NFL: Practice Squad rules and information

[theProf]

(08-31-2011 02:18 PM)papachaz Wrote:  pretty cool info Prof, thanks! now you have me wondering about Valdez and James

You're welcome. I'm not trying to say that Valdez and James will definitely qualify for the three-year practice squad eligibility exception, but just that I think it is a distinct possibility. Hopefully, people will quit unequivocally saying that a player is NOT eligible for the practice squad because he has already been on the practice squad for two years.

[theProf]

With the signing of CB Hayden, I have heard some talk that Franks might not make the 53-man roster. I've also read where people have said that Franks is also ineligible for the practice squad, because he has one accrued season of NFL experience. However, Franks might still be eligible for the practice squad due to the following rule:

"(ii) free agent players who were on the Active List for fewer than nine regular season games during their only Accrued Season(s)."

In his only accrued season last year, Franks was usually on the "Inactive" game day list, not the "Active" list. I do not believe that Franks had 9 games last year on the Active list.

[jwmann2]

Never understood the International Players Program. What is the benefit of that? To get the rest of the world interested in the game or to give players an oppurtunity to crack the league?

[Drathdon]

To help sell the league to a wider audience. Look for more overseas games in the future, or a team in Canada/Mexico.

[theProf]

A recap of some of the practice squad general rules, and exceptions to the general rules:

General Rule: A team's Practice Squad is composed of 8 players.

Exception: A team might have a 9-player practice squad, if an International player is assigned to the team.


General Rule: A player can NOT be on the practice squad, if they have an Accrued season of NFL experience on a team's 53-man roster.

Exception: A player with an accrued season(s)on a team's 53-man roster, but was on the 45-man Active game-day roster for less than 9 games during the season, may still be eligible for the practice squad.


General Rule: A player can NOT be on an NFL practice squad for more than two years.

Exception: A player might be eligible for a third year on a team's practice squad, if the team never went under the 53-man roster during the two years that a player was on the practice squad.

[theProf]

(09-02-2011 08:33 AM)theProf Wrote:  General Rule: A player can NOT be on the practice squad, if they have an Accrued season of NFL experience on a team's 53-man roster.

Exception: A player with an accrued season(s)on a team's 53-man roster, but was on the 45-man Active game-day roster for less than 9 games during the season, may still be eligible for the practice squad.

I thought perhaps Gartrell Johnson and Antone Smith might could be practice squad eligible under this exception, but they are not. Both Smith and Johnson appeared in nine games last season, so they had to be on the Active list for at least nine games.

"2010 (FALCONS)
Saw action in nine games and totaled 36 yards on 10 rushes, including a season-long 23 yards Logged six carries for eight yards at Carolina (12/12). "
http://www.atlantafa...ll-johnson-iii/

2010 (FALCONS)
Saw action in nine games in 2010 and contributed with two special teams tackles.
http://www.atlantafa...s/antone-smith/


I still think that Franks might fall under this exception and be eligible for the practice squad this year. He only saw action in two games last season, and I believe he was on the 45-man Active game-day list less than 9 games. Franks was normally one of the players on the Inactive list for most of the game days last year as I recall.

"2010 (FALCONS)
Played in two games as a rookie and posted two tackles (one solo), one interception and one pass defensed. "
http://www.atlantafa...minique-franks/

[theProf]

Atlanta just finalized its 8 member practice squad as follows:

Falcons Add TE Branson to Practice Squad
By: Jay Adams | September 5th, 2011

The Atlanta Falcons today announced that they have signed tight end Marquez Branson to their practice squad.

Branson, 6-3, 247 pounds, was originally signed by the Denver Broncos as a college free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft. He spent the 2010 season on the Falcons practice squad.

Published 23 mins ago hours ago by Jay Adams.

Falcons Sign Practice Squad
By: Jay Adams | September 4th, 2011

The Atlanta Falcons today announced that they have signed safety Rafael Bush, wide receiver Kevin Cone, wide receiver Drew Davis, guard Andrew Jackson, linebacker Robert James, tackle Jose Valdez and quarterback John Parker Wilson to their practice squad.

Bush, 5-11, 195 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 26, 2010. He was signed to the Falcons practice squad on September 5, 2010 before being promoted to the active roster on December 29, 2010.

Cone, 6-2, 216 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26, 2011 out of Georgia Tech.

Davis, 6-1, 205 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on July 26, 2011 out of the University of Oregon.

Jackson, 6-5, 295 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Fresno State University.

James, 5-11, 224 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Arizona State University.

Valdez, 6-6, 321 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 27, 2009 out of the University of Arkansas. He spent both the 2009 and 2010 seasons as a member of Atlanta’s practice squad.

Wilson, 6-2, 215 pounds, was signed by the Falcons as a college free agent on April 27, 2009. He was re-signed on July 30, 2011 after serving as Atlanta’s third quarterback in 2010.

Published 18 hours ago hours ago by Jay Adams.