So wheres the line? Players get signed in the offseason and traded before the deadline already. Does the NFL have some unwritten rule a player has to play a game before they can be traded? If so, the raiders broke the rule by trading their draft pick from this year.

What if Clowney plays two games for Cleveland? His signing bonus would be paid by the browns and two game checks. But the rest would be paid by the team that trades for him. Would that be shot down by the league?

^^ The difference between a sign and flip vs trading into the season is risk. Cleveland would have to adjust their roster going into the season, and if the player gets hurt then they get nothing.

I personally don't see this becoming a thing, the NFL flatly refused because its a pretty clear violation of salary cap rules.

He could be inactive on game days. I don't see it becoming a thing either, i don't think the nfl liked the Osweiler trade. But I think they've drawn an arbitrary line.

NFL should never allow this...

Teams are trying to use draft picks as salary cap relief...to sign FA players they cant afford.

The Osweiler deal is a little different as he wasn't a FA...there wasn't a third party involved...say NE used Cleveland to make a deal with the Texans. Cleveland eats Brock's salary for a pick from Houston...then the Browns trade him to NE for another pick..and NE gets a player they cant afford while Cleveland pays for him.

That scenario is a little closer to what NO was trying to do...

Don't turn the NFL into the NBA please

Good thing they NFL turned it down. The NBA is by far the worst professional sports league and the NFL should make sure it doesnt become like them.