Rules - Practice Squad for 2005 and beyond

In 2003, players received a maximum 3-year contract and the salaries were dependent upon the slot at which they were picked. In 2004, player...

In 2003, players received a maximum 3-year contract and the salaries were dependent upon the slot at which they were picked.

In 2004, players could receive up to a maximum 5-year contract and the salaries were dependent upon the slot at which they were picked.

The following proposals are for the 2005 season and beyond:

1. Drafted College Players can receive contracts longer than a 5-year contract, with the maximum being the 30-year Contract Year Limit.  If a player receives a 5-year contract or shorter, the salary is the assigned salary we’ve been using for the past 2 years ($2.00 for #1 pick, $1.90 for #2 pick, etc.).
2. If a player drafted in the 1st or 2nd round receives a contract longer than 5-years, the player receives a bonus of $0.20 per year of the contract which is added to the salary attached to the draft slot. If a player drafted in the 3rd round (or later) receives a contract longer than 5-years, the player receives a bonus of $0.10 per year of the contract which is added to the salary attached to the draft slot. A Practice Squad player cannot have a salary greater than $3.00. If a drafted College Player is given contract such that his salary is greater than $3.00, the player must be assigned to the Active Roster.
• Let’s use the 2004 Draft as an example. Let’s say George wants to give #1 overall pick WR Larry Fitzgerald an 8-year contract. So that’s an additional $1.60 (8 years x 20 cents) added to the assigned salary of $2.00 for a #1 overall pick. Fitzgerald’s resulting salary then for the 8 years is $3.60.
• Let’s say Ress wants to give #15 pick Phillip Rivers a 10-year contract.  That’s an additional $2.00 (10 years x 20 cents) added to the assigned salary of $0.60 for a #15 overall pick.  Rivers’ resulting salary then for the 10 years is $2.60. 
3. If a player drafted in the 3^rd round (or later) receives a contract longer than 5-years, the player receives a bonus of $0.10 per year of the contract which is added to the salary attached to the draft slot.
• Let’s use the 2004 Draft again as an example.  Let’s say Clemente wants to give #30 pick RB Mewelde Moore a 7-year contract.  That’s an additional $0.70 (7 years x 10 cents) added to the assigned salary of $0.10 for a 3^rd round pick.  Moore ’s resulting salary then for 7 years is $0.80.


4. A Practice Squad player cannot have a salary greater than $3.00.  If a drafted College Player is given contract such that his salary is greater than $3.00, the player must be assigned to the Active Roster.
• Using Example 2A from above, Larry Fitzgerald cannot be kept on the Practice Squad if he received an 8-year contract since his salary is $3.60.  George will have to put Fitzgerald on his Active Roster.
• Using Example 2B from above, Phillip Rivers can be kept on the Practice Squad even if he receives a 10-year contract since his salary is $2.60. 

One of the holes in our Salary Cap system is that a team does not take a Cap Hit when you trade away a Practice Squad player.  This makes it easier to trade the PS players however.

If we want to be consistent with the Salary Cap and Cap Hits, we should enforce Cap Hits when a team trades a PS player so that there’s accountability. In the case where Mark traded away Tatum Bell (assuming a 5-year contract for $1.60), Mark would have suffered the Accelerated Cap Hit of $1.60 (20% x $1.60 x 5 years).

Cool with you guys?
the commish
From the vault: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/nyofacefootball/conversations/messages/3340