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Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2025 6:38 am
by Steve-Buffalo Bills
As you know, if you bid on and sign a PS player he only gets a 1 season contract.

The main thing I don’t like about this is that it essentially makes it equal to a 0 point bid only giving you a current season contract.

I propose we slightly amend this to be current and next season. Basically if I don’t match, the bidding team gets the player with an X for current and next season. If I match, I get the player signed to a current and next season contract.

We could take it further and make it similar to the XR signings which give you a 1-3 season contract based on the points bid.

Thoughts?

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2025 11:24 am
by Mitch-Dolphins
Good suggestion, but I say keep as is with the PS player having a 1 year contract. If you want to ensure the PS player keeps their full contract, work a trade with the other coach.

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2025 1:41 pm
by Jerry-Redskins
I do not believe we should change this rule after the off season has started. People have already made roster decisions based on current rules.

The PS rule should be all players put on the PS lose all contract years and revert to a 1 year contract at the time they are placed on it. This eliminates the discrepancy and aligns with the NFL. In my opinion, this is also a cap issue as it has allowed teams to stash both vets and young players keeping their rights. They all become free agents after the season unless the team decides to pay to sign them to a actual contract.

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 10:02 am
by Steve-Buffalo Bills
Jerry-Redskins wrote:I do not believe we should change this rule after the off season has started. People have already made roster decisions based on current rules.

The PS rule should be all players put on the PS lose all contract years and revert to a 1 year contract at the time they are placed on it. This eliminates the discrepancy and aligns with the NFL. In my opinion, this is also a cap issue as it has allowed teams to stash both vets and young players keeping their rights. They all become free agents after the season unless the team decides to pay to sign them to a actual contract.


Maybe we should put it up for vote to go into effect next offseason?

i.e., beginning in the 2048 season, the contract of any player placed on PS will be automatically reduced to a current, one season contract only - only players on the 53-man roster can have contracts longer than one season

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 1:12 pm
by Donovon-Steelers
I'm going to agree with Mitch here. Not to mention it would (1) discourage and handicap people from trying to cultivate young talent over a few seasons, thus (2) severely reducing the value of mid-to-late range draft picks, and (3) things are good the way they are - seems like a solution in search of a problem.

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 6:40 am
by Matt-Jacksonville
Jerry-Redskins wrote:I do not believe we should change this rule after the off season has started. People have already made roster decisions based on current rules.

The PS rule should be all players put on the PS lose all contract years and revert to a 1 year contract at the time they are placed on it. This eliminates the discrepancy and aligns with the NFL. In my opinion, this is also a cap issue as it has allowed teams to stash both vets and young players keeping their rights. They all become free agents after the season unless the team decides to pay to sign them to a actual contract.


If we want realism, this is the way to go I think. However, I tend to lean into what Donovan is saying as well and believe we might want to try a hybrid approach. Due to game limitations, we have to get down to 53 at the end of each season regardless, so I would say we leave things as they are. This has a good balance.

Most people sign PS guys for these reasons:

1. Developmental guys who need some more TC to be viable
2. Guys who will be replacing retiring players on the 53 man roster the next season
3. Depth
4. Trade bait
5. Hoping for that infamous draft boost

The system we got takes care of most of these scenarios. If you have a guy in #2, you will promote them at the end of the season. If you have #3, 4 or 5, there is enough talent in the pool each offseason to replace most of those guys. (That could change as the ratings get more differentiated.)
If you have developmental guys who you want to groom, you most likely will find another guy to replace that guy the next offseason as well.

So, ultimately, I think we are good.

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 3:45 pm
by Barney - Vikings
The purpose of NFL practice squads is to provide players that a team can practice against to prepare for next week‘s opponent. In the PNFL, we have full access to our next week’s opponent’s roster and prior plays used so we really have no need for a practice squad. I would be fine with just eliminating it.

It would be less work for Rich and makes GM’ing more important when you can’t stash extra players. Juggling end of the year cuts would also be significantly reduced or eliminated. The IR can then be used for just injury purposes.

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 6:20 pm
by Steve-Buffalo Bills
Sounds like we have 4 options to choose from now:

Make the following change to the PS rules for the 2048 season:
A) Donovon's Rule (supported by Matt): No change at all
B) Jerry's Rule: The contract of any player placed on PS will be automatically reduced to a current, one season contract only - only players on the 53-man roster can have contracts longer than one season
C) Barney's Rule: Eliminate the PS - it is now only used for IR
D) Steve's Rule: If a PS player is bid on and the current team doesn't match, the bidding team gets the player with an X for current and next season. If the current team matches, the player's contract is set with an X for current and next season regardless of the prior length of the contract. In both situations the player must be on the 53-man roster the rest of the season.

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 2025 7:32 pm
by Charlie-49ers
Good discussion, guys! Keep going with the discussion while I work on my PPPs.

:D

Re: Practice Squad discussion

Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2025 1:40 am
by James-Eagles
I say no change.