With Atlanta United fans holding out hope for a way to field four designated players, and LA Galaxy fans wondering how its team will solve its own four-DP problem, rumors have been floating around the MLS Twittersphere about loopholes in the league rules that may provide a way out for either team.



With an aim on dispelling those rumors, we asked for questions about targeted allocation money (TAM), general allocation money (GAM), designated players and any other confusing MLS rules.



The big conclusion to draw from what follows below: No, you can’t have four DPs on the roster.



For more details, here are the answers to your specific queries. Questions have been lightly edited for clarity:



Can you restructure a contract to circumvent the DP rule, i.e. backload the deal such that you could buy down to make a player not a DP for a year? Lots have been trying to speculate on Josef (Martinez). Assuming this is not allowed would be nice to put it to...