 |
| |
|
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||||
|
Morton in limbo Jets match Redskins' offer, but NFLPA is challengingPosted: Thursday March 13, 2003 10:56 AMUpdated: Friday March 14, 2003 2:25 AM
By Don Banks, SI.com The NFL Players Association is challenging the New York Jets' matching of Washington's offer sheet to restricted free agent running back Chad Morton, and the matter is expected to be resolved by arbitration some time next week, NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen told SI.com Thursday night. The Redskins signed Morton, the Jets' return specialist, to a five-year, $8 million offer sheet last week, and New York had until Thursday to match it and retain Morton. The Jets did so, but that outcome could be overturned, with Morton's rights being awarded to Washington if arbitrator Richard Block decides in the NFLPA's favor. The issue in contention involves a clause in Morton's offer sheet that voided the final two years of the deal, at the player's option, or if Morton participated in at least 10 percent of Washington's offensive snaps next season. The Redskins included the clause in the deal because it would create a significant salary cap hit after three seasons, thereby hopefully making it difficult for the Jets to match their offer. But the Jets sought the interpretation of the NFL's management council this week as to whether they had to match the voidable clause in the contract, and were told they did not. The NFLPA is challenging that interpretation, saying that all principle terms of an offer sheet to a restricted free agent have to be matched identically. "It was pretty risky advice that the management council gave the Jets, because if they're wrong, the Jets lose the player," Berthelsen said. "The length of the contract is a principle term and must be matched. And that includes both voidable years, or options that extend the deal. Our argument will be that a void clause falls under the definition of a principle term." The arbitration hearing will be an expedited special procedure, and the NFLPA will file its request by Monday, if not sooner, Berthelsen said. There is no precedent for the Morton case, Berthelsen said, adding that a similar situation involving an unidentified Rams restricted free agent was settled short of arbitration last year. "When the contract came to us today from the Jets, it didn't include that void clause," Morton's agent, Leigh Steinberg said Thursday. "The page that included that was omitted. But that's a clause we bargained for. The plea before the arbitrator will be that it's an incorrect match and the requested relief will be that Chad is the property of the Redskins. There won't be a second chance for the Jets to match at that point." According to a Redskins source, Washington officials consider the NFLPA's challenge a longshot and are prepared to move on without Morton, reinitiating its pursuit of free-agent specialist Jermaine Lewis, the former Houston Texan. Morton was New York's primary kickoff returner last season, finishing second in the AFC with a 26.0-yard average and two touchdowns. Both of those came in the opener at Buffalo, including the game-winner to start overtime. "If he did not have the game he had in Buffalo, we do not make the playoffs," general manager Terry Bradway said. Morton, whose deal includes a $2.5 million signing bonus, is one of two Jets restricted free agents to receive an offer sheet from Washington. Receiver Laveranues Coles signed a seven-year, $35 million offer sheet with the Redskins, including a $13 million signing bonus. The Jets are not expected to match Coles' contract, but they have until next Wednesday to make their decision.
|
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
