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NFL Free Agency 2014: Three-day negotiating period commences

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Free Agency doesn't begin in earnest until Tuesday at 1PM PST, but starting at 9AM today, teams are permitted to begin talking to and negotiating with the agents of free agent players. This means there is going to be rampant rumormongering this weekend.

Talk about those rumors here -- I won't be at the computer all day, but I'll try and keep this thing updated with anything I hear.

For now, here's what you need to know about the negotiating period, via NFL Communications:

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Q. What is permitted during the three-day negotiating period prior to the start of free agency?

A. Beginning at 12:00 noon ET on Saturday, March 8 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 11, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2013 player contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11.

During this negotiation period, a prospective unrestricted free agent cannot visit a club (other than the player's current club) at its permanent facility or at any other location, and no direct contact is permitted between the player and any employee or representative of a club (other than the player's current club). If a player is self-represented, clubs are prohibited from discussions with the player during the negotiating period.

Clubs (other than the player's current club) may not discuss or make any travel arrangements with prospective unrestricted free agent players, their certified agents, or anyone else associated with the player until the expiration of those players' 2013 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 11.

The three-day negotiating period applies only to potential unrestricted free agents; it does not apply to players who are potential Exclusive Rights Players or Restricted Free Agents, or to players who have been designated as Franchise Players or Transition Players.