2010 Offseason Key Dates

[Keith]

Handy reference for keeping up until the season opener. There are a couple good dates to know missing in here, so respond if you have any more.

February 11 First day clubs can designate Franchise or Transition players.
February 24-March 2 Combine Timing and Testing, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
February 25 Deadline at 4:00 p.m., New York time, for clubs to designate Franchise and Transition Players.

March 4 Expiration date of all player contracts due to expire in 2010.
March 4 Deadline for exercising options for 2010 on all players who have option clauses in their 2009 contracts.
March 4 Deadline for submission of Qualifying Offers by clubs to their Restricted Free Agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
March 5 Free Agency signing period begins. First day of the 2010 League Year.
March 5 Trading period begins for 2010 after expiration of all 2009 contracts.
March 15 First day clubs may conduct off-season workouts, mandatory minicamps and voluntary minicamps.
March 21-24 NFL Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida

April 15 Deadline for signing of Offer Sheets by Restricted Free Agents.
April 21 Deadline for Old Club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents.
April 22-24 Annual Player Selection Meeting, New York

May 24-26 NFL Spring Meeting, Dallas
June 27-30 Rookie Symposium, Carlsbad, Calif.
Mid-July Training camps open.

August 6-8 Hall of Fame Weekend, Canton, Ohio.
August 10 Deadline for players under contract to report to earn a season of free agency credit.
August 12-16 First Preseason Weekend.
August 19-20 Second Preseason Weekend
August 26-29 Third Preseason Weekend
August 31 Roster cut-down to maximum of 75 players

September 2-3 Fourth Preseason Weekend
September 4 Roster cut-down to maximum of 53 players
September 5 Clubs may establish 8-man practice squad
September 9-13 Regular Season Opens

[NBT]

Why always in Lucas Oil Stadium, or more precisely Indianapolis? Answer: Bill Polian can more readily mine his Diamonds in the Dirt, which he very good at. Why are the Colts always drafting near the end and still getting all those goodies?