These are LAW. Please don't think I'm gonna budge. I didn't make this league to compromise. I made this league because I was sick of compromising. I do of course want suggestions, but some of these rules have zero tolerence.

League Guidelines:

• Season 1 is made up of 10 teams, playing a 10 game schedule. Each team plays every other team one time (9 games), and you play your grudge team twice. Your "Grudge Team" is the first game you play and is usually indicated by location in the country or age-old NFL rivalries.

• The top 6 teams will advance to the playoffs. The seedings and payout go as follows:

The money in the above picture indicates what you're assured if you REACH that point. The final 4 are assured at least $10. Getting to the Superbowl gives you a total of $15, and winning The Superbowl gives you a total of $50.

Game Guidelines:

• There will be no "Schedule" of when you have to play. It will be your responsibilty to get ahold of whomever your opponent is, and set up a time. Be sure to email me the time you guys have agreed on and I'll post it on the site. That way people can highlight your name on their buddy list and watch the ticker live. Oh you laugh now, but believe me - people will do this for the playoffs.

• Once you've finished your game, you can move onto the next week immediately. However, you cannot go more than 2 weeks ahead of the rest of the league. If there is still a game to be played in Week 1, you can only play up to Week 3. You also must go in order. However, you cannot play Week 9 or 10 until everyone is done.

• Now the fun rule. Home Field Advantage. The home team can pick the weather and day/night conditions. If your team plays in a dome, pick a neutral field - or just use perfect conditions. It also doesn't matter if it's "techincally feasible" for it to be snowing in Miami - it's the home team's choice. Got Ricky Williams coming to town and you want to make it a sloppy field? Rain it is. Oakland thinks they'll pass for 400 yards against you? Not in the FOG bowl when it's 5 degrees outside. Realize of course the home team has to play there too! You may decide to keep everything perfect. It'll be interesting to see how weather plays into all this.

• Game Set-up. If you're playing online, the home team hosts the game. Select "Scrimmage" and change the weather/time/preceipitation how you like. The other variables (game length/difficulty) need to stay uniform across all games for statistical reasons. If you think your opponent changed something (like game difficulty) you can check this in the pause menu within the game. Most everyone will be honest here though. Putting it on All-Star doesn't really HELP anyone.

• It's perfectly acceptable to use another team's playbook. You hit "Y" on the team select screen. I know a lot of you are bummed because you can't have your team, but you can certainly have your team's playbook. Uniforms can be changed too, however stadiums must stay as the home team.

• Playing Off-line. A few matches are off-line, and unfortunately NFL2K3 doesn't offer a system link. How insanely stupid is that? Anyway, select "Quick game" and again, home team can change only the weather and day/night conditions. Don't load any new rosters, or import teams - a straight up "Quick Game" and go from there.

The problem of course is the other team can see your plays. You can guard this by hitting "A" on the play you want and holding it down, while going through other plays. I however don't like this because I sometimes like to pick my plays really quick. Where the hell's the Dreamcast VMU when you need it? Anyway, the most fair method of doing this, is looking away when the other team is picking their offensive plays. I've found that holding a big book in front of your face is the easiest and fastest way to do this, and re-assure your friend you aren't looking. If you happen to have an actual vinyl "album" these are perfect. Just put it in between you and have 'em pick it up while your opponent picks. Whatever works.

• Statistics will be kept in all games:

 

Precipitation - Time - Degrees

FINAL	1	2	3	4	O	F	Rush	Pass	Total
AWAY	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
HOME	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Yours/His Longest Run

Yours/His Longest Pass

Yours/His Longest FG

Yours/His Longest Kick Return

(personal bests ONLY)

 

Now read this very close, like 2 inches from the screen: If every single one of these stats is not recorded after the game, the game will not count. There is no wiggle room here. Stats are intregal to this league, and must be recorded. As you can see it's pretty simple, should take an extra 45 seconds. Generally when the game ends, you and your opponent will talk about the game while looking through the stats. Now, I only need one person to submit the stat form (most likely from the winner - heh), but I'd prefer to have both participants do so just to be sure. Your discretion. The personal records should only be written down if they're actually a personal best. Otherwise, nothing. Your opponent is responsible for getting his to me as well, but as the winner kindly ask the guy you're playing if he'd like you to write his down too. It's a nice gesture after beating his ass. During the season the site will when a week is officially done - with stats of each game, league leaders, VIDEOS and everything you can imagine. This is what will set this league apart from other gaming experiences you've had. Anyway, to submit the form you can email them to me at adam@4tvs.com or email me for my phone number.

• Excessive Lag. If lag is deemed unplayable by BOTH players, of course you can quit. Expect the guy winning to whine a bit, but sometimes it's just horrendous. Don't be a dick if you're up. Wait for a bit, but if it's unplayable, start up another game. Also, forget your Xbox Live rating - it means nothing. Everyone's cheating like crazy anyway, so forget about it - THIS is what counts. Anyway, lag is going to be part of this. You will have a play screwed up because of lag at some point in this league, that's just life. As well the "Divergence" screen is bound to come up and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. Yes, you have to do the entier game over. It sucks. Go yell at Microsoft. Again, without the stats being recorded - the game does NOT count.

• Team Rating. Invariably at the end of the season there will be teams with identical records. The tie-breaker will not be determined by head-to-head matchups, but by your Team Rating average for all 10 games. Your Team Rating is based on how well you move the ball, and how well you KEEP the other team from moving the ball. A simple formula that is more complicated to explain than to understand. Basically:

 

(Points*10 + total yards) - your opponent's (Points*10 + total yards) 

 

For example:

Chicago beats Pittsburgh 31-24, and 295-250 in yards. That makes it 605-490, Chicago gets +115, and Pittsburgh gets -115 for their team rating that week.

 

Don't worry, I'll be doing the ratings - you don't have to think about it. What this does is make every single yard and point count. This is why stats are such a big deal in this league. Even if you lose a game, you will be rewarded for playing well. In some cases, you may have a better team rating than the winner. Take this for example:

 

Minnesota beats Green Bay 31-28 in a nail biter, but Favre is a badass and throws for 350 yards. Green Bay's total yards are 372 to Minnesota's 305. 652-615 in favor of Green Bay giving them a +37, and Minnesota a -37 for their team rating. Now realize, that Minnesota got the most important stat: the win...but it wasn't a total loss for Green Bay.

 

In the end, winning is still everything - but this will keep people from quitting at the end of the game. I friggin' HATE that. Even in a blowout - you'll need to keep trying until the last second. As well, you may opt for the field goal at the end of agame when you're down by 21, just because it's a sure 30 Team Rating points.You have to think of where you are in the standings, and what your team rating is.

Cheating:

• I know all of you, this will not be a problem. But if something comes up here's the company line: If you cheat, you're kicked out of the league and lose your money. An alternate for the following season may take your place, or every team gets a win for your entire 12 week schedule. Period.

-Having someone play as you or with you. You have to play the exact same set-up each time. If you signed on as a single player, that's what you are the whole year. You can't have your friends jump on in the middle of the season, or have someone else play your games. You must also always play with the Xbox Gamertag you give at the beginning of the league, unless approved by me. There's just too much suspicion otherwise. As far as passing the controller to a friend, there's nothing anyone can do to stop that or catch you - but just don't. Play your own game, it's your money - so win it or lose it on your own merits.

-Quitting a game. Each team is allowed 2 emergencies for the season. Shit happens, and you don't deserve to be kicked out of the league because your cat's dying and you have to take him to the vet. But do not use this because you're late for a date or something. Allow a full hour to play a game. You may quit a game if both players agree to, but if you quit without telling the person, or for a non-emergency you will no longer be in the league. Period. Of course I assume you could bribe your opponent so he doesn't tell me...

-Pulling the plug. This is a judgement call, as sometimes there are bad connections, but there are some tell-tale signs on whether it's connection related or on purpose. Don't even think about it. You will be kicked out instantly.

-Trigger-Pulling. Holding the trigger to make the screen in and zoom out, though very shitty, is not cheating. It's simply a way to break the other team's concentration. Again, you're still a total pussy for doin' it, but it is completely legal. A good way to combat this (especialy during field goals), is to hit the trigger yourself and hold it down. That way at least it's steady. Field goals zoomed out are easier than you think.

-Offsides/Delay of Game abusers. This one will get you one big boot in the ass immediatley. In order to make the other guy quit when losing, many assholes prefer the "put the controller down" method on offense, or the "jam the controller into the couch cushions so my defense goes offsides" method to make the game go on infinitely, and make the other player quit. If any of you do this, you will not only be out of the league - I will personally fly to your city and punch you in the face. This bullshit is why I started the league in the first place.

Again, I know all of you - this shit isn't gonna happen, but just in case I gotta put it in writing. And finally, I reserve the right to change these rules even in the middle of the season if there is some form of abuse through a loophole. Just as I'm trusting you guys, you'll have to trust me that what I'm doing is in the best interest of the league. So in week 5, when the "All teams playing Chicago get automatic losses" kicks in - no bitching.

Heh.

-League Meltdowns. If for any reason the majority of you become non-responsive to emails, and refuse to play games - you forfeit your money. Many times in leagues, people start to become inactive and then figure they'll just get all their money back. Not here. Once you're in - you're in. No refunds.