Relegation League?

My fellow GMs,

It came to light during the offseason activities that turning our league into a 2-division relegation league was something the majority of GMs seemed interested in.  However, this type of change would be significant and have far reaching implications (far more than a simple QB in the flex debate).

Below is one suggested methodology for how to evolve the League in such a manner.  Please review the below proposition and we will have a vote on it sometime before the draft.  If you have an issue with the below or can conceive of potential weaknesses, please send them to me and i will organize the considerations so that when we have a vote we are all well-informed.

Ideally I would like to have this resolved before the day of the draft.

Please review!

RELEGATION LEAGUE

Format: Eight GMs make up the Premier League.  This league has the top prizes – 1^st, 2^nd overall, etc.  Midseason Award, whatever.  The remaining six GMs (assuming two expansion teams) make up the Relegation League.  This league has a prize for first overall, and maybe they are also eligible for Midseason Awards… to be determined.  Maybe they have the same prizes but reduced amounts.  All teams accumulate points in the same format as always.

End of Season:  Top two teams from Relegation join Premiership the following season.  Bottom two in Premiership drop to Relegation the following season.

Seeding:  First, we play this season same as usual.  Then next year, we use this season’s final standings as seeding for which league you are in.  

All details including the format can be discussed and tweaked if need be.

Reasoning:

Imagine this: Fourteen GMs start the season.  Everyone has high hopes as we gather for the draft at the beginning of the season.  Everyone participates, and makes stupid side bets.  Interest is high across the board.

By US Thanksgiving, only seven GMs are still interested in the season.  Oh, there may be one or two others who foolishly think they can still climb the standings, but let’s be real.

By mid-December, teams near the bottom are trading away their best talent to the leaders, and planning for next year (if they are still going to the website regularly) – and that is the best case scenario for league-wide engagement as the season winds down.  A couple of teams trying to get into the top three money spots.

Now imagine THIS: The season is winding down, and there are eight GMs vying for the title… maybe four or five have a realistic shot.  But those who don’t have a realistic shot are fighting for something else – to AVOID relegation!  All of a sudden, you CARE if you finish 6^th.  You WANT to finish 6^th, because 7^th or 8^th is a kiss of death.  All of a sudden, the middle of the standings MATTER, all the way to the final week of the season.

The other six GMs, though in the relegation league are fighting as well.  The top two teams will move up to the Premier League next year.  Maybe four of the six have a shot.  They will all be giving it their all to improve their positioning for next year.  They will all be interested all the way to Week 17.  And hey, at least if you finish last in Relegation, you get the first overall pick next year.

This could be a way to keep interest high among ALL GMs throughout the whole season.  I think most guys are pretty good at keeping the interest level high, but now it will be for more than just bragging rights.  Again, all details are up for discussion but I think we NEED to explore this idea!