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What Exactly Is "Legal Tampering" In NFL Free Agency?
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...nfl-free-agency-dallas-cowboys-mario-williams
At 12:00 noon ET today (March 7), the so-called "legal tampering" period for NFL free agents begins. In a sense, this is the league caving in to reality. For years, there was no contact officially allowed by the league prior to the actual beginning of free agency (this year, 4 pm ET on March 9). That meant everything had to be negotiated after that point. But given the rapidity with which some deals were inked, it was obvious that there had been a lot of unsanctioned talks. Over the past several years, the NFL has grudgingly allowed certain contacts, although the supposed restrictions were neither clear nor consistent. This season, the league has refined the guidelines to make more sense, according to a copy of the official memo sent out and obtained by Pro Football Talk.
"During the two-day negotiating period, all clubs may negotiate all aspects of an NFL Player Contract with the certified agent of any prospective UFA," explains the March 2 memo to all teams, a copy of which PFT has obtained. "However, a new club may not execute an NFL Player Contract with a prospective UFA until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9, when the player's 2015 contract expires."
Apparently this means that all the terms of a contract can be worked out verbally, but nothing can be signed or committed to formally. It sounds like the teams can have the contracts drawn up in advance, but there is only the word of players and their agents that they are actually going to sign. However, as the article goes on to explain, the agents involved have a vested interest in making sure that their clients live up to any verbal agreements, since a failure to do so would create future problems for the agent in working with teams.
There is a restriction on making travel arrangements prior to the expiration of old contracts. This may mean that the players cannot board a flight to their new city before that 4 pm deadline, but it seems a hard rule to enforce if the player decides to pay for his own ticket in anticipation of signing a new deal. In any case, the action is likely to start very soon after that time rolls around, with deals being announced all over the league...
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2016...nfl-free-agency-dallas-cowboys-mario-williams
At 12:00 noon ET today (March 7), the so-called "legal tampering" period for NFL free agents begins. In a sense, this is the league caving in to reality. For years, there was no contact officially allowed by the league prior to the actual beginning of free agency (this year, 4 pm ET on March 9). That meant everything had to be negotiated after that point. But given the rapidity with which some deals were inked, it was obvious that there had been a lot of unsanctioned talks. Over the past several years, the NFL has grudgingly allowed certain contacts, although the supposed restrictions were neither clear nor consistent. This season, the league has refined the guidelines to make more sense, according to a copy of the official memo sent out and obtained by Pro Football Talk.
"During the two-day negotiating period, all clubs may negotiate all aspects of an NFL Player Contract with the certified agent of any prospective UFA," explains the March 2 memo to all teams, a copy of which PFT has obtained. "However, a new club may not execute an NFL Player Contract with a prospective UFA until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9, when the player's 2015 contract expires."
Apparently this means that all the terms of a contract can be worked out verbally, but nothing can be signed or committed to formally. It sounds like the teams can have the contracts drawn up in advance, but there is only the word of players and their agents that they are actually going to sign. However, as the article goes on to explain, the agents involved have a vested interest in making sure that their clients live up to any verbal agreements, since a failure to do so would create future problems for the agent in working with teams.
There is a restriction on making travel arrangements prior to the expiration of old contracts. This may mean that the players cannot board a flight to their new city before that 4 pm deadline, but it seems a hard rule to enforce if the player decides to pay for his own ticket in anticipation of signing a new deal. In any case, the action is likely to start very soon after that time rolls around, with deals being announced all over the league...
