Preamble: If you don't like how this new stuff works, blame Alread's Alicantos. We expanded to 11 just to let this guy in, so no nasty e-mails to the Commish over this. Joe, if you're not feeling sufficiently scolded, go sit in the corner for five minutes.

OK, as we all know, going to 11 teams necessitates some changes over what we had set as our rules earlier. This column should set the record straight on what has changed since we last voted on rules changes in the offseason.

Scheduling snaffus
The regular season will run Weeks 1-12, and the four-week playoffs will ensue. Teams play all other teams once from Weeks 1-11, with each team having a bye somewhere along the way (yes, teams will still accumulate points even though they won't be playing another team in a head-2-head matchup, so turn in a lineup during your bye week). In Week 12, teams with odd-numbered rankings will play a "bonus" regular-season game against the team ranked below it in the standings. The team in first place will play the team in second, third place will play fourth place, etc. The team in 11th place will compete against the average total number of points scored by all other teams (league average). Here's the playoffs format:

Ding dong, divisions are dead
Since the new schedule isn't based on a division format, there's no real reason to have them. This means that the top point scoring team for each week will collect from everyone, as opposed to what we've had in the past three seasons where top scorers from each division collected from their divisional foes. It also means we will revert to a previous system of end-of-season prize money distribution, in which:
the season points winner (overall champion) will receive 50 percent of the pot; the Tech Bowl winner will receive 20 percent; second place overall will receive 20 percent; and third place overall will receive 10 percent.

The "Toilet Bowl" has been flushed
As you may recall in our previous episode, TFFL owners voted to hold a "Toilet Bowl" in Week 16 between the two teams that didn't make the playoffs, with the winner taking the No. 1 overall pick in the next season's draft. Since everyone will qualify for the playoffs in the revamped league, that's obviously out. Another great idea down the drain, so to speak.

Free agent signing order shuffle
In previous years a three-team per day setup was used to decide who got first dibs on free agents each week. We're now going to four-a-days, so each team will have a chance to make pickups prior to any Thursday games. Here's the new format for those of you keeping score at home:
11th place -- 9 a.m. Tuesday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
10th place -- 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
9th place -- 2 p.m. Tuesday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
8th place -- 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
7th place -- 9 a.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
6th place -- 11:30 a.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
5th place -- 2 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
4th place -- 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
3rd place -- 9 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
2nd place -- 11:30 a.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Sunday.
1st place -- 2 p.m. Thursday through 1 p.m. Sunday.

Free advice from the Commish: I think it's a good idea for you to print out the rules, strategically place them on the back of your toilet, and read over them the next time you go in there to clear your mind.