Now official: The NFL’s 2020 league year will start on time. They informed teams in a memo that the schedule stands. So, tags are due tomorrow at 11:59 am, tampering begins at noon, the league year starts Wednesday at 4 pm. It will be an escape.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2020
The NFL has finally answered the question of whether or not the new league year and free agency will start on time as scheduled or be pushed back as a result of the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the nation.
A memo has been sent out to all 32 teams around the league informing them it will be business as usual for the NFL this week, with the legal tampering period kicking things off Monday morning at 9 a.m. PT. Free agency and the new league year will follow, beginning March 18.
Unlike other sports leagues that have shut down operations over the last few days due to the threat of the virus spreading, the NFL has been taking care of a few housekeeping issues. After a player vote which concluded Saturday night, the proposed new collective bargaining agreement has been approved and will govern through the next 11 seasons.
In addition, the NFL has set the salary cap for the 2020 season at $198.2 million, an increase of $10 million from last year.
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