Normally, the “Football 101” series of posts that we do during the NFL offseason relate to the basics of the game, like trying to determine what the “A-gap” is or what a “Wide-9” scheme is. This article, however, will look at something that is almost never used, but was broken out this week by the New England Patriots and applied to free agent running back LeGarrette Blount.
In the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association, there is a “June 1st Tender” clause, Article 9, Section 1(b)(i), which reads:
In the event that an Unrestricted Free Agent has not signed a Player Contract with a Club by July 22 or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later, in the League Year following the expiration of his last Player Contract, he may negotiate or sign a Player Contract from July 22 until the Tuesday following the tenth week of the regular season, at 4:00pm New York time, only with his Prior Club, provided that the Prior Club by June 1 has tendered to the player a one year Player Contract of at least 110% of either (a) his Prior Year Salary (if his expiring Player Contract is not a Player Contract he entered into as a Rookie).