Why is it that free agents cannot be re-signed (or even negotiated with for that matter) until August 1 when the draft occurs in late June? Is this something that the player's association ramrodded down the league's throat? Are they hoping to find teams more desperate because the draft didn't go their way and thus the ante goes up, up, up for FAs. I know that it also has something to do with the ongoing playoff season and the FAs available on those rosters (a la Croshere)but couldn't, no shouldn't, they move the draft back a few weeks after the onset of the free-agent signing period. That would at least give teams a chance to fill a roster need with veteran help before entering the draft process. I know that creates a time crunch for negotiating contracts and such but wouldn't you think that most teams would prefer an arrangement which allows them to go into a selection process while knowing all the cards in their hand? Negotiations will probably take up as much time as there is time available. There's a law about that, but I can't recall the name. ------------------ There are 3 kinds of people: those who can count and those who can't.
negotiations may begin July 1st, which incidentally is the first day are considered free agents. Signings may not occur until Aug 1st. This is called the "July Moratorium", which I assume is a means to prevent teams or agents from saying, "take-it-or-leave-it, based on a pressure-filled time deadline.
It's also so that the League Office and each team's management can have some vacation time. Otherwise, they'd be working non-stop all year. These guys deserve their two weeks. ------------------
