Slick Predators Exploit Free Agency Loophole
Adam J Locascio
Tuesday May 16, 2006
In a rather curious move, the Orlando Predators picked up WR/LB Cory Fleming on the eve of the playoffs after he was unceremoniously released from the Nashville Kats.
"It was a situation that wasn’t working out," said Kats General Manager Bob Flynn. "We gave him his release so he would have a chance to be picked up by another team for the playoffs."
Does anyone else see a problem with this?
The Predators essentially stacked their playoff roster with a player who was voted one of the AFL’s 20 Greatest Players. Not only that, but Fleming was a Predator up until the beginning of this season and gets to return to the postseason with many members of the team that went to the playoffs last year. It’s not like he has to learn Jay Gruden’s offense.
The Predators have essentially exposed a huge loophole in the free agency policy. Who knew a team could sign free agents going into the playoffs, especially those who were playing on another team?
It might be legal and it might be within the rules, but the policy stinks. This "renting of players" has the attention of the NFL and Major League Baseball. Baseball has a July 31 non-waiver trade deadline to prevent this very thing. The NFL has a similar policy, but it relies on other teams to step in and police themselves.
"In the NFL, all players who are cut after the trading deadline must clear waivers," said Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. "In 2002, for example, Deion Sanders wanted to play for the Raiders in playoffs. The Redskins released his rights, but the Chargers put in a waiver claim, blocking the move."
If this was the NFL, Fleming’s rights would be offered to the team with the worst record first. If he was not signed by that team, he would be offered to the team with the next worst record and so forth up the chain. The odds of a player of Fleming’s caliber reaching the second seed in the National Conference would be slim.
Further, what’s to stop a player or a team from cutting an "under the table" deal where they can rent a Cory Fleming for the playoffs?
Consider this hypothetical situation: Assume for a moment that Nashville was not going to the playoffs in 2006. Fleming could tell the Kats he’ll re-sign with them for 2007 at a discount if he’s allowed to play for the Predators in the 2006 playoffs. The Kats want to keep their star for the future, so they cut Fleming with a press release that states, "things aren’t working out yadda yadda yadda." The Predators sign him immediately. Since there is no waiver period, the Predators can sign him before everyone else.
Fleming plays in the playoffs, and the Predators season ends. His 2006 "Predator contract" expires and again, he’s a free agent. Fleming calls the Kats, per his pre-arranged verbal agreement. He signs at a discount and says, "Thanks for the opportunity for letting me earn another ring."
Did this happen? Probably not. Could it happen? Oh, you bet.
The Tampa Bay Storm are out of the playoffs right now. Why not cut quarterback Shane Stafford and Ironman Lawrence Samuels and let them play in the postseason? They’re going to be free agents anyway. Let them get on a roster to help someone.
Under the current rules, Stafford and Samuels could literally pick the team they wanted to play for! Couldn’t Utah use an Ironman like Samuels? Imagine how that would upset the Arizona Rattlers, the Blaze’s first round opponent.
The Predators got a huge playoff advantage by signing one of their former stars and fan-favorites. It will be interesting to see how the league reacts to this signing.
More importantly, will other teams follow suit before the AFL corrects the problem?
Adam J. Locascio is a financial advisor in the Tampa Bay area and a Board Member of the Tampa Bay Storm Surge Fan Club. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix and is a six-year season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Storm.
