Jeff Pasquino
Footballguy
I just wanted to help clear up some of the things going on with the NFL as this date will become all too important to NFL fans after the Super Bowl.
On March 3rd the CBA expires.
What that means is that there is not only no salary cap but also no "league structure" to work within for teams' General Managers.
I'll put forth what I know about it here and revise as we go along. I'll add links too as needed.
Here is one: CBA FAQ
As of March 3rd, teams can sign free agents - but even that is a gray area.
It used to be a player with four years of service would be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) - now that's six years based on the old terms of the CBA. That's likely to be renegotiated.
All of that will make the normal March free agency frenzy a non-starter. I don't know if any veterans will be signed, because their might be a cap and the contracts may have issues (negative to the club) under the eventual new CBA.
As for rookies, a cap is very much expected, so odds are that the NFL Draft Selections (the NFL Draft will still go on in late April) will be in limbo until the CBA is signed. No OTAs, no team meetings, no contracts. Just their rights will be drafted and owned.
Odds are very much against any rookie signing any contract until a new CBA is in place.
On March 3rd the CBA expires.
What that means is that there is not only no salary cap but also no "league structure" to work within for teams' General Managers.
I'll put forth what I know about it here and revise as we go along. I'll add links too as needed.
Here is one: CBA FAQ
As of March 3rd, teams can sign free agents - but even that is a gray area.
It used to be a player with four years of service would be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) - now that's six years based on the old terms of the CBA. That's likely to be renegotiated.
All of that will make the normal March free agency frenzy a non-starter. I don't know if any veterans will be signed, because their might be a cap and the contracts may have issues (negative to the club) under the eventual new CBA.
As for rookies, a cap is very much expected, so odds are that the NFL Draft Selections (the NFL Draft will still go on in late April) will be in limbo until the CBA is signed. No OTAs, no team meetings, no contracts. Just their rights will be drafted and owned.
Odds are very much against any rookie signing any contract until a new CBA is in place.
