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The trades have the union's attention because, under collective-bargaining rules, if a rookie is...

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The trades have the union's attention because, under collective-bargaining rules, if a rookie is cut by the team that drafted him, that team is required to pay 85 percent of that player's salary into a rookie pool. The money from that pool will be distributed to rookies early next year based on the number of downs played in the 2010 season.

NFL.com news: Report: NFLPA examining recent trades involving rookies This is good information that I was unaware of. If you have ever wondered why a rookie draft choice makes the team as opposed to an UDFA that out plays him in the preseason, here's your answer.