NFL, NFLPA Agree On Rule Changes To Trade Deadline, Injured Reserve

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have come to terms on some new rules for the upcoming regular season. It was reported that the two sides were very close on coming to terms on getting these rule changes approved months ago, but there were little details getting in the way. Now, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the changes to the NFL trade deadline and injured reserve have gone through.

For injured reserve, teams will now be able to take one player of their choosing off of injured reserve at some point in the season, so long as that player was placed on injured reserve after 4 p.m. ET on Sept. 4. This is good for teams who have their star player go down with something big (like Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore Ravens), but don't want to lose him for the entire season and playoffs in exchange for a roster spot.

In regards to the NFL trade deadline, it's been pushed back from Week 6 to the Tuesday following Week 8 action. SB Nation's Joel Thorman speaks to why that could mean increased trade activity:

The trade deadline will be moved from Week 6 to Week 8, which could spur more trading around the deadline. The deadline will actually be the Tuesday after Week 8. The problem with having it early is that most teams still believe they have a shot in Week 6 and are therefore unwilling to part with star players. By moving it back two weeks we could see more action.

Increased trade activity is always a good thing for the NFL. Nothing gets the buzz going like a big trade between a contender and a team that realizes it has to make some changes to be able to compete the following season. Still, big-ticket trades aren't as commonplace in the NFL as other sports, so it will be interesting to see if this increases activity at all.