Rotoworld.com (via NBCSports.com) is reporting that the NFL has sent a memo to all teams indicating that players will be allowed into facilities and coaches may begin distributing playbooks as early as Friday morning.
In other words, injured players may begin rehabbing and coaches can begin discussing football matters with all players. Teams may also begin scheduling OTAs/minicamps. The NFL will also hand out guidelines for the 2011 League Year, including when it will start. Free agency and trades remain on hold, though NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora has reported that GMs have begun prepping for the market to open Monday. It’s believed that 2010 free agency rules would apply, which would leave four- and five-year veterans such as Sidney Rice and DeAngelo Williams restricted.
This is a nice report with the first round of the draft a mere hours away now. It would be nice if we could have confirmation that free agency will begin on Monday, but the fact that the NFL is sending out a memo telling teams that they can partake in football matters (to borrow a term from Rotoworld) is positive sign.
It’s interesting to note that ESPN’s Adam Schefter, NFL Network’s Albert Breer and draft analyst Mike Mayock have all predicted that the first round will be heavy on trades. Seeing as how there is no CBA in place and therefore, there is no 2012 NFL Draft (or 2012 draft picks), one would assume that teams will largely stay put tonight. But maybe that won’t be the case if their prediction is correct.
