Herald report vaguely cites financial issues between Seymour and Patriots
Posted by Mike Florio on September 8, 2009 7:37 AM ET
The Raiders claim that defensive lineman Richard Seymour hasn't reported for duty yet because he's working out issues with the Patriots.
The Patriots claim they're aware of no lingering issues between themselves and the man they traded for a 2011 first-round pick.
On the surface, common sense favors the latter explanation. Seymour has been traded. As of Sunday, the Raiders are the franchise with which he would have financial issues, because the Raiders are the team that has acquired the responsibility to pay his salary.
What other financial issues could there be? Did Seymour loan money to coach Bill Belichick? Is Seymour trying to cancel the order he placed for a new line of Patriots hoodies?
That said, the Boston Herald (insert simultaneous eye roll from all Pats fans) reports in vague and general terms that "the hangup appears to be a financial one with the Patriots."
Sorry, but without some detail as to what it might be, we're not prepared to buy it.
Apart from the fact that it makes no sense, it would be unprecedented. When a player is traded by a team, the team is done with him. There's nothing more to discuss. It's over. Move on, move out.
The only possible explanation that would make this bizarre situation even remotely comprehensible is that Seymour and agent Eugene Parker realize that the Patriots got the better of the deal with the Raiders, and that Seymour and Parker are trying to engineer a money-for-nothing severance package in exchange for Seymour's agreement to not throw a huge wrench into the gears by refusing to show up for work with the Raiders.
