The NFL offseason is fully underway, but it's far from a slow crawl toward the return of on-the-field action. Pro football has created a full-calendar sport between the games and the periods leading up to them that help decide what makes up a team.
Here are some dates to keep in mind for the Lions and for the NFL this offseason:
The franchise tag is a one-year, fully guaranteed contract that pays a player at a top-five rate for his position. Teams can use one per season, and they have until July to strike a long-term deal before the opportunity is lost for the season.