Explaining Zach Thomas' Grievance Against the Chiefs
by Joel Thorman on Oct 5, 2009 11:34 AM CDT
in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign
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PrintWe didn't really cover this yesterday since news broke on the morning of gameday but former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Zach Thomas has filed an injury grievance with the club. Basically, he claims he was cut while he was still injured, which the team can not do.
This stuff gets a little confusing so after the jump I go into a little more depth about the grievance, how they work and what each side's position is.
Per the standard NFL Player's Contract, if a player is injured while a member of the team, he is entitled to his salary and all medical related costs (rehabilitation, treatment, etc). If the team wishes to release him to free up a roster spot, the two sides can come together on an injury settlement where the team pays the player X amount and he is released.
Thomas, who hadn't practiced since the first week of training camp and didn't play in any preseason games, claims he was still suffering from a concussion which has prevented him from playing when the Chiefs released him. Per NFLPA rules, he must file an injury grievance within 25 days which, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, he has done.
The Chiefs released Thomas on September 5th, which means his grievance must have been filed by the end of last month.
Thomas visited the Pittsburgh Brain Imaging Research Center at some point and the doctors told him his career was in his hands. I took a look at our training camp reports, and at the end of August there were two days when Zach Thomas was not on the field and unaccounted for (by local reporters, at least). That's possibly when he visited the hospital. Or it came after he was released (it doesn't really matter).
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported later that Thomas would retire. Thomas' agent disputed that report and stated his client intended on playing next season.
A Chiefs team official told Mortensen that Thomas was cleared to play by doctors and the release was performance-based.
Now that a grievance has been filed, Thomas will be evaluated by a neutral physician. If the physician finds that he's still injured, Thomas will appear before an arbitrator, represented by an NFLPA attorney, to decide the case.
Thomas had a $1 million salary with the Chiefs.
These grievances aren't that uncommon. There are about 40 or so filed each season.
The Chiefs signed Thomas over the offseason to be a locker room leader and a veteran presence on a linebacker group that struggled mightily in 2008. He showed up to the offseason activities and earned the praise of head coach Todd Haley, which is somewhat of a rarity we later learned.
Haley commended him on his work ethic on multiple occasions.
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HA Easy
Haley “You were cut becuase you were old and slow” hahaha shut up thomas maybe theres a reason no one else has picked you up loser
That's not the issue
The issue is: Was he injured when the Chiefs released him?
by Joel Thorman on Oct 5, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
If he was cleared to play by his own doctor....
Than how can the Chiefs be faulted? I thought Thomas was cut because Mays and Belcher outperformed expectations…
Predictions for 2009:
LJ runs for 1800 yards
Bowe in the pro bowl
Chiefs D finishes in the top 10 in points allowed
Chiefs 10-6
by bonesjackson on Oct 5, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
If he was cleared to play then got hurt
and the chiefs decided to cut him because he was hurt and know he wouldnt play that much then he will win…
Even if he was injured...
would the Chiefs still have to pay him that money if he was injured BEFORE the Chiefs signed him? And he just never mentioned it?
Well of course that's what they're saying
Because if they said it was an injury that got him cut then they would be entitled to his salary.
Obviously the Chiefs are saying he wasn’t injured but it’s not up to them at this point. A neutral physician will decide that.
by Joel Thorman on Oct 5, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
HIdden Injury ?
His initial physical with Cheifs was open ended with a potential prior injury that the Cheifs will hang their hat on.
This is no class
The guy is rolling in money and he’ll probably end up weaseling us out for another million for his retirement.. This is ridiculous someone needs to put the NFLPA under control.
Time is a great teacher... unfortunately it kills all it's pupils.
i never said he was small time
i was saying that he would be helping other players who might be small time that would need the help.
Uhhh.
Thomas signed a 577k rookie contract. Then he signed a $22.5 million contract with 4.5 signing bonus. Then later he signed a $33.75 million contract extension with 10.5 million signing bonus. That is nearly 57 million, with 14.5 in bonuses. Thats only his pay with the Dolphins. He got a $1 million bonus, with $1 million in salary plus performance incentives up to 1 million. So he was paid ATLEAST 2 million last season. Thats 59 million, 16.5 guaranteed.
Lets say Thomas was a small time player, and only made 20 million. Only 20 million? I dont think he NEEDS financial help. He doesnt need financial help at all. He should have millions of dollars.
But hes not a small time player. He was AFC defensive rookie of the year, and a Pro Bowl alternate in his rookie season. He is a 7 time Pro Bowler. He has more tackles than ANY LB in the Hall of Fame, and 4th most tackles in history. I think its safe to say that he wasnt a small time player. So he probably made atleast 40 of that 59 million, but I’m pretty inclined to think that he made atleast 50 of the 59 million.
Not trying to jump on you but your comment is a little off.
fudging the numbers
Not trying to jump on you but your comment is a little off.
maybe. but this is what I was trying to say:
say a undrafted college guy gets signed to the league minimum. he gets hurt in the preseason and gets cut. but say his injury is bad enough that he needs surgery. he didn’t play in an actual game, and he’s cut? how much did he REALLY make? He would need a grievance based on the money he would have earned/the money he couldn’t earn because he couldn’t work right after the surgery. you all thought I was talking about Thomas’ grievance, when I was saying that his grievance clears the way for the players that actually need it.
Thomas
winning this grievance isnt going to clear the way for anybody who actually needs it. Atleast I dont think it will.
If the players were injured and cut, thats against the rules and should be paid. This applies to any player, whether good or bad, regardless of his attitude.
But Thomas was cleared to play, and cut. For him to file a grievance is ridiculous. Do you really think a concussion would be a million dollar injury? I dont. So why should we owe him? Now, if he was truly hurt and cut while still injured, then yes, he should get paid but i say that ONLY because its the rules. The guy has millions of dollars and he’s crying about having a concussion and getting cut AFTER he was cleared.
that's exactly why
if he loses and has a legit argument, the players will be labeled whiny. yeah, it sucks.
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