NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 4
NFL Player Contract

Section 6
Commissioner Disapproval

(a)

If the Commissioner disapproves a Player Contract for any reason, he must inform the NFLPA in writing of the reasons therefore by noon on the date following such disapproval.

(b)

In the event the Commissioner disapproves any Player Contract as being in violation of this Article, Article 7, Article 13, or any other provision of the this Agreement, the filing of an appeal of such disapproval pursuant to Article 14, Section 5 or Article 15, Section 1 of this Agreement, shall automatically stay the Commissioner’s disapproval, and the player shall continue to be free to practice and play for the Club, until the System Arbitrator issues his or her ruling. Provided, however, that in the event such appeal is filed within one week of or after the first scheduled regular season game of the Club: (i) the appeal shall be conducted in an expedited manner and shall be concluded within five days of the filing date of such appeal; and (ii) the System Arbitrator shall issue his or her ruling by the end of such five day period. Provided, further, that, in the event the appeal is filed after the Club’s first preseason game, but before the date one week before the Club’s first scheduled regular season game: (i) the appeal shall be conducted in an expedited manner and shall be concluded within ten days of the filing date of such appeal; and (ii) the System Arbitrator shall issue his or her ruling by the end of such ten day period. If there is no ruling by the end of the periods prescribed in the preceding two sentences, or, for earlier filed appeals, by the day following the Club’s third preseason game, the automatic stay shall be dissolved. If the Commissioner disapproves a Player Contract for any of the reasons stated above on a second occasion for the same player during a given League Year, and determines that such player should not be able to play, there shall be no stay of such disapproval pursuant to this Agreement, unless it is determined that the Commissioner’s second disapproval is arbitrary or capricious.