2012 NFL key dates
ESPN.com
March 13, 2012: Start of free agency, 4 p.m. ET
March 13: Beginning of trade period, 4 p.m. ET
March 13: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three accrued seasons, 4 p.m. ET
March 13: Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to retain a right of first refusal / compensation to their RFAs, 4 p.m. ET
March 26-28, 2012: NFL owners' meetings , Palm Beach Fla.
Late March: Compensatory draft picks announced.
Late April: 2012 NFL schedule is announced.
April 26-28, 2012: NFL draft, New York
July 22: Deadline for unsigned UFA to sign with new clubs.
July 22: Deadline for transition players to sign with new clubs.
Late July: Training camps across the league begin.
Aug. 4, 2012: Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony
Aug. 5, 2012: Hall of Fame Game: Arizona vs. New Orleans, Canton, Ohio, 8 p.m. ET
Aug. 28: Roster cutdown to 80 players
Sept. 2: Roster cutdown to 53 players.
Sept. 5, 2012: Regular-season opener, hosted by New York Giants
-03-11-2012, 10:58 AM