The NFL Free Agency 'Tampering Window' Is Open...But What Does It Mean?

The new "tampering window" for NFL free agency is open. But what does that mean?

THIS POST from Jason La Canfora appeared on cbssports.com last night, and it shared the text of a memo sent to NFL teams from Goodell outlining the DOs and DON'Ts of this tampering window.

Here it is, for your edification:

PP-28-13
TO: General Managers
Head Coaches
Player Personnel Directors
FROM: Commissioner Goodell
DATE: March 8, 2013

SUBJECT: Impermissible Activity During the Three-day Negotiating Period for Unrestricted Free Agents

Clubs were advised in PP-26-13 that during the three-day negotiating period for prospective Unrestricted Free Agents, they are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2012 Player Contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12, and that no contract can be executed with a new club until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 12.

Clubs are further advised that prior to the beginning of the new League Year it is impermissible for a club to enter into an agreement of any kind, express or implied, oral or written, or promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent or understandings of any kind concerning the terms or conditions of employment offered to, or to be offered to, any prospective Unrestricted Free Agent for inclusion in a Player Contract after the start of the new League Year.

Any announcement of an agreement or an agreement in principle by a club or another party, including, but not limited to, a certified agent, player, or media organization may subject the club to a tampering investigation.

Please contact the Player Personnel department if you have any questions.

This is all good and well, but I'm still trying to figure out what this means exactly for the Saints.

Who are Pay-loo tampering with right now? Sebastian Vollmer? Rey Maualuga? Connor Barwin? Captain Munnerlyn? Keenan Lewis?

And who of the Saints projected UFAs are being tampered with as you read this right now? Jermon Bushrod? Chase Daniel? Devery Henderson? Sedrick Ellis? Scott everloving Shanle?

In that memo, it looks like teams aren't allowed to announce anything during this time, or to enter into agreements now. So what exactly will we find out about this weekend?

Will players and agents tweet about being tampered with to help gain leverage against other teams? Maybe.

Will reporters tweet that sources are telling them about individual players who are being tampered with? Possibly.

Will this weekend be filled with rampant, anonymously-sourced speculation on a whole host of media platforms? You're damn right it will be.

And we'll do what we can here at CSC to keep you right in the thick of it. You're welcome.

This will be one hell of a Tampering Window Open Thread. Or a complete dud. But as we all know, it's all about the journey, and not just the destination. Maybe some hot NFL daughters (and sons) will make an appearance...

I hope to see you here!

Click here for NOLA.com's Saints Free Agency Tracker.

* * *