<P> During the 1940s, Cleveland Browns coach Paul Brown invented the "taxi squad," a group of promising scouted players who did not make the roster but were kept on reserve . The team owner, Arthur "Mickey" McBride, put them on the payroll of his taxi company, although they did not drive cabs . The name stuck, and the practice of retaining a squad of ready reserves spread throughout professional football . However, the NFL did not officially recognize the existence of taxi squads until February 18, 1965 . On that date, the NFL team owners formally adopted a 40 - man active roster supplemented by a taxi squad of unregulated size, which was officially termed the "future list ." Over the next few seasons, the NFL gradually limited the allowable number of inactive players to seven, and regulations were established in relation to injured reserve and waiver practices . In 1974, the NFL eliminated the taxi squad altogether, moving the seven inactive spots into an expanded 47 - man active roster . Beginning in 1977, a more limited inactive system was introduced (often consisting of either two or four players, depending on the season), and these players were sometimes referred to as taxi squad members . The NFL has since reintroduced larger reserve squads, now known as "practice squads ." </P> <P> As of 2017, each NFL team may keep up to ten members on its practice squad in addition to the 53 - member main roster . A majority of those on a practice squad are rookie draft picks and undrafted free agents (UDFAs) who were cut in training camps . A practice squad also includes veterans, up to four as of the 2016 season . Players may be signed to a practice squad for several reasons: for lack of space on the team, due to injury, or because they require more development . </P> <P> A player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than three seasons; he is eligible for a third season only if the team has at least 53 players on its active / inactive list for the duration of that player's employment, or have no prior accrued seasons in the NFL (an accrued season is six or more games on the active roster); or if he has accrued a year of NFL experience on a club's 53 - man active roster . If the player was on the active list for fewer than 9 games during their "only accrued season (s)", he maintains his eligibility for the practice squad . Games in which a player is listed as the third - string quarterback (a designation that has been abolished as of 2011) do not count as being on the active list . Former quarterback Mike Quinn, who was listed as the third - string quarterback for several teams throughout his career, is a notable example, being practice squad eligible during his 8th NFL season . </P> <P> Practice squad players practice alongside regular roster players during the week, but they are not allowed to play in actual games . They can be paid considerably less than active squad players; in 2012, the minimum salary for a practice squad player was $5,700 per week, and the minimum rookie salary was $390,000 . Some practice squad players are paid considerably more, however . In 2006, the New England Patriots paid third - year player Billy Yates the full $425,000 he would have earned on the active roster . </P>

How long can you be on a nfl practice squad
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