Post by Pounder on Nov 13, 2006 18:41:17 GMT -5
web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20061111&content_id=78396&vkey=mlscup2006&fext=.jsp
web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20061110&content_id=78269&vkey=mlscuppr2006&fext=.jsp
web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20061110&content_id=78340&vkey=mlscup2006&fext=.jsp
Most of these have already been discussed elsewhere.
The "Beckham Rule" is implemented. In reality, there's always been flexibility to sign such players, but not codified until now. However, since ESPN signed on to actually pay MLS for broadcasting games starting next year, the thought is that ESPN demanded star value in return. Beckham himself probably commands a pretty penny if someone buys him in January... but he's a free transfer if he lasts to the next summer transfer window. There's also some speculation that teams not getting Beckham, Ronaldo, or Luis Figo might catch on to Americans returning from Europe. Kasey Keller has talked about returning to the States for his last hurrah, for example.
A hitch: each team is granted one exception, but it can be traded away. No team can get more than two exceptions. It's possible that a smarter team will trade that exception, stay young, and probably outplay teams with stars to get a title- arugably, Houston's championship team works from that principle.
If I understand correctly, not only is there a total salary cap exception for one player, but two other players on a team can be paid over the cap maximum.
Teams get a greater percentage of money paid for transfers (a little sneaker in the first article, but very important). I believe this is actually the second such concession to owners, but it's likely this is a more substantial concession.
For 2007, given 13 teams (a temporary condition according to MLS), there will only be 30 games, no single table, no change in the number of playoff teams (though they'll take the top 2 from each conference and the next best 4 overall vice top 4 from each conference the last two years). OTOH...
...the top teams in MLS and the top Mexican teams will play on weekdays in a near-season-long competition. This was supposedly announced on Univision yesterday. Univision will be televising those games and Sunday night MLS matches.
Youth initiative: MLS will exempt players who qualify as "home-grown talent" from the draft. It's up to the Board of Governors to establish territories for each team. Also, interestingly, these players will be considered to be in an amateur development program such that they do not lose NCAA eligibility. (Is it too much to ask the NCAA to deep-six those silly sub rules?) While there's been much speculation about the reserve and youth programs taking a chunk out of USL and the Timbers, it seems like the reality is no different than current conditions... unless MLS expects USL to buy reserve washouts. Since there seem to be numeric limits on how many people can be protected on rosters, I doubt much difference from now is in the cards.
web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20061110&content_id=78269&vkey=mlscuppr2006&fext=.jsp
web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_events_news.jsp?ymd=20061110&content_id=78340&vkey=mlscup2006&fext=.jsp
Most of these have already been discussed elsewhere.
The "Beckham Rule" is implemented. In reality, there's always been flexibility to sign such players, but not codified until now. However, since ESPN signed on to actually pay MLS for broadcasting games starting next year, the thought is that ESPN demanded star value in return. Beckham himself probably commands a pretty penny if someone buys him in January... but he's a free transfer if he lasts to the next summer transfer window. There's also some speculation that teams not getting Beckham, Ronaldo, or Luis Figo might catch on to Americans returning from Europe. Kasey Keller has talked about returning to the States for his last hurrah, for example.
A hitch: each team is granted one exception, but it can be traded away. No team can get more than two exceptions. It's possible that a smarter team will trade that exception, stay young, and probably outplay teams with stars to get a title- arugably, Houston's championship team works from that principle.
If I understand correctly, not only is there a total salary cap exception for one player, but two other players on a team can be paid over the cap maximum.
Teams get a greater percentage of money paid for transfers (a little sneaker in the first article, but very important). I believe this is actually the second such concession to owners, but it's likely this is a more substantial concession.
For 2007, given 13 teams (a temporary condition according to MLS), there will only be 30 games, no single table, no change in the number of playoff teams (though they'll take the top 2 from each conference and the next best 4 overall vice top 4 from each conference the last two years). OTOH...
...the top teams in MLS and the top Mexican teams will play on weekdays in a near-season-long competition. This was supposedly announced on Univision yesterday. Univision will be televising those games and Sunday night MLS matches.
Youth initiative: MLS will exempt players who qualify as "home-grown talent" from the draft. It's up to the Board of Governors to establish territories for each team. Also, interestingly, these players will be considered to be in an amateur development program such that they do not lose NCAA eligibility. (Is it too much to ask the NCAA to deep-six those silly sub rules?) While there's been much speculation about the reserve and youth programs taking a chunk out of USL and the Timbers, it seems like the reality is no different than current conditions... unless MLS expects USL to buy reserve washouts. Since there seem to be numeric limits on how many people can be protected on rosters, I doubt much difference from now is in the cards.