Feb  4  Probowl: Honolulu, Hawaii.

Feb  5  Waiver System Begins

Feb  8  Scouting Combine: Indianapolis, IN (ends Feb 12).

Feb 15  Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their

        restricted free agents to retain right of first-refusal.

     -  Deadline to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive rights

        to players without minimum service for free agency.

     -  Deadline to designate Franchise and Transition players.

Feb 16  Beginnings of veteran free agency and trading.



Mar 10  NFL Annual Meeting: West Palm Beach, FL (ends Mar 15).



Apr 15  Signing period ends for restricted free agents.

Apr 21  Deadline for old club to exercise right of first refusal for

        restricted free agents.

Apr 20  Draft (ends Apr 21).



May 21  NFL Spring Meeting: Charlotte, NC (ends May 22).



Jun  1  Deadline for old clubs to send tender to unsigned, unrestricted free

        agents to receive exclusive rights if player signed by July 15.

     -  Deadline for old clubs to send tender or to extend qualifying offer

        to unsigned, restriced free agents to receive exclusive rights for

        rest of season.

Jun 15  Deadline for old club to withdraw original qualifying offer to

        unsigned restricted free agents and still retain exclusive rights.



Jul 15  16:00 ET Signing period ends for unrestricted free agents who

        received Jun 1 tender.

Jul 27  Hall of Fame Game: New Orleans vs. Indianapolis (Canton, OH).

     -  Hall of Fame inductions for Class of '96.



Sep  1- 2  Week  1

Sep 15-16  Week  3 Byes: ATL, CAR, SF, STL

Sep 22-23  Week  4 Byes: BAL, CIN, HOU, PIT

Sep 29-30  Week  5 Byes: BUF, IND, MIA, NE

Oct  6- 7  Week  6 Byes: ARZ, DAL, NYG, PHI, TB, WAS

Oct 13-14  Week  7 Byes: DEN, KC, SD, SEA

Oct 17-21  Week  8 Byes: CHI, DET, GB, MIN

Oct 27-28  Week  9 Byes: NO, OAK

Nov  3- 4  Week 10 Byes: JAC, NYJ

Dec 21-23  Week 17

Dec 28-29  Wild Card Playoffs

Jan  4- 5  Divisional Playoffs

Jan 12     Confernece Championships

Jan 26     Superbowl XXXI: New Orleans, Louisiana



Feb  2     Probowl: Honolulu, Hawaii