REPORT: Start of the NFL league year will start on time (maybe)

[TheSpecialJuan]

Saints coach Sean Payton said, "The start of our league year, which is due to be this [coming] Wednesday, I think, when free agency begins ... that's gonna be, I think, pushed back."

Payton added, "Because there’s a lot that goes into that, a lot of visits players take." So far the NFL is planning to move forward with the current schedule in place, but public pressure, as well as the lack of ability to conduct visits and get physicals from free agents, makes it seem at least somewhat likely that we see a change made sometime soon.

https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player-news

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
Now official. NFL sent memo to teams, informing them: Negotiation window noon tomorrow. League year weds. Franchise designation ends tomorrow at noon. Official.
3:50 PM · Mar 15, 2020

 

PFT's Mike Florio reports the "NFL's plan to move forward with the new league year as scheduled isn’t set in stone."

Per Florio, "discussions between the NFL and the NFLPA are expected to resume on Monday, as new information comes in and decisions potentially are revised." The NFL is trying to soldier on, but the speed of events in recent days has been almost incomprehensible. Like the rest of the world, the NFL is probably operating on an hour-by-hour basis at this point.

[jfra78]

This is rediculous, you say one thing in the title and something totally different in the body.  Mods should just shut you down

[Daddy_Uncle]

Master clickbaiter

[TheSpecialJuan]

It's inevitable 

[Palmetto]

They could push it back to after the draft

That will hurt and help some players leverage 

[Real1zOnly]

I was looking forward to Tom Brady signing with Tampa Bay.

[jfra78]

14 minutes ago, Daddy_Uncle said:

Master baiter

Fify

[WarHeel]

21 minutes ago, TheSpecialJuan said:

It's inevitable 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Original story posted today at 10:57 AM: I’m told one option that is being strongly considered is pushing back free agency, which was slated to begin on March 18 at 4 PM ET, to Wednesday, April 1. Additionally, there’s a consideration to push the NFL Draft back two weeks and hold it on the weekend of May 8.

I want to emphasize that nothing has been confirmed, and I’m told all options are being reviewed. That said, both of these changes make a lot of sense as it gives the league time to readjust the events taking place and gives them a larger degree of flexibility.

An April 1 start date for the free agency period means teams have a better chance to medically examine players they wish to sign. Pushing the draft back two weeks means there’s a better chance of pre-draft workouts taking place, whether they be pro day workouts or individual workouts, as well as the ability to bring in players for official visits at team facilities

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-discussing-free-agency-nfl-draft-plans/

[sml1950]

BTW these dates are collectively bargained and can’t be changed without the agreement of both parties, so Goodell can’t simply move it on his own. The idea of moving FA after the draft would be a non starter for the players.

[TheSpecialJuan]

8 minutes ago, sml1950 said:

BTW these dates are collectively bargained and can’t be changed without the agreement of both parties, so Goodell can’t simply move it on his own. The idea of moving FA after the draft would be a non starter for the players.

good point 

[TheSpecialJuan]

Free agency will proceed as planned

After much discussion and debate, the NFL will start its new league year as planned. A source with knowledge of the situation has informed PFT that the new league year, and thus free agency, officially starts on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Which means that as a practical matter free agency starts Monday at noon ET, when the negotiating window opens.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/15/free-agency-will-proceed-as-planned/

[Palmetto]

Same thing i said abut the draft

no point in pushing this back for the same reasons

[45catfan]

32 minutes ago, Palmetto said:

Same thing i said abut the draft

no point in pushing this back for the same reasons

The teams already have enough tape of the guys they are interested in signing.  Players don't have to be brought in for personal visits.  They can communicate remotely.  Eventually they will have to ink the deals, but there may be a concession for e-signs until actual ink-to-paper can be done at a later date.

Agreed, no real reason to push this back.