A look at some key dates on the NFL calendar and, in some cases, how they impact the Patriots:
Jan. 30 -- Senior Bowl (Mobile, Alabama)
Jan. 31 -- Pro Bowl (South Florida)
Feb. 7 -- Super Bowl XLIV (South Florida)
Feb. 8 -- Waiver system begins for 2010
Feb. 11 -- First day clubs can designate franchise or transition players
Feb. 24-March 2 -- Combine timing and testing (Indianapolis)
Feb. 25 -- Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players
March 4 -- Expiration of all player contracts due to expire in 2010
March 5 -- Free agency and trading period begins
March 15 -- First day clubs may conduct offseason workouts
PATRIOTS ANALYSIS: As the Patriots begin their offseason planning, one of their major personnel issues is with nose tackle Vince Wilfork. Unless the sides strike a deal before February, which at this point seems unlikely, the next step will be if the team decides to use the franchise tag on him. That answer will come between Feb. 11 and 25. Coach Bill Belichick and members of his staff are taking some time off. When they return, they will likely be balancing three main areas: 1) Continuing to assess their own players while deciding who should be priorities to return; 2) Focusing on the draft and keeping up to date on that ever-changing process; 3) Future planning with Wilfork specific to the franchise tag.
Jan. 30 -- Senior Bowl (Mobile, Alabama)
Jan. 31 -- Pro Bowl (South Florida)
Feb. 7 -- Super Bowl XLIV (South Florida)
Feb. 8 -- Waiver system begins for 2010
Feb. 11 -- First day clubs can designate franchise or transition players
Feb. 24-March 2 -- Combine timing and testing (Indianapolis)
Feb. 25 -- Deadline for clubs to designate franchise or transition players
March 4 -- Expiration of all player contracts due to expire in 2010
March 5 -- Free agency and trading period begins
March 15 -- First day clubs may conduct offseason workouts
PATRIOTS ANALYSIS: As the Patriots begin their offseason planning, one of their major personnel issues is with nose tackle Vince Wilfork. Unless the sides strike a deal before February, which at this point seems unlikely, the next step will be if the team decides to use the franchise tag on him. That answer will come between Feb. 11 and 25. Coach Bill Belichick and members of his staff are taking some time off. When they return, they will likely be balancing three main areas: 1) Continuing to assess their own players while deciding who should be priorities to return; 2) Focusing on the draft and keeping up to date on that ever-changing process; 3) Future planning with Wilfork specific to the franchise tag.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Reiss
Mike Reiss first started covering the Patriots in 1997 with the team's official newspaper, Patriots Football Weekly, before moving on to the MetroWest Daily News in his hometown of Framingham. From 2005 to 2009, he covered the Patriots for The Boston Globe, while also writing on the NFL. He started his popular Patriots blog in 2004. Send any questions or comments for Mike to his mailbag. Follow him on Twitter here.
Chris Forsberg
Chris Forsberg has been reporting on the Boston sports scene since 1999. With his video camera in tow, Forsberg covered everything from Massachusetts high school sports to Boston's pro sports teams. Follow him on Twitter.
ESPNBOSTON.COM PATRIOTS ON TWITTER
You must be signed in to post a comment