Free agency does not start Friday. The facilities open on Friday. This means that players can speak to coaches, work out, receive medical treatment, etc. Coaches can begin scheduling OTAs and minicamps. The NFL will issue rules to teams tomorrow outlining when the league year (trades, free agency) begins. And it doesn’t start tomorrow. It’ll probably be 2-3 weeks out.
Partial transcript, partial paraphrasing, of NFL spokesman Greg Aiello on PFT Live about 15 minutes ago: NFL spokesman Greg Aiello: “Clubs are free to immediately start contacting players and let them know when the facilities will be open for use, and they can open tomorrow at 8 AM. They can start setting up schedules for OTAs, minicamps, medical exams, etc. As far as free agent signings, cuttings, tradings, tryouts, etc, we plan to distribute tomorrow a comprehensive set of procedures governing those transactions. That will include the timing for the opening of the league year for free agent signings and other player transactions.” Florio: “Will player trades be permitted in the first round Thursday night?” Aiello: “No, we don’t think that’s an orderly way to proceed. We think the best way to proceed is to let veterans start working out at facilities tomorrow and then begin an orderly transition into the league year. Judge Nelson gave us the leeway to proceed this way.” Florio: “Would player trades be allowable in rounds 2 and 3 on Friday?” Aiello: “Yes, if the league year began on Friday.” Says they’re waiting for “guidance” from the 8th Circuit. Florio: “Have you gotten any indication from the 8th Circuit to expect a ruling this afternoon?” Aiello: “No. Courts rarely let you know when a decision is coming.” Aiello says the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in the NFL’s favor on the Starcaps case, so the Williams Wall and Will Smith can be suspended now.
I'd guess they'd almost have to wait till Saturday night/Sunday morning to start FA, with the draft going on it would be complete chaos trying to do both at the same time. Fun to see in progress though probably. It could still get even crazier if they just start up and then the 8th grants a stay(assuming they don't issue a ruling today one way or the other.)
Sunday would be way too soon. The league office will probably give teams time to evaluate their needs and examine their salary cap. I’d guess 2-3 weeks.
Don't think so Des, firstly the 8th circuit has to rule, if they turn down the NFL's appeal then Nelson's ruling will force the NFL into opening the FA doors more quickly as she found actual harm being done meaning the NFL would then be liable to a lawsuit from the Vincent Jackson's of the world whom showed the lack of a FA period cost him well over 5 million dollars already.
Not only doesnt FA start on Friday, when it does start (possibly monday), last years rules apply until a new CBA is reached, so guys like Sydeny Rice, and D'Angelo Williams are still restricted free agents.....
This really isnt that big of a deal guys..... http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/28/nfl-teams-plan-to-open-facilities-friday-morning/
No, they don’t. Nelson has already ordered the lockout to end and denied a stay. The NFL will be in contempt of court if they don’t end the lockout. It has nothing to do with the 8th Circuit. The NFL must open the doors now. They can close the doors again if the 8th Circuit so orders, but if they wait for the 8th Circuit, they’ll be in violation of Judge Nelson’s order. They’re not examining the NFL’s appeal. They’re examining the NFL’s request for an emergency stay. Until the 8th Circuit says “Yes, you can resume the lockout”, the NFL must end the lockout and open the doors. That doesn’t mean the league year begins. It means the lockout ends.
My understanding is that the NFL gets to put up any rules they want due to the fact that the union is "decertified." Which means to me that they could wait at least 2 weeks to start free agency under the guise of figuring out the rules they wish to put in place while waiting for the 8th circuit court's decision on the stay.
The problem with waiting to long is that they stand the chance of being held in contempt if nelson feels they are dragging their feet. Also I'd figure the 8th would rule on the stay long before they could get a few weeks in.
This. It is simple court procedure, the NFL has to abide by what the court rules until it is overturned IF they are by the 8th circuit....Until then the lower courts ruling stands with full cause and effect...if it is ignored by the owners or the NFL, they could be held in comtempt....
true however last year they functioned as not as they did before the salary cap, the timeline on that dissolved, so they just continue on with that method until a new one is bargined out....ie...same rules as last year....because if the owners cant decided on free agency rules, and the players cant either, it falls to the precident already established which took place last year...
Thinking about it....one good thing coming out of it, is at the very least it gets the playbooks in the hands of the rookies going to be drafted over the next couple of days without delay....
NFL is hoping but with a finding of measurable harm then a emergency stay is unlikely as the meter is running on those being harmed by the lockout, this should be interesting indeed. Add in, the NFL's moronic TV Contract insurance scheme also has a Damages component so after their lockout fails they then face a Damages verdict where the Judge can hand the NFLPA billions..this was a truly dumb strategy on the NFL's behalf.
The lock out is done ... players are generally free to enter facilities - just not allowed to use them. Even should FA be established on MON -- they can surely additionally establish a NET date for signings to occur, say 01 JUN; providing a 30 day window for teams and the NFL. It's the OTAs, Mini-camps, etc that are questionable ...
But, how do you know it doesnt start tomorrow? They can issue rules to the teams tomorrow at 8:00am, and begin the league year the same day. Historically, trades usually dont happen for players in the first round of the draft, so starting the league tomorrow allows trades to begin for rounds 2 and on, as well as the signing of UDFA after the draft. You state it as matter of fact, and its not.
Desides, we aren't saying quite the same thing .... FA could open on MON - but no official signings for 'a period of time' would be keeping within the spirit of ruling ... whereas, delaying FA for 'a period of time' would not be ... kind of a play on words, but not in legal speek -- otherwise, gotcha
The ruling only said that the lockout had to end. It did not say that the league year had to begin. Read Aiello’s statement. The league office won’t even issue guidance to the 32 teams until some time tomorrow, so how could they rule at 8 AM that free agency has begun? In the middle of the draft, no less? As a practical matter, they aren’t going to do that. As a legal matter, the new league year hasn’t begun, so they can’t. Adam Schefter is saying free agency could begin as early as Monday, FWIW.
yepper, agreed - but then i harken back to Pads and setting yourself up for another law suit .... this would be 'a' way to both stem that .... and buy some time for further court action.
Doest sound like he shut the door on it starting on Friday at all here... Florio: “Would player trades be allowable in rounds 2 and 3 on Friday?” Aiello: “Yes, if the league year began on Friday.” Says they’re waiting for “guidance” from the 8th Circuit.
He said if the league year begins. In other words, the league year has to begin before players can be traded. The league year isn’t going to begin without teams having some form of forewarning. The earliest that will happen is Monday, per Adam Schefter. The NFL is also intentionally dragging their feet on the league year because they’re hoping the 8th Circuit issues a stay, which is why Aiello brought up the 8th Circuit in response.
The players have sent a letter to the court claiming the NFL is arbitrarily not implementing the ruling until tomorrow, and they’ll suffer irreparable harm if the rules aren’t implemented now since the draft is tonight.
I do not see anything being close to finished yet. As of now, the owners are doing a bit to show intent of compliance. They are still waiting on the 8th Circuit Court to rule on the temp stay, and then on the stay pending appeal. What do you think they will do if either stay is granted? If they are planning to "open for business" Fri, Mon, or next week, why not withdraw the request for the stays? Anyone believe they were not ready for Nelson's decision, and could not have opened for business yesterday? No way in hell do I buy that. I believe they are just buying time, and if a stay is given will not open for FA, trades, etc. Hope I'm wrong.
Mort just said that if the owners get a stay, they will go back to a lockout. Guess I wasn't wrong. GODDAMNIT!!!