2020 ZFAC Summary of Rule Changes

[mmason]

The Rules Committee for the Classic and PPR leagues have released their rule changes.

· 2020 Classic PPR/Rules Document

· 2020 Summary of Changes

· 2020 ZFAC Rules Document

 

SUMMARY

Rules in Common apply to all Zealots leagues, and are separated into two subsections:

 

I. Administration and Code of Conduct – These are unable to be modified by specialty leagues.

There were no Category I changes.

 

II. Gameplay – These are able to be modified by specialty leagues during the formation of their rulesets, or by subsequent vote by the members of a specialty format.

Only one Category II changes will immediately apply to ZFAC leagues. ZFAC may subsequently choose to initiate a vote to modify any rule changes, or suggest additional ones, following the league's Rule Change process.

 

1. Modified the process and outcome for missed draft picks and established an informal, but enforceable, draft timer. In 2019, we discovered that MFL had made unannounced changes that prevented us from inserting draft picks into a round if that round contained traded picks. All Zealots rulesets that moved missed draft picks down X number of slots thus became impossible to fulfill. As such, since this is a software limitation, all specialty rulesets have been updated to include the new process (listed under ZEALOT DRAFTS).

 

By "informal", we mean that there isn't an automated process that cuts off exactly at 24 hours, and relies on Commissioner intervention. We realize this may result in some inconsistency in application, but were willing to accept that since MFL could not provide a satisfactory alternative.

 

 

CHANGES APPLIED WITHOUT A REQUIRED VOTE

As owners will recall, converting the old ZFAC Rules Document to the current format involved some growing pains. Zealots Field retains the authority to retroactively clarify potentially confusing language, as well as ensure compliance with any previous year's Rules in Common that may have been inadvertently forgotten. To that end, the following Clarifying Changes have been made for 2020:

 

1. Beginning in 2020, auctions will pause between the end of preseason week 3 and Payday in order to facilitate Commissioner duties. This complies with the Rules in Common.

 

2. When Payday Activation Guidelines are followed, rookies are awarded a 3-year deal. This default is mentioned elsewhere but has been added to this section as well for ease of process.

 

3. Offseason signee cash guarantees should be processed by the Commissioner when the player is dropped.

 

4. Players on NFL practice squads count as unsigned players for purposes of release and do not accrue a salary cap penalty. This has been the precedent in ZFAC leagues for many years, but never explicitly codified.

 

5. A section has been added under CONTRACTS that clarifies the Commissioner mandate to correct erroneous contracts.

 

6. A section has been added under EARLY RELEASE AND CONTRACT PENALTIES that details what information is required to be posted in league forums when releasing players, to ensure the Commissioner has enough information to process the release. This is an expectation that falls under the Code of Conduct.

 

7. Clarified that players remaining on IR after the January 10th deadline will be cut. This is an owner responsibility, not a Commissioner one.

Edited February 24, 2020 by mmason

[mmason]

Addendum:

 

An artifact of the old rules was discovered in the League Document, which stated that Commissioners determined when RFA started. We standardized the start of RFA as the day after the NFL league year, and thus I have removed the old language.