is it true that the nfl can tell a team how long they can keep a player. i ask this because a friend has told me that the nfl told teams that if they want t.o. they can only keep him for a year then they have to release him. i dont believe this but i need someone to clarify? is this true

you are probably in the wrong forum. our rulebooks do not cover off field issues.

I don't beleive the NFL can tell any team how to sign it's contracts. However, there are rules regarding waiver-wire pickups during the season, and rules regarding cap issues. Either of these, because the timing of this pick up would be after the trade deadline, could possibly lead to a limit on the length of a contract signed at this point in the season.

But like he said - this is a forum for discussing on-field rules. Probably not going to get much specific help here on this question.