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DDT
04-19-2008, 01:38 PM
This is a somewhat interesting story so I'll tell it.

I'm the GM of the Syracuse Northern in Shiba. Shiba football began with a 2006 fictional preferance draft. RB Hardy Roberts was selected near the end of the 40th round by the Norfolk Flame and released week 1 of 2006. Roberts had solid potential bars in elusiveness, endurance and special teams as well as having potential everywhere (except returns) and an affinity with my backfield leader. I signed him to a 1yr minsal deal and he has been with the 'Northies' since. In his first 3 years he was a backup RB, special teamer and occasional return man. Over the course of the same 3 years my starting RB Dave Woodson, who looked like the cornerstone of the offense coming out of the pref. draft, saw his stats and bars migrate steadily south. Roberts had a big camp in 2009 +8/+7 to 47/47 and became the starter for 2009. He had a solid season nearly 1100yds and 7TD behind a suspect line. We won the AC East and entered the playoffs for the first time. I don't think any of the Shiba owners, myself included, expected us to win a single playoff game. We went on a magical run before losing in the S.T.A.F.F.F.E. game to the Salt Lake City Saints. Roberts ran for 431 yards and 4 TD's in the playoffs including a playoff record 143 yards vs Fresno.

Hardy Roberts is now a UFA and I want him back. We are in stage 1 staff signing 2010. According to Team Roster > Free Agents > Contract View he wants a 1yr/930K contract. He has 100 loyalty. I've let 90+ loyalty guys test free agency before, thinking I could save a few dollars, but they weren't exactly world beaters. Roberts will undoubtedly get offers. The franchise tag is an option but honestly I'd rather use it on an aging but still solid G who also has high (98) loyalty. The G wants a 2yr deal and I'm not sure he has 2 years left. Shiba has no rules regarding contracts.

... so getting back to my question. Is there a rule of thumb with very high loyalty guys in FA? Would you give him the 1yr contract he's asking for? Franchise him? A custom long term deal? And finally I am assuming the high loyalty will keep him from quickly signing elsewhere. Am I correct?

Hammer
04-19-2008, 03:32 PM
You can't expect loyalty to keep your guy with you, its has its limits. Even 100 loyalty guys tend to leave if the contract offered is significantly better. If there is plenty of cap room around expect to lose him if you just offer him what he is after.

MalcPow
04-19-2008, 03:54 PM
If this was SP, you'd be fine. But I'd never let a guy I really wanted to keep hit FA in an MP league. Free agent starters get silly money in MP leagues, and there's no way loyalty will matter if someone comes in with a $12m/1yr deal because they've got a bunch of cap space. I'd tag him.

JetsIn06
04-19-2008, 04:01 PM
If this was SP, you'd be fine. But I'd never let a guy I really wanted to keep hit FA in an MP league. Free agent starters get silly money in MP leagues, and there's no way loyalty will matter if someone comes in with a $12m/1yr deal because they've got a bunch of cap space. I'd tag him.

What he said.

DDT
04-19-2008, 04:42 PM
Thanks. I was hoping the 100 meant something. Guess not. Consider him franchised.

MalcPow
04-19-2008, 04:44 PM
Well it means something, just not enough. :)

zbuckley
04-20-2008, 08:17 AM
As a shiba league member I think everyone is overracting 1 yr 930k contract should be enough ;)

DDT
04-20-2008, 10:33 AM
I've got another question regarding this player. Is it safe to say that once I franchise him his contract expectations will sky rocket? I already know the answer to this one, I think.

JetsIn06
04-20-2008, 01:34 PM
I've got another question regarding this player. Is it safe to say that once I franchise him his contract expectations will sky rocket? I already know the answer to this one, I think.


They won't, and that's somewhat of a hole in the game, I think.

DDT
04-20-2008, 01:48 PM
REALLY. I'm shocked to here that. I've been very conservative with the franchise tag in the past, thinking I'd end up paying players who were little more than quality starters much more than they were worth. I agree it doesn't make sense. Works for me, though.

MrDNA
04-20-2008, 03:51 PM
After the season starts, you can often re-sign a not-so-hot franchised guy for SIGNIFIGANTLY less. It is a bit unrealistic.

Oh, er... but it doesn't work in Shiba, so you better let that guy walk and be sure to lose to the Flame if you play them this season...

tarcone
04-20-2008, 08:26 PM
In FFL I had a guy franchised at 7.5 mil. He wanted to resign for 2 years. The 1st year he wanted 9.5 mil.
So that doesnt always happen.

JetsIn06
04-20-2008, 09:17 PM
In FFL I had a guy franchised at 7.5 mil. He wanted to resign for 2 years. The 1st year he wanted 9.5 mil.
So that doesnt always happen.


Well yea, if he's good of course he'll ask for more.

But you can keep a marginal player with the tag, and then pay him 6 million less and he'll gladly accept.

jdavidbakr
04-21-2008, 08:35 AM
I franchised a guy once and he wouldn't sign later, too, due to "past injustices." The only thing I did was franchise him. So it probably depends on the player (and maybe even the agent?)

Synovia
04-21-2008, 01:50 PM
Roberts ran for 431 yards and 4 TD's in the playoffs including a playoff record 143 yards vs Fresno.



I wouldn't take that game all that seriously. Yes, he gashed me, but I set up my entire game based on trying to stop Bush. I figured your game plan would be centered around your 80+ QB instead of your 47/47 RB.


I got owned.

DDT
04-21-2008, 07:10 PM
I'm not saying Roberts is a great back. He doesn't do anything for the passing game as a blocker or receiver. He does, however, have VG elusiveness and endurance, he rarely fumbles (unless he's playing in the championship game) and his ratings are headed in the right direction.
Since the boom in camp and his postseason performance I think several owners in our league would give him a 3 or 4 year contract. Previously no one would have. That's the only reason I mentioned this here.