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richig07
Well-Known Member
Here is your thread for all breaking Bears free agency news. We are towards the top of the league in available cap space, and Pace/Fox have been vocal about being aggressive in making moves. It should be an interesting few weeks.
Here is the rundown/timeline of the next few days, leading up to the free agency signing period/NFL calendar year officially getting underway at 4 PM EST Wednesday.
March 7-9
- Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2015 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9.
March 9
- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must exercise options for 2016 on all players who have option clauses in their 2015 contracts.
- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2015 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
- Top-51 Begins. All clubs must be under the 2016 salary cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.
- All 2015 player contracts expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
- The 2016 league year and free agency period begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
- The first day of the 2016 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 9. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 9.
- Trading period for 2016 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2015 contracts.
Here is the rundown/timeline of the next few days, leading up to the free agency signing period/NFL calendar year officially getting underway at 4 PM EST Wednesday.
March 7-9
- Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2015 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9.
March 9
- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must exercise options for 2016 on all players who have option clauses in their 2015 contracts.
- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2015 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.
- Top-51 Begins. All clubs must be under the 2016 salary cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.
- All 2015 player contracts expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
- The 2016 league year and free agency period begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time.
- The first day of the 2016 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 9. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 9.
- Trading period for 2016 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2015 contracts.