Commanders Post at The Warpath - View Single Post

sandtrapjack · 02-17-2010, 10:38 AM

This makes ZERO sense. The only way this happens is if either the Bills release Whitner, or trade him.

Free Agency rules have changed with the lack of a collective bargining agreement.

Under the CBA, a player was eligible to become an Unrestricted Free Agent after 4 years in the league.

But now that there is no CBA and we are looking at an uncapped year, the rules for Free Agency has changed.

Effective March 5th (when FA starts), players must now have a minimum of 6 years in the league to be an unrestricted free agent. Whitner has 4 years in the league. So IF there were still a CBA, he would be a UFA.

But now that there are new rules for Free Agency in place, Whitner has to wait 2 more years to be an Unrestricted Free Agent.

The way it looks right now, Whitner will be a RESTRICTED Free Agent on March 5th. Which means the Bill place a "tender" on him. And if any team signs him, it will cost the new team draft picks.

So the Bills would have to release Whitner before he could negotiate freely with any other teams.

02-17-2010, 10:38 AM	#5
sandtrapjack The Starter Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,994	Re: Donte Whitner This makes ZERO sense. The only way this happens is if either the Bills release Whitner, or trade him. Free Agency rules have changed with the lack of a collective bargining agreement. Under the CBA, a player was eligible to become an Unrestricted Free Agent after 4 years in the league. But now that there is no CBA and we are looking at an uncapped year, the rules for Free Agency has changed. Effective March 5th (when FA starts), players must now have a minimum of 6 years in the league to be an unrestricted free agent. Whitner has 4 years in the league. So IF there were still a CBA, he would be a UFA. But now that there are new rules for Free Agency in place, Whitner has to wait 2 more years to be an Unrestricted Free Agent. The way it looks right now, Whitner will be a RESTRICTED Free Agent on March 5th. Which means the Bill place a "tender" on him. And if any team signs him, it will cost the new team draft picks. So the Bills would have to release Whitner before he could negotiate freely with any other teams.