NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 10
Franchise and Transition Players

Section 14(b)
Signing Period for Transition Players

(b)

If a Transition Player described in Subsection (a) above has not signed a Player Contract by the Tuesday following the tenth week of the regular season, at 4:00 pm New York time, the player shall be prohibited from playing football in the NFL for the remainder of that League Year, absent a showing to the Impartial Arbitrator of extreme Club or extreme personal hardship. The determination of the Impartial Arbitrator shall be made within five days of the application, and shall be based upon all information relating to such hardship submitted by such date. The determination of the Impartial Arbitrator shall be final and binding upon all parties.