Originally Posted by Miguel

Why depend on the media's interpretation of the rules when you can read them yourself?

From the CBA (Article XXXII, Section 4)
"Restricted Players. Any player whose contract has expired and who either (i) has two but less than three Accrued Seasons or (ii) is a Restricted Free Agent pursuant to Article XIX (Veteran Free Agency),Section 2, and who has been given the required tender pursuant to Article XVIII (Veterans With Less Than
Three Accrued Seasons), Section 2, or Article XIX (Veteran Free Agency), Sections 2(b)(i) or (ii), and who has not signed a contract and has not reported to his Club’s pre-season training camp, may be placed on the roster exempt list of his Club under the following conditions:
(i) If the player has not reported at least the day before the Club’s second pre-season game, he may be placed on roster exempt until the day following the Club’s first regular season game.
(ii) If the player has not reported at least the day before the Club’s third pre-season game, he may be placed on roster exempt until the day following the Club’s second regular season game.
(iii) If the player has not reported at least the day before the Club’s fourth pre-season game, he may be placed on roster exempt until the day following the third regular season game scheduled after the date he actually reports.
(iv) Any player who is placed on the roster exempt list of his Club, pursuant to Article XXXII, Section 4(c) shall be entitled to full compensation from his Club for any week in which his Club has a “bye” after the date he reports, but while he is still on the roster exempt list. Thus, any such player may not lose more than three weeks of salary as a result of being placed on the roster exempt list. This agreement shall not affect the number of regular season games for which the player can be placed on the roster exempt list, and thus for which the player may not play for his Club, in accordance with Subsections (i)-(iii) above. Nothing herein shall affect any right or obligation the player or Club otherwise may have concerning compensation to the player.
(v) No player may be placed on roster exempt under this Subsection unless the Club has provided written notice to the player and the NFLPA of its intent to place the player on roster exempt at least five days prior to the Club’s second preseason game. Once such written notice is provided, the Club must place the player on roster exempt in accordance with Subsections (i)-(iii) above.