Interventions, Mount Rushmore, the Trading Frenzy

What is an Intervention?

If any of you have kids, or know someone with kids, you have probably witnessed this scenario. Little Junior sees a puppy at the pet store and wants to bring it home. He promises to take care of it. And, for the first week, he does.

During the second week, Junior occasionally forgets to feed the pup and asks you to take it for a walk because he has to leave early for soccer practice. A month later, you are doing all the feedings and all the walks. Junior has lost interest and his dog is now your dog.

This is what I often see in MFN.

Coaches get swept up in the enthusiasm of the user experience. They sign up for one league, then another, then another. After a while, they realize how much work each team requires to be competitive. They begin to ignore some of their less successful teams. After a while, that really fun puppy has become a mangy mutt, its fur falling out and its ribs showing as it sits lethargically on the back porch, waiting in vain for someone to pay it some attention.

If you have ever taken over a team in MFN that was treated this way, you know it's no fun. The previous coach's neglect leaves you with a salary cap nightmare or a roster devoid of talent at key positions.

This scenario is why I occasionally conduct an "intervention." That is, after a period of inactivity, I PM the coach to see if he is still with us. Sometimes there are perfectly logical explanations. Perhaps the coach has been on vacation or has no internet access or has already spent like a drunken sailor, limiting his payroll flexibility. Sometimes the coach has just lost interest in his puppy and never answers.

At that point, I remove the coach, take over the team with a dummy account, and try to get 53 warm bodies in place so the next owner does not have to take over a team with only two cornerbacks or with no kicker or punter. I can't counter all of the consequences of neglect, but I don't want the next coach to find himself in a hole too deep to dig out of.

Mount Rushmore and the USFL/WFL

Over the course of time, the USFL/WFL has developed a culture I like. It is a welcome place for new coaches, with several experienced coaches willing to lend a hand. The members of the mentoring committee can steer a new coach in the right direction until he is ready to take the wheel himself. And, no one has yet accumulated such a collection of talent that they can never lose. The new coaches can be competitive quickly.

Preserving that culture is why I recently turned down applications from two coaches. Both are brilliant. In fact, I would consider both to be among those who should be put on the Mount Rushmore of MFN coaches. The forums are full of their wisdom, a lot of which I have employed while building my own teams.

If you look at the leagues they are in, the Mount Rushmore coaches destroy everything in their path. I congratulate them because they have put the time into mastering the game and deserve those trophies. But, that's not what I want from this league. I want the new coach and the blue-collar coach to know they have a chance. I hope competitive balance will be one of the cornerstones of the USFL/WFL moving forward.

The Trading Frenzy

Here's a cool stat: Through Sunday, 18 trades have taken place in advance of the 1975 season. Only four trades took place during the entire 1974 season.

There are reasons for that. During the first season of any league, no one is really sure where they fit in. Are they a contender or a pretender? Should they be buyers or sellers? Even after eight weeks, few know for sure. Entering the second season, each coach has some context and can make decisions based on that context.

It was a busy week or so for the members of the trade committee, and I appreciate their speedy work. Every trade was approved on the same day or the next day.

Yes, every trade was approved. The trade committee was put in place to stop experienced owners from robbing new owners blind. While there were some deals that provoked discussion, nothing seemed to fit that description. The process was also skewed by a really, really poor draft class. Draft picks that would normally carry a much higher value were deemed not nearly as valuable this time around, meaning a trade involving high picks was much less likely to be rejected.

Get Involved

Booger926

Wolveraider

I am sending PMs to coaches asking them to participate in one round of coach profiles/predictions. Most of the coaches I am contacting are not already involved in one of the existing committees, so I am encouraging them/you to respond in the affirmative. Participation is one of the goals of our league and we want to encourage buy-in from all 32 coaches to help develop even greater affinity for our league, which will lead to an even greater retention rate, which will lead to an even greater experience.