Q: When can players start being signed in the 2007 free agency signing period?
A: Beginning at 11:01 p.m. Thursday. (The actual start is 12:01 a.m. Eastern time Friday, thus the references to March 2.)
Q: What are the categories of free agency?
A: Players are either restricted or unrestricted free agents. There also are transition and franchise players.
Q: What is the time frame for free-agency signings this year?
A: For restricted free agents, March 2-April 20. For unrestricted free agents, March 2-July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). For franchise players, March 2-the 10th week of the season (Nov. 13).
Q: What’s the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?
A: Players become restricted free agents when they complete three seasons and their contract expires. Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more seasons with an expired contract.
Q: What constitutes a season?
A: Six or more regular-season games on a club's active, inactive, reserved-injured or physically unable to perform lists.
Q: Other than seasons, what determines a restricted free agent?
A: He has received a qualifying offer (a salary level predetermined by the collective bargaining agreement between the league and its players) from his old club. He can negotiate with any club through April 20. If the restricted free agent accepts an offer sheet from a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because it has the right of first refusal. If the old club doesn’t match the offer, it could receive draft-choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet isn’t carried out, the player’s rights revert to his old club after April 20.
Q: What determines an unrestricted free agent?
A – A player with four or more seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no compensation owed to his old club, through July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). On July 23, his rights revert to his old club if it made a tender offer (110 percent of last year's salary) to him by June 1. His old club then has until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (Nov. 13) to sign him. If he does not sign by Nov. 13, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by June 1, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.
Q: What determines a transition player?
A: A club can designate one transition player (or one franchise player) in any given year. No transition players were named this year. The player’s club must offer a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.
Q: What determines a franchise player?
A: A club can designate one franchise player (or one transition player) in any given year. The salary level offer by a player's club determines what type of franchise player he is. An exclusive franchise player — not free to sign with another club — is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of April 20, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season — whichever of the three is greater. If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a non-exclusive franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match.
Q: Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designations on a player? If so, can it then use them on other players?
A: A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designations, and the player automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent either immediately or when his contract expires. The club cannot name a new franchise or transition player that year. It can name a new franchise or transition player the next year.
Q: What is the salary cap for 2007?
A: The salary cap is $109 million per club.
