[Burt the Butcher]

The difference with your examples are those players all had 5 year initial contracts, so they still would have gotten rookie bonuses for the length of original contract.

Regardless, I asked both Mike and Jim their opinion..both agreed with that the spirit of the rule was just as you stated Pat. Here is what Mike said:

" So basically it's a question of reneg's on rookies who don't play out their rookie contract.

I can tell you that the intent when we integrated the CDL reneg rules in with the Frenzy rules and rookie bonuses was that the rookie bonuses would stick for 5 years frm draft date, even in the event of a reneg. The only way they're weren't supposed to apply would be in the event of a player being released and becoming a UFA. The point of that was to avoid the scenario brought up where teams could avoid rookie bonuses by giving shorter contracts and renegotiating.

I think this is a pretty slam dunk case that the rookie bonuses should apply."

And since he pretty much wrote the rule book, I guess we need to go with that.

But what to do about Murray and Bell? Since we did not really think the discussion came to a consensus conclusion, are we to be penalized for our decision based on what the rule states? And do we now have to go back over the past 5 years to check to make sure no bonuses were missed?

Honestly, I not only gave Bell shorter contract, I also did the same with Stacy, Shazier and Bucannon. Are we just screwed now and have to eat the extra 300 to renegotiate? Should we be allowed to retro fit their contract to the assumed 5 years? What would that do to cap? Its a big mess is all I can say.

Ideas? My RFA bidding is impacted by this for sure, as I am sure Bobby's is. Not really sure as to the solution on this one.