This week marks the first of several important 2017 offseason dates for the Seahawks and the rest of the NFL, with Tuesday, February 14 signifying a day when clubs can begin to sign players whose 2016 Canadian Football League contracts have expired, and Wednesday, February 15 being the first day clubs can designate Franchise or Transition tags to players, tags the Seahawks have used only once under head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider.
With an assist from NFLCommunications.com, here are some key offseason dates for Seattle and the rest of the League:
February
2/14:Beginning at 9 a.m. PT, NFL clubs may begin to sign players whose 2016 CFL contracts have expired. Players under contract to a CFL club for the 2017 season or who have an option for the 2017 season are not eligible to be signed.
2/15:First day for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
2/28 - 3/6:The NFL Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Seahawks scouting and personnel staff will be on site to evaluate talent for this year's NFL Draft.
March
3/1:Prior to 1 p.m. PT is the deadline for clubs to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
3/7 - 3/9:NFL clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2016 Player Contracts at 1 p.m. PT on March 9. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 1 p.m. PT on March 9.
3/9:Prior to 1 p.m. PT, clubs must exercise options for 2017 on all players who have option clauses in their 2016 contracts.
3/9:The 2017 League year and free agency period begins at 1 p.m. PT, when all unrestricted free agents will be free to sign with other teams.
3/9:The trading period for 2017 begins at 1 p.m. PT, after expiration of all 2016 contracts.
3/26 - 3/29: Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.
April
4/17: Clubs with returning head coaches, like the Seahawks, may begin offseason workout programs.
4/21: Deadline for Restricted Free Agents to sign Offer Sheets.
4/27 - 4/29:The NFL Draft will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Seahawks are slated to pick No. 26 overall in round one.
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May
5/5 - 5/8: Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
5/9:Deadline for Prior Club to send "May 9 Tender" to its unsigned Unrestricted Free Agents. If the player has not signed a Player Contract with a club by July 22 or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later, he may negotiate or sign a Player Contract from that date until the Tuesday following the 10th weekend of the regular season, at 1 p.m. PT, only with his Prior Club.
5/12 - 5/15:Clubs may elect to hold their one three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp from Friday through Sunday or Saturday through Monday.
5/15:Rookie Football Development Programs begin.
5/18 - 5/21:NFLPA Rookie Premiere. Invited Rookies (typically, first and/or second-round selections) must be permitted by their respective clubs to attend. Such players are unavailable for offseason workouts, OTA days, and minicamps during this period.
5/22 - 5/24:Spring League Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.
July
7/15: At 1 p.m. PT, deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multi-year contract or extension. After this date, the player may sign only a one year contract with his prior club for the 2017 season, and such contract cannot be extended until after the club's last regular season game.
Mid - Late July:NFL Training Camps open.
August
8/3:The annual Hall of Fame game takes place in Canton, Ohio, kicking off the NFL preseason.
8/5: Enshrinement ceremony for the Hall of Fame Class of 2017, featuring former Seahawks safety Kenny Easley.
The best photos from team photographer Rod Mar's behind-the-scenes 'Eye on the Hawks' photo blog from the Seattle Seahawks' 2016 NFL season.

At 12:15, the defensive backs, led by Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman, left the locker room an headed to the field, passing a large 12 flag signed by fans.

The Seahawks players and coaches linked arms in a pregame display of unity during the playing of the national anthem. From left are defensive coordinator Kris Richard, cornerback Richard Sherman, head coach Pete Carroll and defensive backs coach Andre Curtis.

Now in uniform, quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Trevone Boykin prepare to take the field for pregame warmups.

Quarterback Russell Wilson surveys the field looking for an open receiver.

Head coach Pete Carroll walks on the grass of the Coliseum, site of many of his memorable victories as coach of the U.S.C. Trojans. In the background (from left) are assistant line coach Pat Ruel, receivers coach Dave Canales, special teams assistant Chad Morton and assistant strength coach Jamie Yanchar. All were with Carroll at U.S.C. as coaches, except for Morton who played for Carroll from 1996-1999.

It's less than ten minutes from kickoff and the Seahawks fill the hallway of the locker room, ready to take on the Rams.

Quarterback Russell Wilson emerges from smoke and fog as he prepares to be introduced during pregame.

Wide receiver Tyler Lockett stops to sign a young fan's jersey after walk-thru on Saturday.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll smiles after a Christine Michael touchdown in the fourth quarter extended Seattle's lead to 24-10.

Frank Clark sweats during a pregame workout as he and trainers assessed his fitness to play after suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the week.

Quarterback Russell Wilson throws a pass during the offensive unit's brief walk thru in a hotel ballroom.

Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam methodically tapes his fingers before taking the field.

An hour before kickoff, the Seahawks defensive backs including DeAndre Elliott, Jeremy Lane and Kam Chancellor and receivers coach Dave Canales prepared to take the field for pregame warmups.

After the game, quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Carson Went greeted each other at midfield.

Once on the plane for the trip to Seattle, linemen Mark Glowinski and Germain Ifedi were already reviewing game video with line coach Tom Cable.

Seahawks including Kelcie McCray (left), Russell Wilson and others salute receiver Tyler Lockett who finished off his 75-yard touchdown with a basketball celebration in the end zone.

Just before 10am, safety Earl Thomas arrives for work in a pink overcoat as the Seahawks honored Breast Cancer Awareness month during the game by wearing pink accessories with their uniforms.

Seahawks head coach speaks with Atlanta head coach and former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn after the hard-fought contest.

Kevin Pierre-Louis sports a holiday sweater featuring the "Crying Jordan" meme as he heads to the bus for the trip to Green Bay in Week 14.

Seahawks players cast long shadows in the late October sun as they walk to the airplane for the flight back to Seattle.

Head coach Pete Carroll address the team in the quiet locker room after the game.

Bobby Wagner gets ready to run out of the tunnel during introductions.

Michael Bennett leads a cheer as the team celebrates in the locker room after the game.

The defensive backs get pumped in their pregame circle.

A member of the military helps hold the American flag aloft during the playing of the national anthem prior to kickoff.

Seattle receiver Tyler Lockett signals to the crowd as he is helped to a cart to be taken off the field after injuring his leg in the second quarter.

Receiver Doug Baldwin kneels and prays in the end zone after his touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Waiting at midfield was a table with memorabilia from their relationship and a marriage proposal from Brock. She said yes, as friends and family watched from afar.

As light snow falls, Jeron Johnson uses his camera phone to record himself, Kam Chancellor and Mike Morgan as they prepare to board the Delta charter.

The weather was much milder upon landing in San Jose as Michael Bennett descends the stairs from the aircraft.

Back in the locker room Jarran Reed gets ready in the final moments before the team left the locker room for kickoff.

Defensive end Frank Clark corrals the loose ball.

At game's end head coaches Chip Kelly and Pete Carroll met at midfield.

Free safety Earl Thomas returned to CenturyLink Field for the first time since injuring his leg, and he joined his Legion of Boom teammates outside the locker room for their pregame huddle.

Cornerback DeShawn Shead walks through fog and lasers as he waits for his name to be called during pregame introductions.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman offers a wave and a smile to the media during his postgame press conference.


Between quarters, former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was spotted talking to teammates on the sidelines including Michael Bennett.

Safety Kam Chancellor fires up the team as they circle around him moments before taking the field for kickoff.

Michael Bennett lets out a yell with teammates at the end of their postgame gathering in the locker room after the win.

Seahawks players board the Delta charter on a sunny autumn Friday for the cross-country trip to New Jersey for the game against the New York Jets.