BREAKING: NFL to announce timing for league year tomorrow

[Wilford Brimley]

AdamSchefter
NFL plans to announce timing for commencement of 2011 League Year, free agent signings and other player transactions tomorrow.

[Wilford Brimley]

I'm hearing NFL will use 2006 rules, not 2010 rules. Interesting...

[LUKE23]

I read that as a date set for FA is announced tomorrow, not that free agency starts tomorrow.

[Wilford Brimley]

[Turk Nowitzki]

Wow.

This weekend is gonna be insane with the draft and FA all happening at once.

[Wilford Brimley]

I read that as a date set for FA is announced tomorrow, not that free agency starts tomorrow.

Fixed. Im stupid.

[Turk Nowitzki]

I read that as a date set for FA is announced tomorrow, not that free agency starts tomorrow.

Yeah, maybe you're right. I hope that's the case because it seems like a bit much to start free agency during the draft.

[OBF-MKE]

The league is shooting themselves in the foot if the players aren't going to like reverting back to the 2006 rules. When engaged in an anti-trust lawsuit, it's generally best to, uhh, avoid adding to potential grievances.

Also, daffyfap.gif.

EDIT: If the start isn't "immediately", the players' argument of irreparable damage slips to tenuous footing if they don't cry foul. A large factor of the ruling for them was the judge finding that claim valid; if they were to now say, "Oh, the league wants to start free agency in two weeks? We're okay with that," they open their argument up from essentially a binary to a lot of gray area. "Oh, so two weeks won't cause irreparable damage? Why not a month? Why not two months?" By "accepting" a threshold beyond immediate, their argument loses considerable weight.

[ReasonablySober]

The league is shooting themselves in the foot if the players aren't going to like reverting back to the 2006 rules. When engaged in an anti-trust lawsuit, it's generally best to, uhh, avoid adding to potential grievances.

Also, daffyfap.gif.

If anything, the players are happy they get the '06 rules. James Jones is now a FA, only one franchise tag, etc.

[OBF-MKE]

The league is shooting themselves in the foot if the players aren't going to like reverting back to the 2006 rules. When engaged in an anti-trust lawsuit, it's generally best to, uhh, avoid adding to potential grievances.

Also, daffyfap.gif.

If anything, the players are happy they get the '06 rules. James Jones is now a FA, only one franchise tag, etc.

Assuming the '06 rules are more favorable to players than the '10 rules--and it certainly is to potential restricted free agents like Jones--I'm still quite curious to see how the players react to this. The judge's ruling spent ample time on how the league's what-should-be-right-now free agency represented a prime "free market enterprise". Not even taking into account the anti-trust aspects of this, even reverting back to the '06 rules runs counter to the judge's words.

[MickeyDavis]

This probably affects us less than any other team. I'm sure TT has already decided if he wants Jones back (and Crosby) and how much he wants to pay them. Jenkins is gone. And I can't imagine us signing anyone unless it's a second or third tier player TT wants as a backup here.

[MickeyDavis]

The NFL has decided to allow a limited amount of activities pending its appeal from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

While some of the rules are fairly broad - players can work out at facilities, playbooks can be distributed, coaches can communicate with players -- it's clear the NFL expects a decision soon from the appellate court and is probably only issuing the rules to make sure it is in compliance with federal judge Susan Richard Nelson's injunction on the current lockout.

The rules are to take affect at 7 a.m. Friday.

It's very likely the league is counting on the appellate court to issue a stay on the injunction tomorrow, thus reinstating the lockout rules.

One interesting part of the league's memo is that it is not declaring the new league year to have begun just yet. It states that "with respect to player transactions (such as signings, trades of player contracts, terminations, tryouts, etc.), we plan to distribute to all clubs, likely tomorrow, a comprehensive set of procedures governing such transactions.

"This will include the timing for the commencement of the 2011 League Year, free agent signings and other customary player transactions."

The bottom line is that lockout rules are in place where the first day of the draft is concerned and so no player trades will be allowed. It's very possible the league won't declare the new league year open until Monday.

Here's the full release:

The NFL clubs have been notified that we have requested from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals a stay of the preliminary injunction issued late Monday afternoon by the Federal District Court. Pending further guidance from the Eighth Circuit, we believe it is appropriate for clubs to take additional steps in response to the preliminary injunction. The clubs were informed of the steps below that will be effective on Friday at 8 am ET following tonight’s first round of the NFL Draft. Clubs are free to contact players immediately to advise them of the hours that the facility will be open for their use, to schedule medical and rehabilitation activity, and to arrange meetings with coaches or related activity, such as film study or classroom work.

1. Players will be permitted to use club facilities for physical examinations, rehabilitation and medical treatment, as scheduled by the club.

2. Clubs will be permitted to distribute playbooks, game film and other similar materials to players.

3. Coaches may meet with players for the purpose of discussing any materials distributed to players under item 2 above, as well as the club’s off-season workout program, its schedule of mini-camps, Organized Team Activities (“OTAs”), and other similar matters.

4. Voluntary off-season workout programs, including OTAs and classroom instruction, may begin subject to the rules in Article XXXV of the 2006 CBA and Appendix L. Participating players will be paid $130 per day, provided the player fulfills the club’s reasonable off-season workout requirements. Such workouts will count toward the requirements of any off-season workout bonus in the player’s contract.

5. On days during which no official off-season workouts or OTAs are scheduled under item 4 above, nothing shall prevent the club from permitting any player to use the club facility to work out on his own on a voluntary, unpaid basis during normal business hours, or such other hours as may be set by the club, provided: (i) there is no participation or supervision by any coach, trainer or other club personnel; and (ii) the club has first verified that the player has an existing medical insurance policy in place. Players without such personal coverage should not be permitted to work out at the club facility on an unsupervised basis under this item 5, but may do so under item 4 above. Unsupervised workouts will not count toward the requirements of any off-season workout bonus in the player’s contract. This item 5 will apply both prior to and after the commencement of the club’s official off-season workout program.

6. Mandatory and voluntary mini-camps may begin subject to the rules in Article XXXVI of the 2006 CBA.

7. The league office will promptly make arrangements to resume counseling, rehabilitation and treatment activities in connection with the substances of abuse and steroid programs. We will advise clubs as to when and on what basis testing will commence.

8. Players may participate in club-sponsored charitable and community relations events.

With respect to player transactions (such as signings, trades of player contracts, terminations, tryouts, etc.), we plan to distribute to all clubs, likely tomorrow, a comprehensive set of procedures governing such transactions. This will include the timing for the commencement of the 2011 League Year, free agent signings and other customary player transactions.

[OBF-MKE]

With respect to player transactions (such as signings, trades of player contracts, terminations, tryouts, etc.), we plan to distribute to all clubs, likely tomorrow, a comprehensive set of procedures governing such transactions. This will include the timing for the commencement of the 2011 League Year, free agent signings and other customary player transactions.

Judge Nelson: Your lockout is over.
NFL Owners: Oh no.
Judge Nelson: Free agency is now a free market until you and the players figure this stuff out.
NFL Owners: Oh no.
Judge Nelson: As such, none of your franchises are obligated to sign players. It's entirely up to you guys.
NFL Owners: Oh yeah!
Judge Nelson: I say that as a favor to you. You have pending anti-trust litigation. My ruling literally just ended your lockout. As in, you're reading my ruling, your lockout is over. Don't take that to mean "business as usual", because you could be exposing yourselves to more anti-trust problems if you act as a collective.
NFL Owners: lolno

[ReasonablySober]

Bottom line: No free-agent signings during draft, no player trades during draft, only pick trades during draft. Free agency could start Mon.

[MickeyDavis]

I think most fans don't care about the situation right now, most agree no games will be lost. But if they end up screwing around with things such as starting/stopping free agency, going to 2006 rules, etc... it's going to start ticking people off. To suspend all talks for a month because the retired judge who is overseeing them is busy, is insane.

[Newz]

So who is and who is not a free agent now?

[chuckleslove]

So who is and who is not a free agent now?

No one yet, MTC tomorrow.

[ReasonablySober]

So who is and who is not a free agent now?

I'm seeing conflicting reports.

If it's '06 rules then everyone is a free agent. It it's '10 then only Cullen Jenkins and whomever wasn't tendered, but even that's got some conflicting info.

[Pick and TRoll]

Not only as a Packer fan (Barnett, Flynn, etc.), but as a draft viewer, it would have been more entertaining if player trades could occur. Kind of disappointed.

[eagle13]

Not only as a Packer fan (Barnett, Flynn, etc.), but as a draft viewer, it would have been more entertaining if player trades could occur. Kind of disappointed.

Can trade for piicks nextt year. Especially Flynn as he will be unrestrictted next year. Need to move this year.