Practice squad rules

[mgteich]

1) I presume that we can still sign a player of someone else's Practice Squad, even if they are not in the playoffs.

2) What happens to our Practice Squad players as of March 5th, the first day of free agency. Are they our ERFA's or are they UFA's?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

1) I presume that we can still sign a player of someone else's Practice Squad, even if they are not in the playoffs.

2) What happens to our Practice Squad players as of March 5th, the first day of free agency. Are they our ERFA's or are they UFA's?

I'm not sure about signing PS players, as there are restrictions on playoff teams' abilities to sign even free agents (four total, no more than two a week).

PS players, I believe, become UFAs.

 

[pats1]

1) I presume that we can still sign a player of someone else's Practice Squad, even if they are not in the playoffs.

All PS players on non-playoff teams had their contracts expire as of the last regular season game. Most have already been re-signed to future contracts with their old teams, but the rest are street FAs and can be signed to playoff teams' 53-man rosters, practice squads, or to reserve/future contracts (2010 80-man roster protected) at any time.

2) What happens to our Practice Squad players as of March 5th, the first day of free agency. Are they our ERFA's or are they UFA's?

They are street free agents the day the Patriots are eliminated. I say street free agents, because they're not like normal UFAs who don't have their contracts expire until the beginning of free agency. Practice squad players, as well as any players who are released by their teams in February can sign with anyone immediately. They do not need to wait until March 5th and do not follow the same rules as UFAs (June 1st tender, final eight, etc.)

For example, if the Pats lose this weekend, Nick Moore could sign with the Ravens the next day, either to their 53-man roster or practice squad. He could be signed by the Ravens to a future contract for the 2010 season. He could be signed by the Raiders to a future contract. He could be signed by the Pats to a future contract.

 

[pats1]

I'm not sure about signing PS players, as there are restrictions on playoff teams' abilities to sign even free agents (four total, no more than two a week).

PS players, I believe, become UFAs.

The four total, no more than two a week does not apply to practice squad signings (i.e. the Patriots signing players to their practice squad), only to playoff teams signing players to their active rosters.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The four total, no more than two a week does not apply to practice squad signings (i.e. the Patriots signing players to their practice squad), only to playoff teams signing players to their active rosters.

I was answering his first question, about the Pats' ability to sign other teams' PS players.

 

[pats1]

I was answering his first question, about the Pats' ability to sign other teams' PS players.

Right, that's what I was referring to. If they're signing a player to their 53-man roster, the four total rule is in effect. If they're signing a player to their PS, then I don't believe it's in effect.

Fact of the matter is, once the season ends for any team, practice squad players are IMMEDIATELY street free agents. They do not have any association with their old team once that team is eliminated. But like I said, 80% of all players who ended the season on a non-playoff team's practice squad have been re-signed by that team to a reserve/future contract in the past two days.

 

[mgteich]

It was therefore quite reasonable to bring up Wendell to protect our interests in him. Now he will be an ERFA going into 2010.

All PS players on non-playoff teams had their contracts expire as of the last regular season game. Most have already been re-signed to future contracts with their old teams, but the rest are street FAs and can be signed to playoff teams' 53-man rosters, practice squads, or to reserve/future contracts (2010 80-man roster protected) at any time.



They are street free agents the day the Patriots are eliminated. I say street free agents, because they're not like normal UFAs who don't have their contracts expire until the beginning of free agency. Practice squad players, as well as any players who are released by their teams in February can sign with anyone immediately. They do not need to wait until March 5th and do not follow the same rules as UFAs (June 1st tender, final eight, etc.)

For example, if the Pats lose this weekend, Nick Moore could sign with the Ravens the next day, either to their 53-man roster or practice squad. He could be signed by the Ravens to a future contract for the 2010 season. He could be signed by the Raiders to a future contract. He could be signed by the Pats to a future contract.

 

[pats1]

It was therefore quite reasonable to bring up Wendell to protect our interests in him. Now he will be an ERFA going into 2010.

Actually he signed a 2-year deal at the minimum for 2010. Effectively the same thing as becoming an ERFA and re-signing.

 

[mgteich]

Thanks for the correction. The team just saved some offseason time by signing him through 2010.

Actually he signed a 2-year deal at the minimum for 2010. Effectively the same thing as becoming an ERFA and re-signing.