After the Super Bowl, football fans are left with a certain void. No more football on Thursday, Sunday or Monday. No playoffs, no regular season. But again this year the following applies: Offseason? What off-season? Shortly after the Super Bowl, it’s time to go into the Free Agency, followed by the draft – before the impression of an off-season occurs. SPOX has an overview of the most important NFL dates for 2018.
8. February: Super Bowl Parade in Philadelphia – with free beer for everyone over 21.
13. February: Players whose contracts have expired in the CFL may be signed by NFL teams from 6 p. m. German time.
20. February – 6. March: The two-week window, during which NFL teams are allowed to assign franchise and transition tags, opens on 20 March. February. With the Franchise Day, each team can bind a player whose contract expires each year for another season. The salary for the player is determined by calculating the average salary of the five best paid players on the same position from the previous season.
On the Transition Day, the average of the top ten paid players is taken to the position, but the player could also switch with the Transition Day without compensation. This day only gives the team the right to respond to possible offers that the player receives from other teams.
Some possible candidates for the Franchise Day are:
27. February – 5. March: Scouting Combine takes place in Indianapolis.
12.-14. March: The negotiation window opens. From the 12. On March 6th, the advisors of all players who become Unrestricted Free Agents are allowed to start negotiations with all teams. However, the signature under a contract may only take place when the transfer window opens. Kirk Cousins is likely to become the hottest candidate in the free agency market after Washington has already positioned itself elsewhere in the quarterback position with the trade for Alex Smith.
14. March: The Free Agency starts on 14. March at 10 pm German time. Then the new league year begins and so all players whose contracts expire are officially free agents. This marks the start of the hot Free-Agency phase, traditionally the first days of which are by far the most spectacular in the NFL. Until then, the teams must also be below the salary cap.
Mid-April: Shortly before the draft, the NFL releases the exact schedule for the 2018 regular season. The opponents of all teams have already been determined, but who will not play whom and when.
25.-28. March: The annual league meeting in Orlando.
2. April: Teams entering the season with a new head coach are allowed to start their off-season workouts.
16. April: All other teams are allowed to start their off-season workouts.
26.-28. April: The draft rises in Arlington, Texas. On the 26th. Only the first round will take place on 27 April. then the second and third round and on 28. Finally, in April, the rounds 4-7. Top ten picks in it:
between the raiders and the 49ers there will be a coin toss between all tie-breakers to decide who gets to pick first.
4.-7. or 11-14. May: The rookies train for the first time with their new teams in the rookie mini-camps. The teams are allowed to choose which of the dates to choose for the mini-camp.
16. July: At 10 p. m. German time the window ends, in which teams can agree on a long-term contract with the players who have received the franchise day.
Mid-July: The preparation for the season is entering a hot phase. The rookies first join the preseason training camp, followed by the other players at least a week later.
2. August: The traditional Hall of Fame Game takes place in Canton, Ohio. It’s the official prelude to the preseason. At the accompanying Hall of Fame weekend, Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Brian Dawkins, Brian Urlacher, Terrell Owens, Bobby Beathard, Robert Brazile and Jerry Kramer will be introduced to the Hall of Fame.
1. September: All teams must have reduced their squad to a maximum of 53 players by 22:00 German time.
6.-10. September: The regular season 2018 starts. The Philadelphia Eagles will open the new season as defending champions with a home game on September 6.
14. October: The first of three London games of the coming season will take place in Tottenham, where the Oakland Raiders will face the Seattle Seahawks.
21./28. October: The other two London games rise. It is not yet clear in which order this will happen. But it’s clear that the Jacksonville Jaguars are playing Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Chargers are playing Tennessee Titans.
December 23rd/30th: After two years with a full football broadside on Christmas, Week 16 of the coming season will take place on December 23rd/30th. December. The regular-season finale will then rise this time on the 30th. December, not New Year’s Eve.
5./6. January 2019: The playoffs start with the Wild Card round.
3. February 2019: Super Bowl LIII climbs in Atlanta.