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

[Rain Man]

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.

[Hammock Parties]

I have exactly 53 guys because I traded up a few times.

I am a little thin at a couple positions as a result, and I'll need a free agent punter as I'll only have Ben Graham for 8 games.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Did you do a trade up at some point? I would think that different teams would have some different roster numbers at this point due to the large number of trades.

That's probably it.

[Hammock Parties]

I drafted the worst cover corner in football.

Definitely need to make a trade.

[rageeumr]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It appears to have run rampant throughout the league.

I've got some turds for sure (Brandon Meriweather ) and my share of injuries, but there's reason for hope. I have a few mid-rounds selections that turned out pretty well like Gronk, Beast Mode, and Heyward-Gay.

[shorman22]

it ok my qb is gerard.........lol

[Hammock Parties]

Is there anyone available to take over Chula Vista?

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Omega

Is there anyone available to take over Chula Vista?

I could do it.

[Hammock Parties]

Take it then. I only took them over for the draft.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by shorman22

it ok my qb is gerard.........lol

You're all set.

Are you in League 1 or League 2? I may have a QB available for trade.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I could do it.

PM cdcox and he'll get you all set up. Welcome.

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I could do it.

Done.

Log in, go to Account Management -> My Teams and you should be able to see Chula Vista.

We still have some other teams to adopt if anyone wants one.

[Hootie]

Originally Posted by cdcox

Done.

Log in, go to Account Management -> My Teams and you should be able to see Chula Vista.

We still have some other teams to adopt if anyone wants one.

I'll give it a try!

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by Short Leash Hootie

I'll give it a try!

You can have your pick. Some of these rosters are a little rough.

Independence Jokers

Alex Green HB
Mike McGlynn C
Cortland Finnegan CB
Josh Wilson CB
Tracy Porter CB
Travis Daniels CB
William James CB
Darryl Tapp DE
Dave Tollefson DE
Dwan Edwards DE
Gerard Warren DE
Jamaal Anderson DE
Robert Geathers DE
Ryan Pickett DE
Trevor Scott DE
Corey Peters DT
Henry Melton DT
Kevin Williams DT
Remi Ayodele DT
Shaun Cody DT
Heath Evans FB
Jerome Felton FB
Dashon Goldson FS
Thomas DeCoud FS
Kory Lichtensteiger G
Leonard Davis G
Richie Incognito G
Roberto Garza G
Kendall Hunter HB
Michael Bush HB
Shonn Greene HB
London Fletcher-Baker ILB
Paris Lenon ILB
Joe Nedney K
Gabe Carimi LT
Erik Walden OLB
Frank Zombo OLB
Mike Peterson OLB
Tamba Hali OLB
Thomas Davis OLB
Donnie Jones P
Christian Ponder QB
Donovan McNabb QB
Kyle Boller QB
J'Marcus Webb RT
Jason Pinkston RT
Khalif Barnes RT
Lydon Murtha RT
Deon Grant SS
Sean Jones SS
Dallas Clark TE
Kellen Davis TE
Kyle Rudolph TE
Darrius Heyward-Bey WR
Larry Fitzgerald WR
Niles Paul WR
Ramses Barden WR
T.J. Houshmandzadeh WR

Anchorage Eskimos

Chris Spencer C
Dominic Raiola C
Jason Spitz C
A.J. Jefferson CB
Benny Sapp CB
Leigh Bodden CB
Mike Jenkins CB
Shawntae Spencer CB
Israel Idonije DE
Jabaal Sheard DE
Robert Mathis DE
Stylez G. White DE
C.J. Mosley DT
Junior Siavii DT
Leger Douzable DT
Matt Toeaina DT
Muhammad Wilkerson DT
Tony Brown DT
Lousaka Polite FB
Reagan Mauia FB
Nick Collins FS
Chris Snee G
Daniel Loper G
Jacob Bell G
Todd Herremans G
Isaac Redman HB
Jason Snelling HB
LeSean McCoy HB
Mikel Leshoure HB
Nate Irving ILB
Garrett Hartley K
Jay Feely K
Charlie Johnson LT
Russell Okung LT
Ray Lewis MLB
Vince Wilfork NT
Bruce Carter OLB
Jarret Johnson OLB
Na'il Diggs OLB
Titus Brown OLB
Matt Turk P
Colt McCoy QB
Greg McElroy QB
Jason Campbell QB
David Stewart RT
Jordan Black RT
Charles Godfrey SS
Craig Dahl SS
John Carlson TE
Vernon Davis TE
Zach Miller TE
Andre Roberts WR
Devin Hester WR
Hines Ward WR
Jacoby Ford WR
Terrell Owens WR
Vincent Brown WR

4 more teams to come...

[cdcox]

Columbia KC Hood Starz

Jonathan Goodwin C
Shaun O'Hara C
Andre' Goodman CB
Chris Culliver CB
Jacob Lacey CB
Kelvin Hayden CB
Quentin Jammer CB
Shareece Wright CB
George Selvie DE
Jimmy Wilkerson DE
Matt Shaughnessy DE
Will Smith DE
Stephen Paea DT
Terrance Knighton DT
Terrell McClain DT
Tommy Kelly DT
Moran Norris FB
Ovie Mughelli FB
C.C. Brown FS
Chris D. Clemons FS
George Wilson FS
Jim Leonhard FS
Ben Ijalana G
Derrick Dockery G
Jahri Evans G
Kraig Urbik G
Brian Westbrook HB
Leon Washington HB
Pierre Thomas HB
Steven Jackson HB
Lance Laury ILB
Tim Dobbins ILB
Zak DeOssie ILB
Mike Nugent K
Jordan Gross LT
Sam Baker LT
Jonathan Vilma MLB
Bryan Thomas OLB
Daryl Smith OLB
Gabe Miller OLB
Julian Peterson OLB
Sam Koch P
Ryan Fitzpatrick QB
Todd Collins QB
Troy Smith QB
Corey Hilliard RT
Sean Locklear RT
Adrian Wilson SS
Jon McGraw SS
Lance Kendricks TE
Leonard Pope TE
Visanthe Shiancoe TE
Davone Bess WR
Joshua Cribbs WR
Sammie Stroughter WR
Vincent Jackson WR
Wes Welker WR

Round Rock TambaTornado

Eugene Amano C
Stefen Wisniewski C
Brandon Hogan CB
D.J. Moore CB
Demarcus Van Dyke CB
Kareem Jackson CB
Marcus Trufant CB
Sheldon Brown CB
Austen Lane DE
Chris Kelsay DE
Raheem Brock DE
Ray Edwards DE
Stephen Bowen DE
Kyle Williams DT
Marvin Austin DT
Nick Hayden DT
Pat Sims DT
Madison Hedgecock FB
Tony Fiammetta FB
Jairus Byrd FS
Madieu Williams FS
Brandon Moore G
Chris Chester G
Chris Williams G
William Rackley G
Kevin Smith HB
Maurice Morris HB
Michael Turner HB
Ronnie Brown HB
Stevan Ridley HB
Phil Dawson K
Jamon Meredith LT
Rodger Saffold LT
Dhani Jones MLB
Stephen Tulloch MLB
B.J. Raji NT
Andre Carter OLB
Danny Clark OLB
Kamerion Wimbley OLB
Shaun Phillips OLB
Reggie Hodges P
Kerry Collins QB
Tony Romo QB
Tyler Thigpen QB
Erik Pears RT
Vernon Carey RT
Melvin Bullitt SS
Steve Gregory SS
Dave Thomas TE
Jeremy Shockey TE
Tony Moeaki TE
Armanti Edwards WR
Brandon LaFell WR
Donald Driver WR
Mohamed Massaquoi WR
Steve Johnson WR
Titus Young WR

2 more to come...

[cdcox]

St. Louis spiders

Brad Meester C
Jamaal Jackson C
Asante Samuel CB
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB
Patrick Lee CB
Walter Thurmond CB
Antonio D. Smith DE
Brandon Deaderick DE
Jayme Mitchell DE
Red Bryant DE
Chris Canty DT
Kelly Gregg DT
Nick Fairley DT
Brit Miller FB
Earnest Graham FB
Owen Marecic FB
Kendrick Lewis FS
Robert Sands FS
Usama Young FS
Adam Snyder G
Antoine Caldwell G
Shawn Lauvao G
Stephen Peterman G
Ted Larsen G
Adrian L. Peterson HB
Maurice Jones-Drew HB
Mewelde Moore HB
Toby Gerhart HB
Corey Mays ILB
Jason Hanson K
Shane Andrus K
Bryant McKinnie LT
Jeff Backus LT
Gary Brackett MLB
Gabe Watson NT
Andy Studebaker OLB
Kavell Conner OLB
Phillip Dillard OLB
Scott Fujita OLB
Brian Moorman P
Chris Kluwe P
Jake Locker QB
Kyle Orton QB
Seneca Wallace QB
Anthony Collins RT
Tony Pashos RT
Eric Berry SS
Kyle McCarthy SS
Charles Clay TE
Ernest Wilford TE
Evan Moore TE
Randy McMichael TE
Aldrick Robinson WR
Demetrius Williams WR
Dexter McCluster WR
Scotty McKnight WR
Steve L. Smith WR


Sioux Falls Swagger

Casey Rabach C
John Sullivan C
Leon Hall CB
Michael Coe CB
Nate Clements CB
Rashean Mathis CB
Aaron Smith DE
Darnell Dockett DE
Isaac Sopoaga DE
Kenyon Coleman DE
William Hayes DE
Drake Nevis DT
Richard Seymour DT
Chris Gronkowski FB
Greg Jones FB
Alan Ball FS
Antrel Rolle FS
Chris Prosinski FS
Chris DeGeare G
Davin Joseph G
Floyd Womack G
Travelle Wharton G
Darren McFadden HB
Fred Jackson HB
Jerome Harrison HB
Kregg Lumpkin HB
Gerald Hayes ILB
Takeo Spikes ILB
Rian Lindell K
Shayne Graham K
Chad Clifton LT
James Carpenter LT
Leon Williams MLB
Rolando McClain MLB
Antonio Garay NT
Ma'ake Kemoeatu NT
Clark Haggans OLB
Justin Houston OLB
Parys Haralson OLB
Sam Acho OLB
Robert Malone P
Chad Henne QB
Jay Cutler QB
Matt Moore QB
Jeremy Trueblood RT
Stephon Heyer RT
Abram Elam SS
Yeremiah Bell SS
Billy Bajema TE
Clay Harbor TE
Marcedes Lewis TE
Robert Housler TE
A.J. Green WR
Andre Johnson WR
Bernard Berrian WR
Brian Hartline WR
Mike A. Williams WR