National Football League

NFL season official dates

Published Jul. 21, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Following are key dates on the revised 2011 league calendar, contingent upon recertification by the players:

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NFL IMPORTANT DATES

Date	Event
Aug. 4	First day of 2011 League Year at 4:01 p.m., New York time, assuming NFLPA has ratified the CBA. Top 51 begins at 4:01 p.m., New York time. All Clubs must be within the Salary Cap at 4:01 p.m., New York time. All 2011 contracts signed on or after July 26 become effective at 4:01 p.m., New York time, assuming NFLPA has ratified the CBA.
Aug. 9	Deadline for players under contract to report to their Clubs to earn an Accrued Season for free agency.
Aug. 11-15	First Preseason Weekend.
Aug. 12	Deadline: if a Drafted Rookie has not signed a Player Contract by August 12, he cannot be traded during his initial League Year and may sign a Player Contract only with the drafting Club until the day of the Draft in the next League Year.
Aug. 13-17	Each Club has until five days prior to its second pre-season game to provide any tendered but unsigned Exclusive Rights Player or Restricted Free Agent with written notice of the Club’s intent to place the player on the Exempt List if the player fails to report at least the day before the Club’s second preseason game.
Aug. 18-22	Second Preseason Weekend.
Aug. 20	Deadline for signing of Offer Sheets by Restricted Free Agents Deadline for June 1 Tender to Unrestricted Free Agents. If the player has not signed a Player Contract with a Club by September 3, he may negotiate or sign a Player Contract from September 3 until the Tuesday following the tenth week of the regular season, at 4:00 p.m. New York time, only with his Prior Club.
Aug. 24	Deadline for Old Club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents.
Aug. 25	Deadline for June 1 Tender to Restricted Free Agents who have received a Qualifying Offer for a Right of First Refusal Only. The Prior Club shall be the only Club with which the player may negotiate or sign a Player Contract during the period from August 25 until the Tuesday following the tenth week of the regular season.
Aug. 25-28	Third Preseason Weekend.
Aug. 30	Possible roster reduction from 90 players to 75 players.
Sept. 1-2	Fourth Preseason Weekend.
Sept. 3	Signing Period ends for Unrestricted Free Agents who received the June 1 Tender. Roster reduction to 53 players.
Sept. 5	Deadline for June 15 Tender to Restricted Free Agents. If player’s Qualifying Offer is greater than 110% of the player’s prior year’s Paragraph 5 Salary (with all other terms of his prior year contract carried forward unchanged), the Club may withdraw the Qualifying Offer on September 5 and retain its exclusive negotiating rights to the player, so long as the Club immediately tenders the player a one-year Player Contract of at least 110% of his prior year’s Paragraph 5 Salary, with all the terms of his prior year’s contract carried forward unchanged.
Sept. 8-12	First Regular Season weekend.
Sept. 18-19	Second Regular Season weekend.
Sept. 20	Deadline at 4:00 p.m., New York time, for any Club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multi-year contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his Prior Club for the 2011 season, and such contract may not be extended until after the Club’s last regular season game.