BWTB: Key offseason dates to know

January 17- East-West Shrine Game, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida.

January 24- Senior Bowl, Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama.

February 10- Beginning at 12 noon, New York time, NFL clubs may begin to sign players whose 2014 CFL contracts have expired. Players under contract to a CFL club for the 2015 season or who have an option for the 2015 season are not eligible to be signed.

February 16- First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

February 17-23- NFL Scouting Combine, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana.

March 2- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.

March 7-10- Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2014 contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 10. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 10.

March 10- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must exercise options for 2015 on all players who have option clauses in their 2014 contracts.

March 10- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit qualifying offers to their Restricted Free Agents with expiring contracts and to whom they desire to retain a Right of First Refusal/Compensation.

March 10- Prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, clubs must submit a Minimum Salary Tender to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with expiring 2014 contracts and who have fewer than three accrued seasons of free agency credit.

March 10- Top-51 Begins. All clubs must be under the 2015 salary cap prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time.

March 10- All 2014 player contracts expire at 4:00 p.m., New York time.

March 10- The 2015 league year and free agency period begin at 4:00 p.m., New York time. The first day of the 2015 league year will end at 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 10. Clubs will receive a personnel notice that will include all transactions submitted to the league office during the period between 4:00 p.m., New York time, and 11:59:59 p.m., New York time, on March 10.

March 10- Trading period for 2015 begins at 4:00 p.m., New York time, after expiration of all 2014 contracts.

March 22-25- Annual Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona.

April 20- Clubs with returning head coaches may begin offseason workout programs.

April 29- Deadline for prior club to exercise Right of First Refusal to Restricted Free Agents.

April 30-May 2- 2014 NFL Draft, Chicago, Illinois.

May 8-11- First weekend after the NFL Draft: clubs may elect to hold their three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.

May 15-18- Second weekend after the NFL Draft: clubs may elect to hold their three-day post-draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.

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