period - during this time any trade a new owner makes
shall be subject to review by the DFL congress - If congress
determines that the deal in question is a "rip off" to the new owner
then congress reserves the right to nullify said deal. If a
trade is called into question the owners involved will be notified
and the players in the deal would be put on hold until congress has
reached a decision. This rule is designed to further protect any
new owner and to ensure the integrity of the league. The
commissioners also reserve the right to void a deal involving
veteran owners but this would only be enacted in an extreme case.
Section B: Future Considerations
Trading "future
considerations' are ALLOWED. However, it must be CLEARLY stated what
the "consideration" will be at the time in which the trade is
announced. In addition, a transaction can't occur unless both sides
receive something in return. (example: Southern California gets OT
Willie Anderson, San Fran gets Nothing) This is not allowed…San Fran
would have to receive a player or some form of a draft pick/DFL Cash
amount, etc.
Section C: Trading Draft Picks
Draft picks for the next two years worth of College and Supplemental Drafts may be traded. For example the first season or the 1997 season a team can trade their 1998 or 1999 draft picks if they wish.
It is the owners responsibility to keep up with what picks you own.
Section D: Trading Period
Trades may be made anytime during the off-season, and during the first half of the regular season.
Article VIII: Draft
Section A: Draft Order
The order of the draft will be determined by the League Standings of the previous season.
Section B: College Draft
The College Draft is the name for the draft that is composed of rookies who are just entering the
DFL.
Section C: College Draft Starting Base Salaries
| Round Selected |
Base Salary |
| 1st Round - #1 Overall |
$1,750,000 |
| 1st Round - #2 through #4 Overall |
$1,500,000 |
| 1st Round - #5 through #10 Overall |
$1,250,000 |
| 1st Round - #11 through #28 Overall |
$1,000,000 |
| 2nd Round |
$750,000 |
| 3rd Round |
$500,000 |
| 4th through 7th Rounds |
$250,000 |
Section D: Skipped Picks
Since Pistolpete has taken control of the
Draft, he has changed one rule.
Example: Houston owns a 3rd
rounder, #85 overall…Houston is on vacation but just came back today
(we're now doing Round 4) In the past, a "FIRST COME-FIRST SERVE" system
has been in effect where for example, the 1st pick of Round 4
would be able to draft who they want immediately. HOWEVER, with the rule
change, the Houston franchise would be able to select their player first
UNLESS the deadline to get the pick in has expired. This rule change
protects the franchise with the skipped pick, it doesn't make a huge
difference but it's more realistic to the NFL (Example: Minnesota
Vikings purposely skipping their pick in 2002 at #7, however, they can
come in at anytime (#8, #9, #10, etc to select their player)
Article IX: The Off-Season
Section A: Off Season Free Agent Signing
During the off season (after the play-offs are completed), the owners must sign
players. Only a certain percentage of a teams players may be resigned. The number of players that can be
resigned is based on their base salary. The following table explains how many of each base
salary may be resigned:
| Category |
Salary Range |
Percentage resignable |
|
A |
$2,500,000 or greater |
Not based on %, only 2 may be resigned |
|
B |
$1,500,000 to $2,499,999.99 |
33% |
|
C |
$500,000 to $1,499,999.99 |
50% |
|
D |
$250,000 to $499,999.99 |
100% |
*Special Note: we round up on the %'s used for B and C, and you may choose to use your A slots on B or C players but the B and C players are removed from your total when figuring how many you can resign.
It is prohibited to sign free agents for the expressed purpose
of getting around resigning restrictions. Free agents signed outside
of the league-wide bidding period will be signed at a maximum
$450,000 base salary.
Section B: The Training Camp
There will be a Training Camp after the College Draft before every season, in this Training Camp the owners have 100% points to devote in 5's to each of the ratings for each type of player: QB, RB, Recievers, OL, DL, LB, DB, K/P have their own training allotment. Of the 100 points the minimum that may be on each of the 8 ratings is 5.
Article X: DFL Cash
DFL Cash is divided into 2 areas.
Pooled money. Team Money.
You use this money to increase your players'
attributes.
Team money is won by winning games, having players
make all-pro team, etc
Pooled money is based on how every teams' players do throughout the
season.
At the end of the season, all the pooled money is divided evenly. This
year, each team got like $335. Team money depends on how well your team
does.
You can see the breakdown on the DFL Cash pages which you can find from
the DFL times tabs:
http://www.stinscenter.com/dfl/dfl-cash-rules.html
Each team gets 3 "camp slots" to add players to camps:
* Can only be used in the off-season.
* Can only send 3 players to school per year.
* Only 1 school per player.
* School improvements are done BEFORE TC.
* Can be used on any position player.
* No Rookies.
The different camps/schools are listed on the page above with the rules
for each school.
The amount of cash and list of slots is here:
http://www.stinscenter.com/dfl/schools.html
Article XI: Player Ratings
Section A: The 8 Player Ratings (Directly out of the 97 manual, pg. 176)
| Rating Category |
Effects |
| Speed (SP) |
How fast a player can run. |
| Acceleration (AC) |
How fast a player can achieve top speed from a
standing start. |
| Agility (AG) |
How well a player changes directions or leaps. |
| Strength (ST) |
How strong a player is. (making or breaking
tackles, blocking, etc.) |
| Hands (HA) |
How well a player uses his hands (catching
passes, avoiding fumbles, etc.) |
|
Endurance (EN) |
How well a player resists injury and fatigue. |
|
Intelligence (IN) |
How well a player interprets events and uses that
information. |
| Discipline (DI) |
How well a player performs under pressure or avoids
mistakes. |
Section B: Important Ratings For Each Position (Directly out of the 97 manual, pg. 177-178)
| Position |
Key Ratings |
Effects |
| Quarterback (QB) |
ST |
Determines how far the ball can be
thrown. |
| DI |
Affects completion percentage and
interception rate. |
| HA |
Used when checking for a fumble on
snap from the center. |
| Running Back (HB/FB) |
HA |
Checked when receiving a pass. |
| ST |
Used when blocking or trying to
break tackles. |
| Receivers (WR/TE) |
HA |
Checked when receiving a pass. |
| AG |
Used when trying a fake. |
| Offensive Linemen
(C/G/T) |
ST |
Important when run blocking
("fire out") |
| AG |
Crucial in pass blocking. |
| Defensive Linemen
(DE/DT) |
AG/ST |
Used in various types of rushing. |
| ST |
Key in tackling. |
| Linebacker (LB) |
HA |
Affects the chance of
interceptions. |
| IN |
Checked when calling a audible. |
| ST |
Used in tackling. |
| Defensive Back (CB/S) |
AG/SP |
Important elements in staying with
a receiver. |
| IN |
Checked when a receiver tries a
fake. |
| HA |
Affects the chance of
interceptions. |
| Kicker/Punter (K/P) |
ST |
Helps to determine how far the ball
is kicked. |
| DI |
Affects the accuracy of the kick. |
Article XII: DFL Publications
Section A: Stins' DFL
Times http://www.stinscenter.com/dfl/dfltimes.html
Provides an updated draft selection status, league
forum for talk, training camp "cheatsheet", history of trades, and of
course DFL's newest addition, DFL Cash which can be used for "DFL Camps"
amongst other things. (see website for further details)
Section B: Jetrask &
Pistolpete's DFL Sports Magazine
http://hometown.aol.com/jetrask/DFLSportsMagazine.html
What can you find here?
Just about everything. With a site made by James Trask & much of the
writing done by Peter Martin, this is a MUST see…league history, draft
history, power rankings, season previews, predictions, forecasts,
opinionated articles, and much more.
Section C: Adawg &
Pistolpete's Official Season Preview
This site was highly successful two years ago. Tom
Walsh has been rumored to be cooking up some fresh logos for next season
and his partner in crime, Peter Martin has signed on another season to
put his team-by-team previews on the site.
