NFL Moves Free Agency Back
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NFL restricted free agents will have to wait an extra week before they can sign with new teams.
The league and an attorney for the players agreed Monday that March 1 would be the start of the signing period for all veteran free agents, both restricted and unrestricted. The tentative starting date for restricted free agents was this Saturday.
Unrestricted free agents are players who have been in the league for five years. Restricted free agents are players who have not played five seasons but are without contracts and therefore subject to revised right of first refusal and compensation regulations.
The last day for clubs to designate “franchise” players exempt from free agency remains Feb. 25.
In a joint statement, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Jim Quinn, the attorney representing the players in their lawsuits, said all new free-agent provisions are on hold until review of the labor settlement by judge David Doty. The court date for that review is Feb. 26.
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