Wow, this is getting scary now. These guys had more time in the NFL then Soliai and the Panthers are using restricted Free agent tenders on them ? Getting nutso. http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/02/24/2861136/panthers-to-put-rfa-tenders-on.html
If the tender isn't signed by March 4th, doesn't that basically mean nothing until a new CBA is in place? There's so many unanswered questions, it seems that even the teams don't know what's going on.
Usually a RFA has until right before the draft to sign his tender. If he chooses not to then no other team can deal with him and the team has the choice to lower his tender amount to whatever they wish. If the player still chooses not to sign then the player sits out the season and loses that as an acrued season so in effect, even if the player sits out the season, he is still a RFA the next season and the team can do it all over again. If the NFL decides to put an extension on the current CBA and do not lock out the players and or if it goes past or up until the draft, then these guys are RFA.