NFLPA no longer pursuing grievance
Defensive lineman Richard Seymour’s(notes) decision to report to the Oakland Raiders on Saturday cancelled a move by the NFL Players Association to file a grievance on his behalf.
George Atallah, the NFLPA’s associate executive director for external affairs, confirmed that the union had filed a grievance Friday after Seymour received a five-day letter from the Raiders. The letter essentially forced Seymour, who was traded by New England to Oakland on Sunday, to report or face the chance of not being able to play this season.
As part of that, Seymour’s rights would remain with the Raiders and he would still have one year left on his contract at $3.68 million in base salary. Seymour is set to be a free agent in 2010.
The union was willing to contend that the Raiders did not have the right to send the five-day letter compelling Seymour to take action.
However, when Seymour decided to join the Raiders, Atallah said the union dropped the matter.
Specifically, Atallah was asked if the matter was moot or if the union was going to pursue something for clarification of the process?
“Moot,” Atallah answered via email.
