New Orleans Saints 2015: Notable NFL Dates
After a spectacular end to Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona Sunday night, the 2014 NFL season has officially come to a close. That means the 2015 offseason is underway, so here are some important dates for the New Orleans Saints and other organizations to look forward to.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 16:
– First day for teams to designate franchise or transition players.
Feb. 17-23:
– NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, IN.
MARCH
March 2:
– Deadline for teams to designate franchise or transition players hits at 4:00 PM EST.
March 7-10:
– Teams are permitted to contact and begin contract negotiations with certified unrestricted free agents, no deals can be finalized until 4:00 PM EST on March 10.
March 10:
– Prior to 4:00 PM EST, teams must exercise options for 2015 on all players who have option clauses in their contracts.
– Prior to 4:00 PM EST, teams must submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.
– Prior to 4:00 PM EST, teams must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2014 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued season of free agency credit.
– Top-51 begins — all teams must be under the 2015 salary cap before the 4:00 PM EST deadline.
– The 2015 league year and free agency period officially begin at 4:00 PM EST.
March 22-25:
– NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.
APRIL
April 6:
– Teams that hired a new head coach after the end of 2014 may begin offseason workout programs.
April 20:
– Teams with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.
April 24:
– Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.
April 30-May 2:
– NFL Draft in Chicago, IL.
MAY
May 8-11:
– First weekend after NFL Draft where teams may choose to hold their three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday.
May 15-18:
– Second weekend after NFL Draft where teams may again choose to hold their three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday-Sunday or Saturday-Monday.
May 18-20:
– NFL Spring League Meeting in San Francisco, CA.
JUNE
June 21-27:
– Rookie Symposium in Aurora, OH.
JULY
July 15:
– 4:00 PM EST — deadline for any team that designated a franchise player to sign such player to a multi-year contract extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one-year contract with his prior team for the 2015 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the team’s final regular season game.
– Training camp usually begins in late July, but the dates have not been released yet.
AUGUST
Aug. 7-9:
– Hall of Fame Weekend
Aug. 13-15:
– Preseason Week 1
Aug. 20-22:
– Preseason Week 2
Aug. 27-29:
– Preseason Week 3
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 3:
– Preseason Week 4
Sept. 10:
– NFL Kickoff
Sept. 13-14:
– NFL Opening Weekend
The NFL season never really ends, and the New Orleans Saints have a good bit of work to do to get back on track in 2015. After finishing 7-9 and missing out on the playoffs, head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and the rest of the coaching staff and front offices should be quite busy this offseason.
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