NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 9
Veteran Free Agency

Section 2(a)
Restricted Free Agents

(a)

Definition. Any Veteran player with three Accrued Seasons, but fewer than four Accrued Seasons shall, at the expiration of his last Player Contract during such period, become a Restricted Free Agent. Any such player shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any Club, and any Club shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any such player, subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article.