2009-2010 Important NFL Dates
January 15
Last day for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft January 19-24
Senior Bowl Week
February 1
Super Bowl XLII
February 18 – 24
NFL Scouting Combine
February 19
Last day for NFL teams to use their franchise tag
February 27
Free agent signing period begins
April 25 – 26
NFL Draft
NFL Draft Information
When: April 25-26, 2009
Where: Radio City Music Hall, New York City
Time: Starts at 3 PM ET on Saturday and at 10 AM EST on Sunday.
Seating: There is no charge for admission to the event for fans, however, there is limited seating. On the morning of the 26th, the NFL will begin distributing wristbands in lieu of a ticket for entry to the Draft on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 10 AM ET on the 50th Street side of Radio City Music Hall. All individuals that want a wristband, though, must pick up one in person. The doors to the Draft will then open beginning at 1:45 PM ET.
Television coverage: NFL Network and ESPN
Rounds: There are seven rounds; rounds 1-2 go on Saturday; rounds 3-7 on Sunday.
The picks: The Draft order in the first round is determined as follows:
1) The Super Bowl champion has the last regular pick in each round, while the Super Bowl loser has the second last regular pick in each round.
2) The remaining teams are grouped according to won-lost record; if there are both playoff and non-playoff teams within a won-lost grouping, the playoff teams are grouped after the non-playoff teams.
3) Non-playoff teams in each group draft in reverse order of their opponents’ combined W-L %.
4) Playoff teams are also grouped according to strength of schedule, though they are further aggregated by the team(s) advancing the farthest in the playoffs in the same group. Where two teams with the same records and their combined opponents have the same winning percentage, divisional or conference tie-breakers arer applied whenever applicable. Any ties that still exist are broken by a coin flip. In subsequent rounds, the team with the highest pick in the previous round in each won-lost grouping drops to the bottom of that group, while all other teams move up one place.
Compensatory picks are awarded based on a formula the primary factor of which is a team’s NET losses of unrestricted free agency the previous year. These picks are added on at the end of the assigned round. As part of the CBA there must be a minimum of 255 players picked at each Draft. If the total number of regular plus compensatory picks is less than 255 additional compensatory picks will be awarded to the teams with the highest picks in the first round starting with the team with the very first selection until the 255 number is reached. Assignment of comp picks usually is announced a few weeks before the Draft.
Teams have 10 minutes to make their picks in the first round; 8 in the second; and 5 in subsequent rounds. A team going over the time limit may make their pick at any time after the clock runs out, but the team(s) with the succeeding pick(s) may make their picks as their turn indicates.
June 1
Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22; Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.
June 15
Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year’s salary.
June 28-July 1
NFL Rookie Symposium, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
July 16
Supplemental Draft.
Late-July early August
Training camps open.
July 22
Signing period ends at 4 p.m. ET for unrestricted free agents who received June 1 tender.
August 8
Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Canton, Ohio.
August 9
Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, Canton, Ohio.
August 13-17
First preseason weekend.
September 1
Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 players.
September 5
Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 players.
September 10-14
Kickoff 2009 Weekend
October 12-13
NFL Fall Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts.
October 20
Trading deadline.
October 25
International Series, London, England (New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers).
2010
January 3
Regular season ends.
January 9-10
Wild Card Playoffs.
January 16-17
Divisional Playoffs.
January 24
Conference Championships.
January 31
AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, South Florida (ESPN).
February 7
Super Bowl XLIV, South Florida (CBS).
February 24-March 2
NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
March 5
Free agency begins.
March 21-24
NFL Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
Early May
NFL Draft, New York City.
May 24-26
NFL Spring Meeting, Dallas, Texas.
