Question
 

This may be a dumb question but when are trades allowed again? The reason I ask is what happens with players with 1 year left. It would seem to me that they can be traded prior to March 31 (when their contract would zero out) and then be re-negotiated by their new team.

Is this a correct intereptation of the rules?

7G. Expired Contracts

Contract years expire on March 31st each year at midnight. Beginning April 1, all players who had only one year remaining on their contracts become either Free Agents or Restricted Free Agents or Franchise Players. Players with expired contracts can be re-signed by their original team under the terms outlined in the Restricted Free Agent rules (see Item 9C below), or by being Franchised. All other players have their contracts reduced by one year. At the same time, all teams recover any salary encumbered by players waived during the year.

EXAMPLE 1: Willis McGahee signed for five (5) years with the Pitbulls in 2005; all five years count against the 65 year contract limit *in 2005* leaving 60 years to use on other players. On April 1, 2006, McGahee's contract becomes a four year contract and now counts only four years against the contract years cap. Now the Pitbulls have 61 years to use on the rest of their roster.

EXAMPLE 2: The same team also signed Tony Gonzalez to a one (1) year contract in 2005. On April 1, 2006, Gonzalez's contract is reduced one year ... leaving zero (0) years on the contract. Sharpe just became either a Free Agent or Restricted Free Agent (see Item 8A below) or designated a Franchise Player.

7I. Renegotiation

Players with more than one year remaining on their contract can have their contracts renegotiated by the team holding their rights. When a contract is renegotiated, the current year s salary get s a 10% or 300cb raise, whichever is greater, and the contract can be extended up to the standard maximum of five years.

A player with less than one year remaining on his contract can only have his contract renegotiated if he is traded to another team. Once traded, the contract can be renegotiated with a raise of 5% or 150cb to the current year salary, whichever is greater. The contract can be extended up to the standard maximum of five years.

Re: Question
 

I would think trading would be allowed at any point after the conclusion of the championship game. Last year the trading didn't start up until March if I recall, but I see no prohibition for it to start sooner.

Re: Question
 

That makes sense. I guess what I am wondering is can those players with 1 year deals be traded and renegotiated? I know last year we had a lot of deals like this happen as the the in-season trade deadline approached. Did this also happen with the contract expiration period?

Re: Question
 

Yes they can be traded and reneg'd up until March 31st.

On April 1st, they become UFA's (or are tagged as RFA's or Franchise players).

Trading and/or renegotiating your own players (on 2 year deals) can commence as soon as the championship is over on Monday.

Re: Question
 

Thanks. I have some one year guys and noticed that some others did to and thought it might be worth exploring some deals if it was allowed.