PC-User Franchise Question

After starting and restarting multiple franchises with gameplay set to the Superstar level, I've found that four or five players on cpu team rosters are signed to contracts with zero remaining years (e.g., as of November 1999, Shaquille O'Neal's deal with the Lakers stands at 300,000 pts/0 yrs.). As I say, I have attempted restarting this franchise mode using multiple teams, with these same rather confusing results--in past experience such a contract status was possible only for a free agent during the offseason. In three years of playing Live 2000, I have never encountered this scenario prior the last two weeks. . . admittedly, this is my first attempt at playing a franchise at Superstar level. Is this an anomalistic feature to this more difficult gameplay setting? If so, what will happen to these players (O'Neal is joined by Antoine Walker, Kenny Thomas, and Kevin Ollie) come the offseason? And will this feature persist beyond the initial franchise season?

Or, is this some glitch in my software? If so, how do I correct it before advancing too far in this franchise journey? Or must I start over once again? Thanks much.

try using a different roster to start with, download one or use the default ones

Thanks . . . will I have to restart the franchise to succesfully implement a downloaded roster? Any other suggestions? Much appreciations, again.