Everyone has a timeline of when how the NFL will re-open their doors and get back to business. Pro Football Talk has the timeline that's being presented to the NFLPA executive committee and player reps so I would expect this to be close to what will actually go down when the lockout is officially lifted.
The caveat is that, while deals can be negotiated, no money can actually be paid to a player until the players officially reform as a union and ratify the CBA. This needs to be done before Aug. 4.
Here's the run down of PFT's report:
Tuesday:
- NFL will release the official list of 2011 free agents.
- Team facilities will open for players to come in and train, condition and work with the coaching staff. This will be voluntary.
- Trades can also begin on this day.
- At 10:00 a.m. (ET), teams can sign their own rookies and undrafted free agents. They can negotiate with, but not sign, their own free agents -- unrestricted, restricted and exclusive rights. They can also negotiate with franchise players. They can also negotiate with, but not sign, other teams free agents -- unrestricted, restricted and franchise players.
Thursday:
- Teams can begin to waive or cut their own players.
Friday
- At 6:00 p.m. (ET), teams can extend the contracts of players under contract, sign their own unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents and franchise players. They can also sign other teams' unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents and franchise players.