2014 Commissioners State of the League Address

The eSFL's 15th season brings a few changes to the league, a similar statement it seems. This season the league added a flex position, created two new divisions (Virginia and Quasar) for a total of three per conference, changed two of the starting defensive positions to DP, raised the entry fee from 115 to 200, brought back blocked kicks as a scoring rule, changed RFA rules, announced the 16th season RFA rules would include college players, announced the Gunner Cup winner would receive credit rather than actual cash, selected several new division presidents and moved several around, moved two teams from the Vintage Conference to the Nebula (Viall and Igama), and probably more things that I can't think of.

A new flex position was added because the conference only has nine teams each. The addition of the flex hopefully brings the free agent pool to an acceptable level without depleting it. In my opinion the free agent pool the last two years was extremely low. I believe this year the nine team conference with this new flex position will make that pool one that has quality players yet is not full of stars.

The Virginia and Quasar divisions were created (Virginia was once the name of the second conference) because there are only nine teams per conference. With nine teams we had two options, one nine conference or three divisions with three teams each. I chose the three x three option because I felt the excitement level of winning your division was greater than finishing in the top four of nine teams. With the implementation of the 3 x 3 layout each division winner qualifies for the playoffs. The fourth playoff team in each conference will be a blackjack team, meaning the team with the most points fielded, regardless of records, will qualify.

Linebackers and Defensive Lineman were changed to Defensive Player (DP). This was done because the site host changed their system and we had no other options if we were to use the flex position. Full details can be found on the official site. I am not a fan of this, but we have no option.

The entry fee of 115.00 was raised mainly in celebration of our 15th anniversary. However, most all owners have told me they wish it to stay that way from now on. With the reduction of teams this year, I feel it is a perfect fit. I believe it will remain the entry fee from now on. As commissioner I vow to all owners that this will be the max entry fee and will not go any higher for at least 10 years. In 2024 we will reevaluate. At the end of the year we will reevalute, however, as I mentioned, I believe it will remain at 200.00.

  Several years ago we tried to use blocked kicks as a scoring rule. What happened was teams were not getting their points or getting them a week later, changing game outcomes. This year we will try again. However, let it be known, if your player does not receive credit for a blocked kick, I will not add points to your final score later than 48 hours after the game has finished. Once the season starts I will announce what site we will use to validate the stat. Only that site will count, if ten sites say he got a blocked kick and ours selected one does not, you do not get credit. We use one and one only.

The RFA rules has changed to identify where a RFA player will count towards the next seasons draft. In past seasons an RFA was allocated as a 10th round pick the following year. Owners had the option of making it a later round or a 2-a-day option with monetary considerations. From now on, any RFA will count as the owners draft pick for the round in which that player was drafted the previous season. 

We also have added all college Jr and Sr players to the allowable players that may be drafted as an RFA. See the rules section for details. More will be announced later this season and before the 2015 draft.

The Gunner Cup has been a nice addition to the league over the past few seasons. In my opinion it keeps owners who know their team will not make the playoffs involved and makes the league competitive throughout the entire season. We have eliminated the direct monetary award however. The winner of the Gunner Cup will receive credit towards next season entry fee only. If that team does not play the next season then the money goes into the leagues pot for the following season. If an owner is not in the league the next season due to the commissioners decision and not the owners, the league will send that owner the money as long as the owner is leaving in good standing. The credit for the winner in 2014 is 115.00.

With the addition of two divisions we have two new division presidents. Please see the link on the official site (League Leadership) for a list of division presidents. As commissioner I want more input from these individuals, send me emails, call me, get on the radio show. Your words are heard. Not all suggestions or ideas are taken, don't consider it as lack of input power. Get involved.

We was forced to move two teams from the Vintage to the Nebula. Viall and Igama gracefully accepted the move when asked. Let it be known, both owners would have preferred to remain in the Vintage and both stood up for the better of the league.

As the 2-A-Days are just around the corner the league is chock full of excitement. Please pay close attention to your starting lineups to ensure they are within the rules. Any team that starts an illegal lineup will have the illegal player(s) removed and not replaced. The player with the highest points that week for the position will be removed, no debates. 

I hope everyone gets involved in the eSFL Insider and weekly eSFL Radio programs. Every Wednesday at 2000 et, Sat at 2000 et, Sunday at 1100 ET, Sunday at 2000 et are the radio schedules.  

Finally, the commissioner spent countless hours on the etandoutleague.com web site. Go there, look around. You can find team records versus all other teams, coach win leaders, coach win pct leaders, draft history, past season standings, and countless bits of info. Its a lot of info, and its the shit. Let me know your opinions on the site and recommended changes.

Good luck men!