The gameday inactive rule

[Mr. Scot]

(this is an offshoot of the discussion in the 'practice squad increase' thread)

 

Here's the rationale behind gameday inactives...

 

Let's say on a given day Team X has two players injured and unable to play, while their opponent Team Y has seven guys out.

 

Under those conditions, Team X could be said to have a competitive advantage because with more healthy players available they can go deeper into their bench than Team Y potentially could.

 

Therefore, the NFL has required all teams to submit a roster of only forty-five (actually forty-six now that the third QB is no longer required to be inactive) in the interest of competitive balance.  With each team having an equal number of players available, the potential injury advantage is nullified and you have a level playing field.

 

That's the why, and I agree with the concept behind it though I'm open to debate about the execution.

 

Feel free to argue the what, the why or the how.

[smash_n_dash]

Am I correct in that players get paid per game they play in and if that's correct, do inactive players get paid?

Keep Pounding ... all the way to a Cam Super Bowl MVP

[KSpan]

Am I correct in that players get paid per game they play in and if that's correct, do inactive players get paid?

Keep Pounding ... all the way to a Cam Super Bowl MVP

Players get paid every week they're on the 53-man roster or practice squad regardless of being active/inactive or seeing the field. Bonuses are frequently tied to playing time milestones or other performance metrics, but the base salary is paid regardless.

[Mr. Scot]

Am I correct in that players get paid per game they play in and if that's correct, do inactive players get paid?

Keep Pounding ... all the way to a Cam Super Bowl MVP

 

I'd look it up to be sure, but my understanding is that they do get paid their regular salary even if inactive.

 

And that makes sense.  You wouldn't dock a guy a paycheck for being hurt in a job where people get hurt every day.

 

[t96]

Am I correct in that players get paid per game they play in and if that's correct, do inactive players get paid?

Keep Pounding ... all the way to a Cam Super Bowl MVP

Think about this. A player is on the 53-man roster and is healthy. He practices with the team the entire week, gameplanning and watching film, working out, and all that jazz. Then come game day he's a healthy scratch... So he doesn't get paid? That would be outrageously unfair if it were reality. So, yes, inactives get paid as long as they are on the roster.

[Montsta]

So did I read that right about the 3rd QB being given an extra gameday spot or no?

Would that mean it won't hurt us to keep Webb?

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

[Mr. Scot]

So did I read that right about the 3rd QB being given an extra gameday spot or no?

Would that mean it won't hurt us to keep Webb?

 

They dumped that rule a while back, but a lot of folks don't remember  (heck, I'd forgotten myself till recently).

 

Here's a link from when it happened: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/22/nfl-drops-third-quarterback-rule-46-active-players-on-game-day/

[firstdayfan]

I actually never realized that was the reason for the rule, actually makes a ton of sense.  Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mr. Scot]

I actually never realized that was the reason for the rule, actually makes a ton of sense.  Thanks for sharing.

 

I think most people don't.

 

Some years back, I heard someone explain it (forget where).  And same as you, I was like...

 

 

[bababoey]

This is the reason why I think the IR should be done in the NFL more like baseball.  If a guy is injured with something for maybe 3 or 4 weeks,  a team should be able to put them on a 30 day IR and sign someone for 30 days.  Not a bad knee in week 4 puts you out for the season because 2 other guys got hurt and the team does not have enough bodies going forward.  The two changes I wished for years the NFL would make is make a temporary IR and make all 53 guys active.

[Mr. Scot]

This is the reason why I think the IR should be done in the NFL more like baseball.  If a guy is injured with something for maybe 3 or 4 weeks,  a team should be able to put them on a 30 day IR and sign someone for 30 days.  Not a bad knee in week 4 puts you out for the season because 2 other guys got hurt and the team does not have enough bodies going forward.  The two changes I wished for years the NFL would make is make a temporary IR and make all 53 guys active.

 

The NFL is pretty stiff on roster limits, exclusions, etc.  Though they do now have the 'designated to return' label available.

 

Barring that dort of thing, I think the inactive rule is a good tool.

 

[t96]

So did I read that right about the 3rd QB being given an extra gameday spot or no?

Would that mean it won't hurt us to keep Webb?

Sent from my iPhone using CarolinaHuddle

 

It'd still hurt us because he'd take up a spot on the 53 man roster.

[Mr. Scot]

I said elsewhere I think Jimmy Clausen is the last QB3 you'll see on this roster for a while.

 

Current braintrust just seems to prefer using that last spot elsewhere.  And given how durable Cam's been, I can't really fault them for it.

[UpstatePanther]

my question about the roster rule is how exactly did they come up with the number 53... and thus 45 active? seems terribly arbitrary to me