Originally I’d meant to ask this last night on CatScratchRadio, but I kept getting caught up in listening to other people asking their questions and the back-and-forth it engendered -- my own fault there (and a great broadcast, btw, Jaxon!).  So, in the interests of bringing it up (if nothing else, for my own education and enlightenment)...

I’m assuming right now that Judge Nelson is going to rule that it’s business as usual, operating under the 2010 rules.  I’m sure we’ll see plenty of last-ditch wheeling and dealing if business is as usual, as everyone prepares for the draft.  But where does that leave free agency?  Specifically, how protracted a period will there be for free agency?  We’ve lost a month now, and I admit I’m not entirely certain on where the cutoff is on when free agency ends, so I have to wonder what’s happening there, at least in a general sense.

In tandem with that:  what does this mean for the Panthers, and how much (if any) will it impact the draft?  Obviously, JR has made it clear that he’s not signing any contracts without a new CBA.  If free agency does start up in full force tomorrow in preparation for the draft, does this mean that we’re not going to make any deals in regards to free agency (aside from hopefully setting up tentative agreements to try and keep Kalil, Johnson, D-Will, etc.), or will we try to make tentative agreements with potential free agents as well?