NFL Offseason 2014: List of Key Remaining Dates & Deadlines
By Adam Ganeles
Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
NFL Timeline
With the Giants practice this evening closed off to spectators, now seems like a convenient time to put out an offseason schedule refresher. This includes roster assembly deadlines, salary cap implications and the general laws of the NFL landscape. Keep the following dates in mind for the remainder of August and into early September. The regular season is less than a month away.
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August 5th (Today)
Deadline for players under contract to report to their clubs to earn an accrued season for free agency.
August 26th
Prior to 4:00 p.m. E.T., clubs must reduce their rosters to a maximum of 75 players on the active list.
August 28th
Fourth and final week of the preseason slate. All games will be played on Thursday night.
August 30th
Prior to 4:00 p.m. E.T., clubs must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players on the active/inactive List.
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Simultaneously with the cut-down to 53, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness must select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non- Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the active list.
August 31st
Claiming period for players placed on waivers at the final roster reduction will expire at noon E.T.
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Beginning at 12:00 noon, New York time, clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free agency credit or who were on the 46-player active list for less than nine regular season games during each of any accrued seasons. A player cannot serve on the practice squad for more than three seasons.
September 2nd
After 4:00 p.m., New York time, a club is permitted to place a player on Reserve/Injured as “Designated for Return.”
September 3rd
At 4:00 p.m. E.T., deadline for all NFL player contracts, practice player contracts, tender offers, and miscellaneous amounts to fit within each club’s 2014 salary cap, in anticipation of the midnight expiration of the Top 51 Rule.
September 4th
Opening Thursday night of the NFL Regular Season, Green Bay Packers at the Seattle Seahawks at 8:30 EST
NFL SUNDAY: September 8th
New York Giants kick-off their season at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday Night Football. FYI: Start time is 7:10 EST