FLASH

FLASH RULES

--- GENERAL INFORMATION ---
This Fantasy Football League, to be known as FLASH, is created with
the purpose of encouraging fellowship between football fans and
to promote enjoyment of football. This is a free league, but it is
expected that each franchise volunteer some time each year to the
charity of their choice.
There are no cash prizes.

--- EMAIL ---
Many of us are involved on the web in many different ways. In order to
make life easier on everyone, all FLASH email must contain FLASH in the
header of the email message. Email without FLASH in the header is subject
to being lost and will not be considered official FLASH correspondence.
Your attention to this minor requirement is essential.

--- LEAGUE SETUP ---
The FLASH is made up of 12 teams with 4 teams in each of 3 Divisions.

--- LEAGUE GOVERNANCE ---
League stability is our primary goal. The league will be governed by
this framework:
1. Commissioner. Our goal is to have a very strong yet fair commissioner.
The commissioner is sworn to act at all times in the Best Interests of the
League and is vested with the following powers:

A. Interpret the Constitution as he sees just and fit.
B. Settle all position eligibility questions.
C. Approve team names.
D. Preside over draft and settle draft disputes.
E. Distribute free agents through the auction.
F. Provide timely weekly scoring results.
G. Maintain the integrity of the league and its owners by enforcing
`Expected Owner Conduct`.
H. Approve all trades and transactions.
2. Committee of the Whole. The league Owners will function as the
Committee of the Whole which is made up of all league members, each
with an equal vote. The Committee of the Whole serves the right to
veto any decision made by the Commissioner with a 2/3 majority vote
(with at least 2/3 of all current owners casting a vote). Each member
of the Committee as the Whole will be charged with the responsibility
of acting in the Best Interests of the League.

--- EXPECTED OWNER CONDUCT ---
Owners will be expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will not
disparage the league nor its owners in any way, shape, or form. While
bragging is always a part of some owner`s personality and is to be
expected, inflammatory or taunting acts will not be tolerated. The
commissioner will have total authority in drawing the line between a
brag and a taunt. This will be strictly enforced. See `Extraordinary Situations`.

--- EXTRAORDINARY SITUATIONS ---
The following are serious situations and should be treated as such.

1. Appealing a Commissioner`s decision. ONLY 1 APPEAL WILL BE ALLOWED
PER SEASON. NO EXCEPTIONS. Once an owner has appealed 1 decision, all
further commissioner decisions involving that owner will be final with
no appeal possible. Appealing the decision of the commissioner is a
very serious action and is expected to be a rare occurrence. The process
for appeal is as follows.

A. Owner notifies the commissioner he is appealing the decision.
B. Commissioner notifies the Committee Of the Whole.
C. Owner and commissioner present their positions to the Committee Of
the Whole via email.
D. Committee Of the Whole members discuss the issue and deliver a final
ruling.
2. Reprimanding an Owner. If an owner is considered by the commissioner
to be conducting himself in a manner not in the best interest of the
league, this path is followed:
A. The commissioner issues a warning.
B. If a second warning is issued, the commissioner recommends to the Committee
Of The Whole that the Owner be removed from the league.
3. Removing an Owner. This is an extremely serious consideration, one
which the league will seek to avoid at all costs. If it arises, this
path will be followed:
A. 3 league owners together or the commissioner may recommend that an
Owner be removed.
B. If 3/5 of the Committee Of the Whole vote to remove the owner,
the owner is removed from the league. An owner may be removed by the
commissioner without requiring a vote.
C. The Commissioner assumes control of the team and a replacement owner
is found as soon as possible. The new Owner will inherit the team`s roster,
Free Agent Points, draft position for the coming season, and all other
encumbrances for the franchise.
4. Removing a Commissioner. This also is an extremely serious situation.
If it arises, this path will be followed.
A. 3 league Owners recommend that the Commissioner be removed.
B. If 2/3 of the Committee Of the Whole votes to remove the commissioner
the commissioner is removed.
C. The Committee of the Whole assumes control of the commissioner`s
duties and a replacement commissioner is found as soon as possible.

--- TEAM COMPOSITION ---
Each team is made up of 25 active players. Owners may have any combination
of player positions that they desire.

--- MULTI-POSITIONAL UTILITY PLAYERS ---
A fantasy player scores any points regardless of how they are scored except
that offensive players do not score points for fumble recoveries.
Multi-positional players are handled on an individual basis:
1. Kordell Stewart is a QB.
2. Eric Metcalf is a WR.
3. Frank Wycheck is a TE.
4. Deion Sanders is a DB.
Any other players will be decided by a league wide vote if time permits,
otherwise the Commissioner will make a decision.

--- STARTING LINEUPS ---
Each week, the team owner must submit a starting lineup composed of the
following player positions:

1 Quarterback
2 Running Backs
2 Wide Receivers
1 Tight End
1 Kicker
4 Defensive Players (any positions allowed)

If a any of the above positions are not covered, the team will simply
not gain any points for the specific category that does not have a player
assigned to it.

--- TURNING IN LINEUPS ---
Your lineup must be received by the commissioner at least one hour before
the start of the first weekend NFL game. In the case of Thursday games,
only players active in the Thursday games need to be declared by the
start of the Thursday games. Changes can be made to your lineup up until
kickoff of the first weekend game.

If you fail to turn in a lineup, your previous week`s lineup will be used.
For the first week of the season, your lineup will be void and you lose by
default. Please do not allow this to happen.

In the case that an illegal lineup is submitted (2 kickers, no kicker,
no TE, etc.), the entire lineup will be thrown out and the lineup will
be treated as if no lineup were submitted. The commissioner will point
out these illegal lineups before game time if they are spotted. The
commissioner assumes no liability for checking lineups; this is the
franchise`s responsibility.

If you fail to turn in a lineup during the week of a Thursday game,
any players in the Thursday games that you had started the previous
week will be started in your lineup.

--- SCORING SYSTEM ---

Touchdowns-Rushing 6
Touchdowns-Passing 4
Touchdowns-Receiving 6
Touchdowns-Defensive 6
Defense/Special Teams TDs 6
Extra Point-Kick 1
Conversion-2 pt. rush 2
Conversion-2pt. pass 1
Conversion-2pt. rec. 2
Field Goals 3
Interceptions 2
Sacks 2
Tackles (per 5) 2
Assists (per 10) 2
Fumble Recovery 2
Passing Ydg. (per 40) 1
Rushing Ydg. (per 20) 1
Receiving Ydg. (per 20) 1
2 Receptions 1
8 Rushing Attempts 1
8 Completions 1
Interception Thrown -1

Please note: There are no half points. When 5 or 10 tackles or assists
are required, no points are awarded until the number required are
achieved. In the case of sacks, a half sack is worth nothing while
two half sacks equal a sack and get 2 points.

--- GAME TIEBREAKERS ---
During the regular season, games may end in a tie.

--- SUDDEN DEATH TIE BREAKERS (PLAYOFFS ONLY) ---
1. Highest total rushing and receiving yards combined for all
starting RBs, WRs, and TEs.
2. Highest starting QB passing yards.
3. Higher seed advances.

--- STANDINGS TIEBREAKERS ---
Ties will be decided in this fashion:
1. Most points scored during regular season.
2. Head-to-head competition (most points vrs. Team tied with).
3. Best division record.
4. Most points allowed (excluding the team tied with).
5. A coin flip.

--- SEASON FORMAT ---
Each team will play 13 games per season. This will coincide with the
NFL regular season`s weeks 1-13. With the top team in each Division and then the 3 non-division winning teams with the best records making the playoffs.

--- PLAYOFF FORMAT ---
The playoffs will begin week 14 and end week 16. The top 2 Divisions winners will receive byes the first week. The 3rd division winner will play the team nondivision winning team with the 3rd best record and the other 2 non division winning teams will paly each other. The Division winner with the best record will play the winner of the game between the 2 highest ranked non division winning teams the 2nd week of the playoffs while the 2nd ranked team will play the winner of the other game. The winner of those 2 games will play week 3 for the FLASH Championship.

--- FIRST YEAR DRAFT ---
1. The draft order for each round will be determined by a mutually
agreed upon random method. The even numbered rounds will be the
reverse order of the preceding round.
2. The draft will be a twenty two round email draft. To
keep the draft moving, it is essential that everyone keep
alert to the draft. You will have 12 hours to make your pick.
In order to keep the draft moving along, trades can only be
made during the first two hours that you are on the clock. Please
make your selection as quickly as possible trying not to use the
entire time allotted. If you will not be available, you will need
to forward a list to the commissioner so that the commissioner can
make your selection for you.

If your time expires, you will lose your position in the draft and
must fill your roster spot at the end of the current round. (In no
case can the missed pick be made later than the end of the next round
except after the draft completes.) The 2nd offense of letting your
time expire will be to lose your spot in the draft. You will be
required to fill your spot from the free agent pool at the end of
the draft. (One spot may be filled immediately after the draft
without using free agent credits or the bidding process. All
others pickups will go through the bidding process.) One (per team)
delinquent draft pick will be made up before the free agency frenzy
begins.When a franchise lets time expire on their pick, if it is
their first offense, they may jump in and make their selection at
any time after the end of the current round (and no later than the
end of the following round). The pick will be made on a first come
first served basis; the team on the clock and any team making a
makeup selection will be granted a contested player based on the
time stamp of their mailed selection.

When the commissioner determines that the draft must be completed,
we will be forced to go to a `list` draft system. This removes our
flexibility. We want to draft as much as possible one by one.
Please keep the draft moving along.

If you fail to turn in a valid list within the time limit, your
selection is forfeit and must be made up as a free agent pickup a
fter the draft.

Rookies are included in this draft. There will not be a rookie draft
in 1999.

No college players may be drafted. A player must have been eligible
for the NFL draft at some point or be a past or present NFL player
in order to be eligible for our draft.

We will draft 22 rounds. After the draft, there will be a short period
of time during which I will ask for a roster freeze. After this pause,
we will open the league up to free agency.

The roster size will be 26 until the Wednesday prior to the season`s
first game.

--- ROOKIE DRAFT ---
Each year after the official NFL draft has been held, a draft will be
held by the FLASH league. This rookie draft will consist of 4 rounds
after which the remainder of undrafted rookies will be considered free
agents. The draft order will be based on team performance from the
previous year (ie. worst team gets first draft pick).

Any player coming out of college will be considered eligible for this
rookie draft regardless whether they were drafted in the NFL draft.
All rounds of this rookie draft will be in reverse order of finish;
not serpentine.

The Rookie Draft will be held via email during the month of May with
12 hours allowed for each draft pick.

The order of finish will be determined this way:

1. Non playoff teams, tie breakers used as specified for standings.
2. Playoff teams ranked in order of elimination, standings tie breakers
used for ties.

Trading of future picks will be allowed, not to exceed current season
plus 2 future years.

--- FREE AGENTS ---
Any player that is not on any FLASH team roster will be considered a
free agent. Teams may sign free agents at any time (up to and including
week 11 of the regular season).

A money system will be implemented to use for signing free agents.
At the beginning of each season, each team will be assigned 100 FLASH
money units (FLASHs). To sign any free agent, the team owner must submit
an offer to the entire league stating the player desired and the amount
of money allocated for their signing. Any team may exceed the current
offer for the player. A player is signed if any offer goes for 24
hours without a raise (24 hours from the time of the last bid).

Once the bidding on any free agent closes, the signing team loses
the amount bid from its total money and gains the service of the
player. Any team which signs a free agent and as a consequence
exceeds the roster limit must within 24 hours cut a player to
maintain the limit.

Failure to make the necessary roster cut will result in the
commissioner cutting the last player added to the roster or
assessing a fine. The commissioner does not wish to do this;
please be sure to maintain your roster at or below the legal
maximum.

Players must be signed by midnight Saturday night in order to be
eligible for Sunday games. For weeks with early games, the player
must be signed before the start of the first NFL game of the week.
A player is not eligible to be started until required roster cuts
are made.

Excess monetary balances will be carried over to subsequent seasons.

During the off-season until the first preseason game, the time limit for
bids is extended to 72 hours rather than 24 hours.

The annual allotment of FLASHs are awarded to each team after the
FLASH Championship game. FLASHs may be traded.

Not responsible for misplaced, lost, or delayed mail. Telephone calls
are acceptable to backup email.

--- ROSTER SIZE ---
The active roster size is a maximum of 22 players at all times
except for the following:

From the time of the beginning of the FLASH rookie draft until the
Wednesday preceding the first regular season game, a franchise active
roster may expand to 26 players. This roster expansion can be made up
of any combination of draft choices or free agent acquisitions.

All active rosters must be cut back to 22 man rosters by the Wednesday
preceding the first regular season game. Any roster failing to make
the cut down on time will be subject to a fine (of free agent money)
by the commissioner`s office of an amount to be determined by the c
ommissioner. This amount may escalate if the situation is not addressed.

--- TRADES ---
Trades will be allowed at any time during the off season. Trades will
also be allowed during the regular season up to and including week #10.
All trades must be final by 11:59 PM ET of the night before the first
game of the NFL week in order to eligible to play that week. (ALL times
mentioned ANYWHERE in FLASH are CENTRAL Time.)

Trading of future draft picks will be allowed, not to exceed current year
plus two years into the future. Owners may also trade FLASH money units
with players.

All owners involved in a trade must e-mail the commissioner at a
reasonably similar time to inform of the trade. When it is clear the
both parties desire the trade and that both owners are agreeable on terms,
the trade will be accepted and will be posted to all other league owners.

If more than 10 owners object to a trade, it will be nullified. Any owner
can petition the league for a vote on a trade.

The commissioner reserves the right to reject a trade.

Please note: The right to invalidate any transactions should be reserved
for transactions deemed to be `not in the best interest of the league`.
This shall be defined as any transaction which would severely jeopardize
the overall competitiveness of the league as a whole or the teams involved.

--- AFTER THE SEASON ---
Each team will keep each and every player that they had at the end of the
season. They may trade, cut, draft or sign players to change their rosters
as they wish.

--- AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO RULES ---
While these rules try to cover all circumstances, situations will arise
that will make it necessary and prudent to amend these rules. The
commissioner will make decisions when necessary and expedient. But
when it is necessary to amend/change these rules, a 2/3 majority of the
voting franchises is required.

--- DISPUTES ---
Our source for resolving disputes is NFL.com. The decision of the
commissioner is final, subject to the rules for extraordinary circumstances
and league governance.

Revised 07/14 to clarify DT/ST TDs.
Revised 7-17-09 to fit a 12 team league

Chiefs sign former Jets RB Jones (AP)
Browns release QB Anderson (AP)
Steelers keep Clark, get back Randle El (AP)
Giants sign ex-Colts backup QB Sorgi (AP)
Free agent WR Owens to meet with Bengals (AP)
Attorneys: Give Big Ben accuser privacy (AP)
Broncos sign DLs Jamal Williams, Green (AP)
Pats re-sign CB Bodden to 4-year deal (AP)
Vikings, CB Benny Sapp agree to contract (AP)
Vick 'humbled' by Ed Block Courage Award (AP)