NFLPA agrees to rule changes: IR Rules!!!
Excellent news for DeCastro! Someone just gained a roster spot.
[COLOR=#ffffff][FONT=Verdana]The NFL Players Association and management council have approved rule changes involving the injured reserve list and trade deadline, according to a league source.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]The IR rule change, voted on by owners in May, provides an extra roster spot to temporarily replace a player who suffers a major injury but would be able to return for the second half of the season.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Under the current rules, if a player suffers a major injury before the regular-season opener and the team doesn't have the roster space to carry him until he's healthy, the player is put on IR and is lost for the season.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]There are certain restrictions to the injured list rule, the biggest being only players placed on IR after 4 p.m. ET on September 4, will be eligible to be activated.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]For 2012 only, the parties also agreed to a transition procedure that permits clubs to return to their 53-player active list one player placed on IR at the start of preseason training camp. That election must be made by 9 p.m. ET on Friday.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana]Also, the trade deadline will be extended from after the sixth week of the regular season to after the eighth.[/FONT][/COLOR]