The following rules will be in effect for the 2005 football season. There will be 12 teams for the 2005 season using the same divisions as last season. We are instituting many new rules for 2005, so I urge you to read these rules carefully. Additionally, if you want to change your team name you must do so by August 8.

Your roster will consist of 34 players (15 players on offense, and 15 players on defense). You will select 3 quarterbacks, 4 running backs, 6 receivers, and 2 place kickers. On defense, you will select 4 defensive linemen, 5 linebackers, 4 cornerbacks, and 2 defense/special team units. You will also add 4 players to your roster as utility players, players from the positions of your choice to round out your roster.

Of these 34 players, 17 will be active for each week's game. Your roster will consist of drafted and undrafted players. A drafted player will immediately be signed to a contract for a number of years (up to 5 seasons), and your team will honor the contract just like a professional team honors contracts. You thrive when your players succeed, and suffer when they struggle. The draft order and current rosters, which reflects picks, resigned and released players, and players traded between teams are included with these rules. Drafted players will belong only to the drafting team (or in the event of a trade, the team currently owning his rights).

Since we are adding individual defensive players in 2005, we will be altering our normal league draft. There will be 2 separate types of drafts this year. The first draft will be a three round defensive player draft, in which you may select individual defensive players or a defense/special teams unit. You may not select offensive players in this draft. Draft choices in this draft may not be traded, and the individual players selected may not be traded until after week one of the 2005 season. Please note, a defense/special teams unit taken in this portion of the draft may be traded prior to the end of week one. The selection process will begin in mid-August via the phone and email, and if necessary completed at the annual draft meeting on August 27. At the completion of the defensive draft, our normal offensive player draft will be held. Individual defensive players may not be drafted in this portion of the draft, although a team defense/special team unit may be drafted during this draft. Beginning with the 2006 draft we will have one draft, in which all undrafted players and defense/special teams units will be eligible. The date for the annual draft meeting will be August 27, with details about a time and place to be announced soon.

After the draft, 'free agency' kicks in, and any non-drafted NFL player is eligible. Your roster will contain players obtained through the draft and the 'free agents'. All 34 players salaries when totaled must remain at or below $1250 using the salaries as determined by the official salary sheet included with these rules. After the draft is completed, a list will be made available so that each owner knows which team drafted which player, and to eliminate picking players that are unavailable due to being drafted. The list should be available shortly after the draft, and a final roster (with week 1 lineup) must be turned in no later than kickoff of the first game of the 2005 regular season (Thursday, September 8).

In terms of trades, drafted players may only be traded between owners, in exchange for other drafted players and/or future draft choices (in up to the next 3 drafts). To avoid confusion, prior to and during this season’s draft you may trade picks for the 2005, 2006 and 2007 drafts, and the day after the draft you may begin to trade picks for 2006, 2007, and 2008. There is no limit to these types of trades, but there will be a trade deadline of Week 12 for making these trades. You may only trade picks that you own at the time of the trade, and must clarify which pick is being traded if you are trading a pick(s) when you hold multiples for the same round in a particular year. Trades of 'free agents' may be made for a maximum of eight players for the season. You trade these in essence with the league, and the only restriction on this is that you remain under the salary cap. All roster moves must be completed prior to the games played in week 12. Rosters freeze at this point, with the exception of replacing injured drafted players.

Games will be played weekly between teams. Lineups are due by kickoff of each week's first game. Each week your team will field a lineup consisting of the following players per position; 2 QB's, 2 RB's, 4 receivers (which includes a minimum of 1 tight end), 1 K, 2 DL, 3 LBs, 2 CBs, and 1 Def./Sp. teams unit. Each game will have a minimum of 44 available points, with bonuses for outstanding individual achievement. The game is played head to head with 2 points awarded to the team winning each of the following categories;

QB completions, passing percentage, total yards, total touchdowns minus interceptions thrown

RB carries, yards rushing, catches, receiving yards

WR receptions, yards, yards per catch, touchdowns

K total kicks made (field goals and extra points)

Defensive Linemen tackles, sacks

Linebackers tackles, sacks

Defensive Backs tackles, interceptions

Def/Sp yards allowed, turnovers and sacks combined

Total Yards yards from QB+ RB+WR minus defensive yards allowed (return yards DO NOT count)

Total Points you will receive .1 points per player points scored for your team, rounded to the nearest whole number. (For example, when calculated, if your players score 44 points, you will earn 4 points, if they combine to score 45, 5 points will be added to your team’s score).

Bonuses awarded for the following;

QB 1 pt. for 300 yards passing, 2 pts. for 400 total yards

RB 1 pt. for 100 yards rushing, 2 pts. for 200 total yards

K 1 pt. for a 50+ yard field goal

DL 1 pt. for 2.0 or more sacks, 3 pts. for a TD

LB 1 pt. for 10 or more tackles, 3 pts. for a TD

DB 1 pt. for 1.0 or more sacks, 3 pts. for a TD

Def/Sp. 2 pts. for a safety, 3 pts. for any TD

At the end of the Monday night game for that week, results will be tabulated and a winner for each game determined. Standings will be released on Tuesday evenings. The season will consist of a 14 game schedule, followed by a three week playoff to determine a league champion. Your team will play each team in your division twice and all other teams once. The playoffs will have three rounds involving six teams. The three division winners and three wild cards (the three best records of non-division winners) will compete in the playoffs and follow the system used in the NFL. So, with this in mind, I wish you good luck in pursuit of the championship trophy.

Since we are adding defensive players this year, I expect there to be some problems, confusion, and disputes that arise as the season evolves. I apologize in advance for any of these issues. When the league began I followed a set of published rules found in a magazine, however, there is not a similar path for me to use to add defensive players, so this is admittedly being done from scratch. Defensive players is a work in progress, and I appreciate your patience in advance in this transition year.

This is just a clarification. Official league stats come from the USA Today for all games except the Monday Night game, and those stats will come from ESPN. While from time to time there is an error, especially with defensive stats, these will be the official stats, and for any and all disputes I will point you to the Monday USA Today sports section.

You will be allowed to pick up a player to play if a drafted member of your roster is unable to play DUE TO INJURY (drug suspensions and coaching decisions do not count). You may replace that player with someone from the same team (i.e. a Jets QB for a Jets QB) with a lower or equal salary. In the event the backup is drafted or more expensive then you may choose any non-drafted player in the NFL at the same or lower price to replace that player at the same position.

You have three options for turning in your weekly lineup this season.

1. You may call my house. If I am not there, then call my cell and if necessary, leave a voicemail. Do not assume I will get your message at my house.

2. Reach me on my cell phone. If I don’t answer leave a message, I will get it here.

3. Your final option is to send an email message.

Any method is acceptable to turn in your lineup. I know you all have phones and I think now everyone has email, so there is no excuse not to turn in your lineup. I have no problem if you turn your lineup early in the week and wish to change it Sunday morning.