NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 9
Veteran Free Agency

Section 2(f)(ii)
Restricted Free Agents

(f)(ii)

If a Restricted Free Agent described in Subsection 2(b)(i) above has not signed a Player Contract by the Tuesday following the tenth week of the regular season, at 4:00pm New York time, the player shall not play 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 consider all information relating to such hardship submitted by such date. The determination of the Impartial Arbitrator shall be final and binding upon all parties.