As the Vikings await word from Brett Favre on whether he will return for the 2010 season, they also must begin getting ready for a year that appears as if it will be played without a salary cap. That will be the case if no new collective bargaining agreement is reached here in the coming weeks and at this point that appears to be a long shot.
Teams actually gained some limited ability to begin shaping their rosters on Monday because as of that day they were allowed to start releasing players. The Vikings did not make any moves and in all honesty there is no real urgency.
There will be a few important dates coming up, including the annual NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Here they are:
Feb. 11: First day that teams can designate franchise or tranisition players.
Feb. 15: Deadline for designating one additional transition player.
Feb. 24-March 2: NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Feb. 25: Deadline for teams to designate franchise or transition players.
March 4: Deadline for clubs to exercise options for 2010 on all players who have option clauses in their 2009 contracts; expiration date of all player contracts set to expire after the 2009 season; deadline for teams to submit qualifying offers to restricted free agents whose contracts are expiring; deadline for clubs to submit minimum salary offers to exclusive rights free agents.
