NFL NEWS AND NOTES

February 15: NFL signing period for CFL players under contract ends

February 18-24: NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis
February 19: Deadline for NFL teams to designate franchise and transition players

February 26: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation. Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired. NFL teams must be under salary cap;

February 27: NFL teams must be under salary cap; NFL trading and veteran free agent signing periods begin.

March 22-25: NFL Annual Meeting; Dana Point, California

April 17: Signing period ends for restricted free agents.

April 24: Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal to restricted free agents.

April 25-26: NFL Draft, New York

June 1: Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned unrestricted free agents to receive exclusive negotiating rights for rest of season if player is not signed by another club by July 22; Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned restricted free agents or to extend qualifying offer to retain exclusive negotiating rights.

June 15: Deadline for old clubs to withdraw original qualifying offer to unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive negotiating rights by substituting tender of 110 percent of previous year's salary.