Your Chance To Participate In A New Football Phenomenon (Sandbox Simulations) - Page 162

**Rain Man** · 09:15 AM

I apologize if the mods think this is soliciting, and I guess it is, but at the same time it's beta testing a new product developed by long-time planeteers, and it's free.

cdcox and I have been developing a new football game for the thoughtful fan, where players build franchises and compete against each other. A description is below.

If you're interested, we're offering the game for free in Year 1 to Chiefsplanet members, with the goal of both giving the system a dry run and also hooking you like Phillip Morris. You can go to www.sandboxsimulations.com to sign up, and use the access code 6Lanier3.

Here's the overview:

Build and manage a full 53-player roster over multiple seasons, as an offseason activity to give you year-round football

Select your personnel to match your offensive and defensive scheme. Every position matters – even your blocking tight end.

Realistic and accurate simulations of league games based on head-to-head matchups against other teams in your league.

This is essentially a new concept in fantasy football that attempts to simulate as closely as possible the management of a real NFL franchise over a multi-year period. Unlike regular fantasy football, every position on the offense and defense contributes to your success or failure. On special teams, the punter, kicker, and kick returners matter.

In Sandbox Football you will build a team – an entire 53-man football team – via an initial draft, and will maintain it year after year in annual rookie drafts, trading periods, and free agency. You compete against teams in your league. In the first year of the game, before the start of the NFL season, you will build your roster by drafting veterans and rookies through separate drafts, and through trades with other teams in the league. Your roster is frozen at the beginning of the NFL season. During the real regular NFL season, you can focus on your traditional fantasy games and perhaps keep on eye on your Sandbox roster as our statistical models build the data on player performances. At the end of the regular NFL season, the Sandbox season begins. There will be 16 games in the season. In real time, the season will run about 8 weeks (2 alternate reality games per week).

Game outcomes will be simulated based on the performance of individual players during the just-completed NFL regular season. The simulations, developed by a PhD statistical expert, estimate how individual players will perform in the context of your alternate reality team competing head-to-head against other teams in the league and with the specific team that you have built. The simulations will consider the offensive and defensive schemes that you select. So you can build your roster to support a power running game or a high-flying passing attack. You can run a 3-4 or 4-3 base defense. You can run nickel formations or four-wide receiver sets. You can rotate your DL to keep them fresh.

The game is more about building a team than playing video games. So this isn't Madden, but you will have the ability to tweak your game plan to take the best advantage of your roster and the weaknesses of your opponent. Injuries are a factor in the game. If a player is unavailable during weeks 3 through 6 in the NFL, he is also unavailable during the same weeks in the alternate reality season. So roster depth matters. The game simulations are based on the most advanced statistics and the latest research regarding what matters in winning an NFL game. But, the outcomes of the games have a random component, just like real NFL games.

The calendar for the alternate reality league year will look something like this:
• Jan to Mid March: Alternate Reality regular season and playoffs.
• Mid-March to the beginning of NFL season: Roster building through trades, veteran draft (first year), free agent drafts (2nd year and beyond), and rookie draft.
• Beginning of NFL season to end of regular NFL season: Alternate reality league is dormant, but the NFL players are generating their performance stats for the up-coming AR league.
• Rinse and repeat.

Copyright Sandbox Simulations, all rights reserved.

We're still finalizing the cost structure, but this won't be an expensive game to play at all. It might range from a few bucks a year to $50 per year, depending on a few factors.

Year 1 will require a couple of days of drafting with rather high intensity, but we've got it set up where you can put your draft list together and do customized and automated drafting if you like.

So...go! Now! Time to get ready for the draft!

Note that we are still in beta testing, so things could change if we find problems in the system.

How Free Agency Works:

Free Agency will begin before the 2012 season after the rookie draft.

Our process is as follows for the 2012 season. In 2013 and beyond there will be minor changes as noted later.

1. We will unveil the list of available free agents so you can check out the talent pool.

2. If you look in "Standings", you will see that you have a salary account value of $1,300. You will use this to sign your veterans to contracts, sign your rookies to contracts, and (in a competitive bidding process) sign free agents to contracts.

The cost of a contract is as follows for players already on your roster (both veterans and rookies).

$0 - 1 season contract
$10 - 2 season contract
$22 - 3 season contract
$37 - 4 season contract
$55 - 5 season contract
$76 - 6 season contract
$100 - 7 season contract

You will sign your existing players to contracts using an interface that we will unveil shortly. If your 53-man roster is set you can spend your $1,300 on your current roster. However, it may be worthwhile to hold some money back so you can compete for free agents.

3. The free agency period begins.

Bidding for free agents will be open and competitive. As players come available, teams will be allowed to sign them if they are the high bidder. The contract length is automatically calculated by rounding down the bid to the chart below.

Contract Length (Seasons) Salary Points Bid
1 0 to 9
2 10 to 21
3 22 to 36
4 37 to 54
5 55 to 75
6 76 to 99
7 100 or more

For example, if you submit the winning bid for a player at a price of 25 salary points, that player becomes yours under a 3-year contract. If you submit a bid for 35 points and win, it’s also a 3-year contract. If you submit a bid for 38 points, it’s a 4-year contract. If you submit a bid for 120 points, it’s a 7-year contract.

For the 2012 free agency period, we will enforce the 53-man rule. You will need to cut down to 53 players before the free agency period starts, and if you sign a player to go above 53, you will need to cut a player to stay within the roster limit. NOTE: DON'T CUT YET UNLESS YOU WANT TO. WE'RE STILL FINALIZING THE SYSTEM AND WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS RULE WORKS IN 2012.

4. Ending Bidding and Ending Free Agency.

Bids on an individual player will begin once the first player places a bid. For the 2012 season that bid must be $1 or more. Bidding ends when the existing high bid had not been raised for 72 hours. At that point, the high-bid team is awarded the player under the contract terms described in Step 3.

The free agency period in 2012 will end once there have been no bids on any players for 72 hours.

5. Unused Salary Points

If you do not use all of your salary points in a given year, they will roll over from year to year. This is experimental and we'll have to see how it works. If it doesn't work, they'll expire each year, or maybe a portion of the points can roll over. Right now, assume they all roll over.

6. Salary Points and Roster Management

In the Sandbox system, salary points and the salary cap are used only for acquiring players. You will never have to track the number of salary points “on your roster” and you will never have to cut a player for salary cap reasons.

Additionally, you are not obligated to keep a player for the full length of his contract. You can cut him or trade him at any time. However, recognize that it’s a waste of salary points to cut or trade a player before the end of his contract. But it doesn't hamstring you going forward - it's just past money that you wasted.

7. Free Agency and Contract Length - Retaining Your Current Players

When a player reaches the end of their contract, they go back into the free agency pool and teams will bid for their services. You are eligible to bid on them to get them back, just like you can bid on any free agents.

There is one exception to the rule of free agents going into the free agency pool, as follows:

• At the end of the bidding process, you have the opportunity to re-sign your own players by outbidding the high bidder. Your bid must be the minimum points to increase their contract period by a year over the high bid. (Example: your player goes to free agency, and another team bids 50 points for him, which equates to a 4-year contract. You can keep the player by paying 55 points for him, which is the minimum amount for a 5-year contract.) If the high bidder offered a contract of 100 points or more (7-years), you can keep the player by bidding 10% more points than the high bid.

8. Free Agency and Trades

If you trade for a player, their contract length is a consideration. Trading for a player with 6 years left on his contract will give you his services for that amount of time (unless you cut him or trade him, or he retires). Trading for a player with 1 year left on his contract means that he’ll go back into the free agency pool at the end of the season. (Of course, you can still retain him via Step 7.)

9. Future Years

In future years, the process will be identical to that shown above, with the following exceptions.

a. Because you will have a lot of veteran players under contract, you won't need $1,300. You'll get a new annual allotment of signing dollars. We're still working on the exact amount, but it looks like it'll be between $500 and $600.

b. In the 2012 season, we will introduce all free agents at once to catch up. In the 2013 season and beyond, the free agency period will occur during the actual NFL season. We will sprinkle the free agents in one division at a time over the course of the season. (The divisions may be randomly selected or we may release a calendar. It doesn't matter that much.) This system should be interesting because some free agents will come available early in the season when you don't know their performance for the year - greater risk, greater reward - while other free agents will come available later in the season when you know what their performance will be, but so does everyone else.

c. In the 2013 season and beyond, you will be able to retain more than 53 players through the rookie draft and the main free agency period. You will then have a cutdown period to get to 53 and we will have a final free agency period where you can sign any players who have been cut. In that final period you will have to enforce a 53-man roster, so if you sign a player you have to cut one.

10. When you think about the schedule in 2013 and beyond, it will go like this:

a. Sandbox season goes from February through April.
b. Rookie draft in May. No 53-man limit.
c. Free agency from (likely) September through December, with free agents sprinkled in throughout that period.
d. January. Roster cuts to 53.
e. Late January. Final free agency period to flesh out rosters and sign players cut in Step d.
f. New Sandbox season begins.

**cdcox** · 07-17-2012, 09:24 PM

I just remembered to make week 12 rosters available. We will simulate week 12 on Thursday night.

**Rain Man** · 07-19-2012, 08:29 AM

It's getting down to the wire now.

brorth · 07-19-2012, 12:52 PM

I feel like I play my statistical twin in the Pompano Beach Pandas.

RB Zhang Jiao is so benched this week.

**cdcox** · 07-19-2012, 07:57 PM

Independence is reeling. We just lost to a Free Agent QB leading a 3-8 team. We were missing two starting LB, in addition to our QB and best RB. But we still should have been able to win this game.

Luckily we still have a 3 game lead with 4 games to go. But we'll be one and done in the playoffs. Such a promising start.

topher79 · 07-19-2012, 08:06 PM

Cam Newton just can't find it (19/31 223 1td 2int). Only let him start because it was a fairly winnable game and we did by 3TD's but 3 of those were ST/Def (Cribbs, Sproles, ???).

I think I'm just sticking with McNabb here on out unless I have a cakewalk. Still don't know how he's the highest rated passer in the league.

On another note, 12 games in and only 3 1,000 yard rushers (Sproles, Jackson, Bush)??? League's a bit pass happy I guess.

**Rain Man** · 07-19-2012, 08:28 PM

League 1 has parity in the Solar West Division. All four teams are 6-6. In fact, that whole conference is pretty even. Only one team is better than 7-5 and only one team is below 5-7. Amazing.

And Richmond lost to quarterback Tyrod Taylor. That hurt. Dexter McCluster gave them a 43-yard TD run on fourth down at one point, and then made an 8-yard run on 3rd and 7 to keep us from getting a final possession. That hurt.

At least Duluth kept winning. But at 8-4 we're still in third place. We could go 12-4 and not make the playoffs.

**cdcox** · 07-19-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topher79

Cam Newton just can't find it (19/31 223 1td 2int). Only let him start because it was a fairly winnable game and we did by 3TD's but 3 of those were ST/Def (Cribbs, Sproles, ???).

I think I'm just sticking with McNabb here on out unless I have a cakewalk. Still don't know how he's the highest rated passer in the league.

On another note, 12 games in and only 3 1,000 yard rushers (Sproles, Jackson, Bush)??? League's a bit pass happy I guess.

Passing stats from league 2:

Code:

Cam Newton	Corona	28	15	208	1	0	53.6	7.43	89.6

Donovan McNabb	Independence	84	47	623	5	4	56	7.41	79.6

**cdcox** · 07-19-2012, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

At least Duluth kept winning. But at 8-4 we're still in third place. We could go 12-4 and not make the playoffs.

The only way that could happen is if Clearwater also went undefeated from here on out.

We take 2 WC teams from each conference.

In week 1 the 2 WC teams play each other.

Week 2 the WC winner plays the #1 seed and the #2 and #3 seeds play each other.

topher79 · 07-19-2012, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdcox

Passing stats from league 2:

Code:

Cam Newton	Corona	28	15	208	1	0	53.6	7.43	89.6

Donovan McNabb	Independence	84	47	623	5	4	56	7.41	79.6

Appreciate that. Not really a large sampling though so I'm guessing they're both backups in L2. I'll just let McNabb roll and next year Newton will be gold (think I got him for C. Wake and J. Joseph)!

A win in Week 13 and I clinch the division. Meanwhile that Solar West battle is a la AFC West!

Also, say hello to the #1 offense, #1 scoring offense in the league! (you don't really have to say hello)

**Rain Man** · 07-19-2012, 08:43 PM

Hmm, Little Rock probably shouldn't have punted here.

Little Rock
4th Q 1:20 1st and 10 Little Rock 20 Jimmy Clausen passes incomplete, dropped by BenJarvus Green-Ellis.
4th Q 1:13 2nd and 10 Little Rock 20 Jimmy Clausen scrambles for 2 yards.
4th Q 0:52 3rd and 8 Little Rock 22 Jimmy Clausen (pressured) passes complete to Steve Breaston for a gain of 1 yards. time out Little Rock
4th Q 0:44 4th and 7 Little Rock 23 Andy Lee punts 41 yards, fair catch byfree agent
Little Rock 10, St. Louis 13

St. Louis
4th Q 0:32 1st and 10 St. Louis 36 Brit Miller rushes for 1 yards.
Little Rock 10, St. Louis 13

topher79 · 07-19-2012, 08:50 PM

Kinda funny. Run the clock out already! Thanks for the win though KC!

Kansas City
4th Q 5:13 1st and 10 Kansas City 20 Arian Foster rushes for 2 yards.
4th Q 4:23 2nd and 8 Kansas City 22 Mark Ingram rushes for 8 yards.
4th Q 3:33 1st and 10 Kansas City 30 free agent rushes for 2 yards.
4th Q 2:43 2nd and 8 Kansas City 33 Arian Foster rushes for 9 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 2:35 1st and 10 Kansas City 42 Mark Ingram rushes for 7 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 2:27 2nd and 3 Kansas City 49 Arian Foster rushes for 5 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 2:19 1st and 10 Topeka 47 Arian Foster rushes for 0 yards. Two minute warning.
4th Q 2:00 2nd and 10 Topeka 47 Carson Palmer passes incomplete to Jason Witten.
4th Q 1:53 3rd and 10 Topeka 47 Carson Palmer passes complete to Marques Colston for a gain of 6 yards. PENALTY. Defensive Pass Interference on Cedric Griffin. 6 yards.
4th Q 1:45 1st and 10 Topeka 40 Mark Ingram rushes for 7 yards.
4th Q 0:55 2nd and 3 Topeka 33 Mark Ingram rushes for 1 yards.
4th Q 0:05 3rd and 2 Topeka 32 Sebastian Janikowski field goal attempt from 49 yards. Good.
Topeka 17, Kansas City 23

**Rain Man** · 07-19-2012, 08:56 PM

Check out the end of the game in Topeka vs. Columbia in League 2.

Topeka 16, Columbia 16
Columbia
4th Q 2:08 Columbia -1 Ryan Succop kicks 60 yards, returned for 11 yards by Sammie Stroughter Two minute warning.
4th Q 2:00 1st and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes incomplete, dropped by Visanthe Shiancoe.
4th Q 1:53 2nd and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick (pressured) passes incomplete to Joshua Cribbs.
4th Q 1:46 3rd and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes complete to Wes Welker for a gain of 16 yards. time out Columbia
4th Q 1:38 1st and 10 Columbia 32 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes complete to Wes Welker for a gain of 29 yards.
4th Q 0:53 1st and 10 Topeka 39 Ryan Fitzpatrick (pressured) passes 7 yards intercepted by Bryant McFadden and returned 40 yards.
Topeka 16, Columbia 16
Topeka
4th Q 0:41 1st and 10 Columbia 28 Ray Rice rushes for 1 yards. time out Columbia
4th Q 0:33 2nd and 9 Columbia 26 Ray Rice rushes for 4 yards. PENALTY. Offensive Holding on Logan Mankins. -10 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 0:25 2nd and 19 Columbia 36 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Danny Woodhead for a gain of 15 yards. time out Columbia
4th Q 0:17 3rd and 3 Columbia 21 Ray Rice rushes for 0 yards. PENALTY. Neutral Zone Infraction on Julian Peterson. 5 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 0:09 1st and 10 Columbia 16 Ray Rice rushes for 3 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 0:01 2nd and 7 Columbia 13 Ryan Succop field goal attempt from 30 yards. No good.
Topeka 16, Columbia 16
Topeka
5th Q 15:00 Topeka -1 Mike Nugent kicks 70 yards. No return. Touchback
5th Q 14:52 1st and 10 Topeka 20 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Ray Rice for a gain of 16 yards.
5th Q 14:07 1st and 10 Topeka 36 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Ray Rice for a gain of 9 yards.
5th Q 13:22 2nd and 1 Topeka 45 Aaron Rodgers (pressured) passes incomplete to Mike Thomas.
5th Q 13:15 3rd and 1 Topeka 45 Ray Rice rushes for 6 yards.
5th Q 12:33 1st and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers (pressured) passes incomplete to Demaryius Thomas.
5th Q 12:26 2nd and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers passes incomplete to James Jones.
5th Q 12:19 3rd and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Demaryius Thomas for a gain of 14 yards.
5th Q 11:34 1st and 10 Columbia 35 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Mike Thomas for a gain of 4 yards.
5th Q 10:49 2nd and 6 Columbia 31 Ray Rice rushes for 11 yards.
5th Q 10:07 1st and 10 Columbia 20 Ray Rice rushes for 0 yards.
5th Q 9:25 2nd and 10 Columbia 20 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Mike Thomas for a gain of 20 yards. Fumble, recovered by Topeka
5th Q 8:40 1st and goal Columbia half yardline Danny Woodhead rushes for 0 yards. Touchdown, conversion
Topeka 23, Columbia 16

topher79 · 07-19-2012, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Check out the end of the game in Topeka vs. Columbia in League 2.

Topeka 16, Columbia 16
Columbia
4th Q 2:08 Columbia -1 Ryan Succop kicks 60 yards, returned for 11 yards by Sammie Stroughter Two minute warning.
4th Q 2:00 1st and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes incomplete, dropped by Visanthe Shiancoe.
4th Q 1:53 2nd and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick (pressured) passes incomplete to Joshua Cribbs.
4th Q 1:46 3rd and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes complete to Wes Welker for a gain of 16 yards. time out Columbia
4th Q 1:38 1st and 10 Columbia 32 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes complete to Wes Welker for a gain of 29 yards.
4th Q 0:53 1st and 10 Topeka 39 Ryan Fitzpatrick (pressured) passes 7 yards intercepted by Bryant McFadden and returned 40 yards.
Topeka 16, Columbia 16
Topeka
4th Q 0:41 1st and 10 Columbia 28 Ray Rice rushes for 1 yards. time out Columbia
4th Q 0:33 2nd and 9 Columbia 26 Ray Rice rushes for 4 yards. PENALTY. Offensive Holding on Logan Mankins. -10 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 0:25 2nd and 19 Columbia 36 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Danny Woodhead for a gain of 15 yards. time out Columbia
4th Q 0:17 3rd and 3 Columbia 21 Ray Rice rushes for 0 yards. PENALTY. Neutral Zone Infraction on Julian Peterson. 5 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 0:09 1st and 10 Columbia 16 Ray Rice rushes for 3 yards. time out Topeka
4th Q 0:01 2nd and 7 Columbia 13 Ryan Succop field goal attempt from 30 yards. No good.
Topeka 16, Columbia 16
Topeka
5th Q 15:00 Topeka -1 Mike Nugent kicks 70 yards. No return. Touchback
5th Q 14:52 1st and 10 Topeka 20 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Ray Rice for a gain of 16 yards.
5th Q 14:07 1st and 10 Topeka 36 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Ray Rice for a gain of 9 yards.
5th Q 13:22 2nd and 1 Topeka 45 Aaron Rodgers (pressured) passes incomplete to Mike Thomas.
5th Q 13:15 3rd and 1 Topeka 45 Ray Rice rushes for 6 yards.
5th Q 12:33 1st and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers (pressured) passes incomplete to Demaryius Thomas.
5th Q 12:26 2nd and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers passes incomplete to James Jones.
5th Q 12:19 3rd and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Demaryius Thomas for a gain of 14 yards.
5th Q 11:34 1st and 10 Columbia 35 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Mike Thomas for a gain of 4 yards.
5th Q 10:49 2nd and 6 Columbia 31 Ray Rice rushes for 11 yards.
5th Q 10:07 1st and 10 Columbia 20 Ray Rice rushes for 0 yards.
5th Q 9:25 2nd and 10 Columbia 20 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Mike Thomas for a gain of 20 yards. Fumble, recovered by Topeka
5th Q 8:40 1st and goal Columbia half yardline Danny Woodhead rushes for 0 yards. Touchdown, conversion
Topeka 23, Columbia 16

Wow...so what kind of programming do you have in there to tell them when to kick the field goal in overtime? Or do they just have to get to 4th down?

**Rain Man** · 07-19-2012, 09:06 PM

North south! North south! What the h*** are you doing running around back there? And why did you even field the ball? What were you thinking?!?!

Provo
2nd Q 0:40 Provo -1 free agent kicks 70 yards. No return. Touchback
2nd Q 0:32 1st and 10 Provo 20 Joseph Addai rushes for 8 yards.
Provo 24, Independence 14
Provo
3rd Q 15:00 Provo -1 free agent kicks 57 yards, returned for 20 yards by Darren Sproles
3rd Q 14:52 1st and 10 Provo 28 Ben Roethlisberger (pressured) scrambles for 3 yards.
3rd Q 14:10 2nd and 7 Provo 31 Joseph Addai rushes for 1 yards.
3rd Q 13:28 3rd and 6 Provo 32 Ben Roethlisberger passes incomplete to Nate Washington.
3rd Q 13:21 4th and 6 Provo 32 Brandon Fields punts 64 yards, returned for -6 yards by free agent Safety
Provo 26, Independence 14

rageeumr · 07-19-2012, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

League 1 has parity in the Solar West Division. All four teams are 6-6.

Provo needed a missed 31 yard FG from Ryan Succop to get there, but we'll take it!

08-08-2011, 02:01 PM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-542449 VARSITY	Your Chance To Participate In A New Football Phenomenon (Sandbox Simulations) I apologize if the mods think this is soliciting, and I guess it is, but at the same time it's beta testing a new product developed by long-time planeteers, and it's free. cdcox and I have been developing a new football game for the thoughtful fan, where players build franchises and compete against each other. A description is below. If you're interested, we're offering the game for free in Year 1 to Chiefsplanet members, with the goal of both giving the system a dry run and also hooking you like Phillip Morris. You can go to www.sandboxsimulations.com to sign up, and use the access code 6Lanier3. Here's the overview: Build and manage a full 53-player roster over multiple seasons, as an offseason activity to give you year-round football Select your personnel to match your offensive and defensive scheme. Every position matters – even your blocking tight end. Realistic and accurate simulations of league games based on head-to-head matchups against other teams in your league. This is essentially a new concept in fantasy football that attempts to simulate as closely as possible the management of a real NFL franchise over a multi-year period. Unlike regular fantasy football, every position on the offense and defense contributes to your success or failure. On special teams, the punter, kicker, and kick returners matter. In Sandbox Football you will build a team – an entire 53-man football team – via an initial draft, and will maintain it year after year in annual rookie drafts, trading periods, and free agency. You compete against teams in your league. In the first year of the game, before the start of the NFL season, you will build your roster by drafting veterans and rookies through separate drafts, and through trades with other teams in the league. Your roster is frozen at the beginning of the NFL season. During the real regular NFL season, you can focus on your traditional fantasy games and perhaps keep on eye on your Sandbox roster as our statistical models build the data on player performances. At the end of the regular NFL season, the Sandbox season begins. There will be 16 games in the season. In real time, the season will run about 8 weeks (2 alternate reality games per week). Game outcomes will be simulated based on the performance of individual players during the just-completed NFL regular season. The simulations, developed by a PhD statistical expert, estimate how individual players will perform in the context of your alternate reality team competing head-to-head against other teams in the league and with the specific team that you have built. The simulations will consider the offensive and defensive schemes that you select. So you can build your roster to support a power running game or a high-flying passing attack. You can run a 3-4 or 4-3 base defense. You can run nickel formations or four-wide receiver sets. You can rotate your DL to keep them fresh. The game is more about building a team than playing video games. So this isn't Madden, but you will have the ability to tweak your game plan to take the best advantage of your roster and the weaknesses of your opponent. Injuries are a factor in the game. If a player is unavailable during weeks 3 through 6 in the NFL, he is also unavailable during the same weeks in the alternate reality season. So roster depth matters. The game simulations are based on the most advanced statistics and the latest research regarding what matters in winning an NFL game. But, the outcomes of the games have a random component, just like real NFL games. The calendar for the alternate reality league year will look something like this: • Jan to Mid March: Alternate Reality regular season and playoffs. • Mid-March to the beginning of NFL season: Roster building through trades, veteran draft (first year), free agent drafts (2nd year and beyond), and rookie draft. • Beginning of NFL season to end of regular NFL season: Alternate reality league is dormant, but the NFL players are generating their performance stats for the up-coming AR league. • Rinse and repeat. Copyright Sandbox Simulations, all rights reserved. We're still finalizing the cost structure, but this won't be an expensive game to play at all. It might range from a few bucks a year to $50 per year, depending on a few factors. Year 1 will require a couple of days of drafting with rather high intensity, but we've got it set up where you can put your draft list together and do customized and automated drafting if you like. So...go! Now! Time to get ready for the draft! Note that we are still in beta testing, so things could change if we find problems in the system. How Free Agency Works: Free Agency will begin before the 2012 season after the rookie draft. Our process is as follows for the 2012 season. In 2013 and beyond there will be minor changes as noted later. 1. We will unveil the list of available free agents so you can check out the talent pool. 2. If you look in "Standings", you will see that you have a salary account value of $1,300. You will use this to sign your veterans to contracts, sign your rookies to contracts, and (in a competitive bidding process) sign free agents to contracts. The cost of a contract is as follows for players already on your roster (both veterans and rookies). $0 - 1 season contract $10 - 2 season contract $22 - 3 season contract $37 - 4 season contract $55 - 5 season contract $76 - 6 season contract $100 - 7 season contract You will sign your existing players to contracts using an interface that we will unveil shortly. If your 53-man roster is set you can spend your $1,300 on your current roster. However, it may be worthwhile to hold some money back so you can compete for free agents. 3. The free agency period begins. Bidding for free agents will be open and competitive. As players come available, teams will be allowed to sign them if they are the high bidder. The contract length is automatically calculated by rounding down the bid to the chart below. Contract Length (Seasons) Salary Points Bid 1 0 to 9 2 10 to 21 3 22 to 36 4 37 to 54 5 55 to 75 6 76 to 99 7 100 or more For example, if you submit the winning bid for a player at a price of 25 salary points, that player becomes yours under a 3-year contract. If you submit a bid for 35 points and win, it’s also a 3-year contract. If you submit a bid for 38 points, it’s a 4-year contract. If you submit a bid for 120 points, it’s a 7-year contract. For the 2012 free agency period, we will enforce the 53-man rule. You will need to cut down to 53 players before the free agency period starts, and if you sign a player to go above 53, you will need to cut a player to stay within the roster limit. NOTE: DON'T CUT YET UNLESS YOU WANT TO. WE'RE STILL FINALIZING THE SYSTEM AND WANT TO BE SURE THAT THIS RULE WORKS IN 2012. 4. Ending Bidding and Ending Free Agency. Bids on an individual player will begin once the first player places a bid. For the 2012 season that bid must be $1 or more. Bidding ends when the existing high bid had not been raised for 72 hours. At that point, the high-bid team is awarded the player under the contract terms described in Step 3. The free agency period in 2012 will end once there have been no bids on any players for 72 hours. 5. Unused Salary Points If you do not use all of your salary points in a given year, they will roll over from year to year. This is experimental and we'll have to see how it works. If it doesn't work, they'll expire each year, or maybe a portion of the points can roll over. Right now, assume they all roll over. 6. Salary Points and Roster Management In the Sandbox system, salary points and the salary cap are used only for acquiring players. You will never have to track the number of salary points “on your roster” and you will never have to cut a player for salary cap reasons. Additionally, you are not obligated to keep a player for the full length of his contract. You can cut him or trade him at any time. However, recognize that it’s a waste of salary points to cut or trade a player before the end of his contract. But it doesn't hamstring you going forward - it's just past money that you wasted. 7. Free Agency and Contract Length - Retaining Your Current Players When a player reaches the end of their contract, they go back into the free agency pool and teams will bid for their services. You are eligible to bid on them to get them back, just like you can bid on any free agents. There is one exception to the rule of free agents going into the free agency pool, as follows: • At the end of the bidding process, you have the opportunity to re-sign your own players by outbidding the high bidder. Your bid must be the minimum points to increase their contract period by a year over the high bid. (Example: your player goes to free agency, and another team bids 50 points for him, which equates to a 4-year contract. You can keep the player by paying 55 points for him, which is the minimum amount for a 5-year contract.) If the high bidder offered a contract of 100 points or more (7-years), you can keep the player by bidding 10% more points than the high bid. 8. Free Agency and Trades If you trade for a player, their contract length is a consideration. Trading for a player with 6 years left on his contract will give you his services for that amount of time (unless you cut him or trade him, or he retires). Trading for a player with 1 year left on his contract means that he’ll go back into the free agency pool at the end of the season. (Of course, you can still retain him via Step 7.) 9. Future Years In future years, the process will be identical to that shown above, with the following exceptions. a. Because you will have a lot of veteran players under contract, you won't need $1,300. You'll get a new annual allotment of signing dollars. We're still working on the exact amount, but it looks like it'll be between $500 and $600. b. In the 2012 season, we will introduce all free agents at once to catch up. In the 2013 season and beyond, the free agency period will occur during the actual NFL season. We will sprinkle the free agents in one division at a time over the course of the season. (The divisions may be randomly selected or we may release a calendar. It doesn't matter that much.) This system should be interesting because some free agents will come available early in the season when you don't know their performance for the year - greater risk, greater reward - while other free agents will come available later in the season when you know what their performance will be, but so does everyone else. c. In the 2013 season and beyond, you will be able to retain more than 53 players through the rookie draft and the main free agency period. You will then have a cutdown period to get to 53 and we will have a final free agency period where you can sign any players who have been cut. In that final period you will have to enforce a 53-man roster, so if you sign a player you have to cut one. 10. When you think about the schedule in 2013 and beyond, it will go like this: a. Sandbox season goes from February through April. b. Rookie draft in May. No 53-man limit. c. Free agency from (likely) September through December, with free agents sprinkled in throughout that period. d. January. Roster cuts to 53. e. Late January. Final free agency period to flesh out rosters and sign players cut in Step d. f. New Sandbox season begins. Last edited by Rain Man; 05-27-2013 at 09:15 AM..
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07-17-2012, 09:24 PM	#2416
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $-498231	I just remembered to make week 12 rosters available. We will simulate week 12 on Thursday night.
Posts: 46,032

07-19-2012, 08:29 AM	#2417
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-542449 VARSITY	It's getting down to the wire now. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,338

07-19-2012, 12:52 PM	#2418
brorth Starter Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: lobation Casino cash: $-1987520	I feel like I play my statistical twin in the Pompano Beach Pandas. RB Zhang Jiao is so benched this week.
Posts: 960

07-19-2012, 07:57 PM	#2419
cdcox www.nfl-forecast.com Join Date: Sep 2000 Casino cash: $-498231	Independence is reeling. We just lost to a Free Agent QB leading a 3-8 team. We were missing two starting LB, in addition to our QB and best RB. But we still should have been able to win this game. Luckily we still have a 3 game lead with 4 games to go. But we'll be one and done in the playoffs. Such a promising start.
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07-19-2012, 08:06 PM	#2420
topher79 Starter Join Date: Apr 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Cam Newton just can't find it (19/31 223 1td 2int). Only let him start because it was a fairly winnable game and we did by 3TD's but 3 of those were ST/Def (Cribbs, Sproles, ???). I think I'm just sticking with McNabb here on out unless I have a cakewalk. Still don't know how he's the highest rated passer in the league. On another note, 12 games in and only 3 1,000 yard rushers (Sproles, Jackson, Bush)??? League's a bit pass happy I guess.
Posts: 284

07-19-2012, 08:28 PM	#2421
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-542449 VARSITY	League 1 has parity in the Solar West Division. All four teams are 6-6. In fact, that whole conference is pretty even. Only one team is better than 7-5 and only one team is below 5-7. Amazing. And Richmond lost to quarterback Tyrod Taylor. That hurt. Dexter McCluster gave them a 43-yard TD run on fourth down at one point, and then made an 8-yard run on 3rd and 7 to keep us from getting a final possession. That hurt. At least Duluth kept winning. But at 8-4 we're still in third place. We could go 12-4 and not make the playoffs. __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
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07-19-2012, 08:43 PM	#2425
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-542449 VARSITY	Hmm, Little Rock probably shouldn't have punted here. Little Rock 4th Q 1:20 1st and 10 Little Rock 20 Jimmy Clausen passes incomplete, dropped by BenJarvus Green-Ellis. 4th Q 1:13 2nd and 10 Little Rock 20 Jimmy Clausen scrambles for 2 yards. 4th Q 0:52 3rd and 8 Little Rock 22 Jimmy Clausen (pressured) passes complete to Steve Breaston for a gain of 1 yards. time out Little Rock 4th Q 0:44 4th and 7 Little Rock 23 Andy Lee punts 41 yards, fair catch byfree agent Little Rock 10, St. Louis 13 St. Louis 4th Q 0:32 1st and 10 St. Louis 36 Brit Miller rushes for 1 yards. Little Rock 10, St. Louis 13 __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
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07-19-2012, 08:50 PM	#2426
topher79 Starter Join Date: Apr 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Kinda funny. Run the clock out already! Thanks for the win though KC! Kansas City 4th Q 5:13 1st and 10 Kansas City 20 Arian Foster rushes for 2 yards. 4th Q 4:23 2nd and 8 Kansas City 22 Mark Ingram rushes for 8 yards. 4th Q 3:33 1st and 10 Kansas City 30 free agent rushes for 2 yards. 4th Q 2:43 2nd and 8 Kansas City 33 Arian Foster rushes for 9 yards. time out Topeka 4th Q 2:35 1st and 10 Kansas City 42 Mark Ingram rushes for 7 yards. time out Topeka 4th Q 2:27 2nd and 3 Kansas City 49 Arian Foster rushes for 5 yards. time out Topeka 4th Q 2:19 1st and 10 Topeka 47 Arian Foster rushes for 0 yards. Two minute warning. 4th Q 2:00 2nd and 10 Topeka 47 Carson Palmer passes incomplete to Jason Witten. 4th Q 1:53 3rd and 10 Topeka 47 Carson Palmer passes complete to Marques Colston for a gain of 6 yards. PENALTY. Defensive Pass Interference on Cedric Griffin. 6 yards. 4th Q 1:45 1st and 10 Topeka 40 Mark Ingram rushes for 7 yards. 4th Q 0:55 2nd and 3 Topeka 33 Mark Ingram rushes for 1 yards. 4th Q 0:05 3rd and 2 Topeka 32 Sebastian Janikowski field goal attempt from 49 yards. Good. Topeka 17, Kansas City 23
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07-19-2012, 08:56 PM	#2427
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-542449 VARSITY	Check out the end of the game in Topeka vs. Columbia in League 2. Topeka 16, Columbia 16 Columbia 4th Q 2:08 Columbia -1 Ryan Succop kicks 60 yards, returned for 11 yards by Sammie Stroughter Two minute warning. 4th Q 2:00 1st and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes incomplete, dropped by Visanthe Shiancoe. 4th Q 1:53 2nd and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick (pressured) passes incomplete to Joshua Cribbs. 4th Q 1:46 3rd and 10 Columbia 16 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes complete to Wes Welker for a gain of 16 yards. time out Columbia 4th Q 1:38 1st and 10 Columbia 32 Ryan Fitzpatrick passes complete to Wes Welker for a gain of 29 yards. 4th Q 0:53 1st and 10 Topeka 39 Ryan Fitzpatrick (pressured) passes 7 yards intercepted by Bryant McFadden and returned 40 yards. Topeka 16, Columbia 16 Topeka 4th Q 0:41 1st and 10 Columbia 28 Ray Rice rushes for 1 yards. time out Columbia 4th Q 0:33 2nd and 9 Columbia 26 Ray Rice rushes for 4 yards. PENALTY. Offensive Holding on Logan Mankins. -10 yards. time out Topeka 4th Q 0:25 2nd and 19 Columbia 36 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Danny Woodhead for a gain of 15 yards. time out Columbia 4th Q 0:17 3rd and 3 Columbia 21 Ray Rice rushes for 0 yards. PENALTY. Neutral Zone Infraction on Julian Peterson. 5 yards. time out Topeka 4th Q 0:09 1st and 10 Columbia 16 Ray Rice rushes for 3 yards. time out Topeka 4th Q 0:01 2nd and 7 Columbia 13 Ryan Succop field goal attempt from 30 yards. No good. Topeka 16, Columbia 16 Topeka 5th Q 15:00 Topeka -1 Mike Nugent kicks 70 yards. No return. Touchback 5th Q 14:52 1st and 10 Topeka 20 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Ray Rice for a gain of 16 yards. 5th Q 14:07 1st and 10 Topeka 36 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Ray Rice for a gain of 9 yards. 5th Q 13:22 2nd and 1 Topeka 45 Aaron Rodgers (pressured) passes incomplete to Mike Thomas. 5th Q 13:15 3rd and 1 Topeka 45 Ray Rice rushes for 6 yards. 5th Q 12:33 1st and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers (pressured) passes incomplete to Demaryius Thomas. 5th Q 12:26 2nd and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers passes incomplete to James Jones. 5th Q 12:19 3rd and 10 50 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Demaryius Thomas for a gain of 14 yards. 5th Q 11:34 1st and 10 Columbia 35 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Mike Thomas for a gain of 4 yards. 5th Q 10:49 2nd and 6 Columbia 31 Ray Rice rushes for 11 yards. 5th Q 10:07 1st and 10 Columbia 20 Ray Rice rushes for 0 yards. 5th Q 9:25 2nd and 10 Columbia 20 Aaron Rodgers passes complete to Mike Thomas for a gain of 20 yards. Fumble, recovered by Topeka 5th Q 8:40 1st and goal Columbia half yardline Danny Woodhead rushes for 0 yards. Touchdown, conversion Topeka 23, Columbia 16 __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
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07-19-2012, 09:06 PM	#2429
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-542449 VARSITY	North south! North south! What the h* are you doing running around back there? And why did you even field the ball? What were you thinking?!?! Provo 2nd Q 0:40 Provo -1 free agent kicks 70 yards. No return. Touchback 2nd Q 0:32 1st and 10 Provo 20 Joseph Addai rushes for 8 yards. Provo 24, Independence 14 Provo 3rd Q 15:00 Provo -1 free agent kicks 57 yards, returned for 20 yards by Darren Sproles 3rd Q 14:52 1st and 10 Provo 28 Ben Roethlisberger (pressured) scrambles for 3 yards. 3rd Q 14:10 2nd and 7 Provo 31 Joseph Addai rushes for 1 yards. 3rd Q 13:28 3rd and 6 Provo 32 Ben Roethlisberger passes incomplete to Nate Washington. 3rd Q 13:21 4th and 6 Provo 32 Brandon Fields punts 64 yards, returned for -6 yards by free agent Safety** Provo 26, Independence 14 __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,338