Franchise Tag Problems

[imdashep]

Two issues:

1. Is there no longer a 2-year limit? I've franchised a guy 4 years in a row now in one league. Didn't even think about it until I was able to do it again; I thought this was game imposed?

2. Franchise tag now seems to only consider base salary, and not bonus.

[aston217]

I thought it was always the case that you could franchise however many times you want, and that it always considered base salary only (at least, it's always read "Top 5 Salaries", no?)

Maybe you're thinking of where you franchise a guy twice in a row, and there is NO chance at all that he will resign with you. You'd have to keep franchising him.

[imdashep]

I thought it was always the case that you could franchise however many times you want, and that it always considered base salary only (at least, it's always read "Top 5 Salaries", no?)

Maybe you're thinking of where you franchise a guy twice in a row, and there is NO chance at all that he will resign with you. You'd have to keep franchising him.


No, you cannot franchise a guy more than two years in a row, and I'm 95% sure this was the rule at some point (it's an NFL rule)

The problem with the salaries is that top 5 salaries now only seems to count base, whereas it should (and I believe used to) count bonuses as well.

[Ben E Lou]

It has never counted bonuses, but it escalates the value each year. And aston is correct: if you franchise a guy more than once, he'll never sign with you, and he may well hold out.

[imdashep]

Has it always been that way? Surprised they would completely ignore NFL rules on both aspects.

[Steel]

No, you cannot franchise a guy more than two years in a row, and I'm 95% sure this was the rule at some point (it's an NFL rule)

It's never been a rule in FOF and it's not an NFL rule, either.

The problem with the salaries is that top 5 salaries now only seems to count base, whereas it should (and I believe used to) count bonuses as well.

This statement makes no sense. It's only a 1 year contract. It's always been the top 5 salaries of that position w/out bonus. This applies to FOF and the real NFL. Why would bonus be included in a 1 year contract?

[imdashep]

Despite your hilarious anger, you're incorrect about the bonus information I believe.

2 year rule
I couldn't find it in the CBA, so I'm guessing this is might just be something numerous papers have published without verifying.

Salary including bonus
From Art. XX, Section II(e) of the CBA (describing the franchise tag):

For the purpose of this Article, “Salary” means the total of the
Paragraph 5 Salary (reduced proportionately if the contract is entered into
after the first regular season game), roster and reporting bonuses, pro-rata
portion of signing bonus, and other payments to players in compensation
for the playing of professional football for the applicable year of the player’s
most recently negotiated Player Contract, except for performance bonuses
other than roster and reporting bonuses. Salary shall also include any unrepaid
loans made, guaranteed or collateralized by a Team or its Team Affiliate
to a player or Player Affiliate.

[Steel]

There is nothing in that paragraph that proves my statement incorrect. You need to re-read what YOU posted.

And FYI, Walter Jones was franchised 3 years in a row. Again, there is no such rule.

[imdashep]

It clearly says bonuses, including pro-rata signing bonus, are used to calculate salary of franchise player. Salary is the term used in the top 5 calculation. This makes sense too; otherwise, franchise tags would be far lower.

If I'm reading that wrong, then feel free to point out how. Definitely mistaken on the two year thing apparently, as that wasn't in the relevant article.

[Steel]

It clearly says bonuses, including pro-rata signing bonus, are used to calculate salary of franchise player. Salary is the term used in the top 5 calculation. This makes sense too; otherwise, franchise tags would be far lower.

The bonus is included in the one year salary when you franchise a player. But it's a one year contract, therefore no bonus needs to be specified. It's ALWAYS been like that. NFL and in FOF. Look at what Peppers contract was 2 seasons ago. There was no bonus in that franchise tag.

Seriously though, relax a bit. If I'm reading that wrong, then feel free to point out how. Definitely mistaken on the two year thing apparently, as that wasn't in the relevant article.

Not sure why you're telling me to relax. I'm not getting bent out of shape over it. Ben already posted you were wrong, and you seem to refuse to accept the fact that you were. I think I pretty much reiterated what he said, just with examples.

[stevew]

The 3rd year of the Franchise salary in the NFL is calculated at the rate of either(can't remember) the top 5 players in the league, or the highest franchise tag(QB).

So on the 3rd consecutive tag an NFL player would have an enormous salary.

This rule went into place in the 2006 CBA IIRC.

[imdashep]

Steve, do you know where that comes from? I thought I'd heard that too, but couldn't find it.

Anyways, the point where Steel seems to be getting hung up on is the calculation aspect. My point is that in calculating the top 5 average salary that goes in to the franchise tag, the top 5 player's total salaries are taken into account, ie, bonuses + paragraph 5. In FOF, it appears bonuses aren't taken in to account.

[aston217]

Seems to be miscommunication. I think he's saying that the amount a franchise tag costs should be calculated based on the top 5 paid players at that position in a year, and not the top 5 "salary only" players at that year. The latter doesn't include a bonus. Especially in MP leagues, you're talking about some very good players who get high bonus, low salary deals to sign in FA. They, then, wouldn't really figure into a franchise salary offer when they probably should. That might seriously dissuade people from franchising too, I imagine it'd get a bit more expensive.

Something to add to 'things that could be changed in MP'?

I was unclear if "salary" in the NFL terminology refers to "salary+bonus" or just salary, but the CBA quote seems to indicate the latter.

[imdashep]

Correct, that is what I was saying; obviously franchise tag isn't a bonus (although, it is guaranteed, which in FOF it isn't). Not sure how Steel got sidetracked, so that tangent is sort of irrelevant.

Curious what Ben meant though.

[digamma]

For a guy who has been tagged more than once, it takes the top 5 average or 120% (I think it is 120%, but may be a little lower) of his last franchise salary, whichever is greater.

I think that's what Ben's "increase" comment meant.

[Yoda]

Steve, do you know where that comes from? I thought I'd heard that too, but couldn't find it.

Anyways, the point where Steel seems to be getting hung up on is the calculation aspect. My point is that in calculating the top 5 average salary that goes in to the franchise tag, the top 5 player's total salaries are taken into account, ie, bonuses + paragraph 5. In FOF, it appears bonuses aren't taken in to account.

(b) Any Club that designates a player as a Franchise Player for the

third time shall, on the date the third such designation is made, be deemed

to have tendered the player a one-year NFL Player Contract for the greater

of: (1) the average of the five (5) largest Prior Year Salaries for players at the

position (within the categories set forth in Section 7(a) below) with the

highest such average; (2) 120% of the average of the five (5) largest Prior

68

Article XX, Franchise and Transition Players

Year Salaries for players at the position (within the categories set forth in

Section 7(a) below) at which the player played the most games during the

prior League Year; or (3) 144% of his Prior Year Salary. By way of example,

a kicker designated as a Franchise Player for the third time in the 2007

League Year would have a Required Tender equal to the greater of: (i) the

average of the five (5) largest 2006 Salaries for quarterbacks; (ii) 120% of

the average of the five (5) largest 2006 Salaries for kickers; or (iii) 144% of

the player’s own 2006 Salary. If the Club designates the player as a Franchise

Player for the third time, the designating Club shall be the only Club

with which the player may negotiate or sign a Player Contract. In lieu of

designating such a player as a Franchise Player for the third time, any Club

may designate such player as a Transition Player pursuant to Section 3

below.

[Yoda]

For your reading pleasure:
<a href="http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/cba/nfl-cba-2006-2012.pdf">NFL CBA</a>

[imdashep]

Wow, just blatantly missed that. So that's cleared up, guess FOF just needs to incorporate that other part.