OT: Raiders trying to get $10 million back from Russell

[jmt57]

http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_15179908?nclick_check=1

The Oakland Raiders have filed a grievance with the NFL seeking $9.55 million of the more than $39 million quarterback JaMarcus Russell received during his three-year tenure with the team.

Russell was released May 7 with three years left on his contract. He collected $3 million of the $9.45 million base salary he was scheduled to earn in 2010 because it was guaranteed. It's money paid to him for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons that the Raiders want back.

First Al Davis does not pay Mike Shanahan the money he was due when he fired him, then he tries the same thing with Lane Kiffin - now he's trying to pull the same thing on a player he cut.

I seem to recall Davis saying a while back that the Raiders had to overpay free agents in order to get them to come to Oakland. I'd say this habit of suing people that you fired for money you already paid them is not going to make it any easier to attract employees. I would say any player or coach considering going to work there hire not just an agent, but an additional contract lawyer to double check all the terms and conditions with a fine tooth comb.

EDIT: Here's the original article from Yahoo.
Raiders file grievance against Russell - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

“The money in question was fully guaranteed. That is why JaMarcus was forced to hold out and miss all of training camp as a rookie,” said Eric Metz, one of Russell’s two agents. “The Raiders know that and this is our only comment.”

 

[RobertWeathers]

Re: Raiders trying to get $10 million back from Russell

http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_15179908?nclick_check=1



First Al Davis does not pay Mike Shanahan the money he was due when he fired him, then he tries the same thing with Lane Kiffin - now he's trying to pull the same thing on a player he cut.

I seem to recall Davis saying a while back that the Raiders had to overpay free agents in order to get them to come to Oakland. I'd say this habit of suing people that you fired for money you already paid them is not going to make it any easier to attract employees. I would say any player or coach considering going to work there hire not just an agent, but an additional contract lawyer to double check all the terms and conditions with a fine tooth comb.

EDIT: Here's the original article from Yahoo.
Raiders file grievance against Russell - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Who knows with these things but if the Raiders altered the contract by converting future salary into additional bonus by cutting JR a check to lessen the cap hit or improve future cash flow in '10, '11 and '12, then the Raiders don't have a leg to stand on. They assumed the business risk and tuff toodles for them.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: Raiders trying to get $10 million back from Russell

I think Jamarcus invested it...in Big Macs and Fries...supersized...

 

[lillestroom]

Re: Raiders trying to get $10 million back from Russell

I think Jamarcus invested it...in Big Macs and Fries...supersized...

Dang... You beat me to the punch.

 

[Spiral]

Re: Raiders trying to get $10 million back from Russell

Note that he didn't file a lawsuit. He filed a grievance with the NFL. Last time I checked, Russell was not an NFL player, nor is he likely to be one in the future. What can the NFL do? Davis probably would have been better off filing his grievance with Jimmy Hoffa rather than with Roger Goodell.

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: Raiders trying to get $10 million back from Russell

If you were dumb enough to draft the guy with the first pick in the draft, then pay him what you owe him.

 

[cavtroop]

Re: Raiders trying to get $10 million back from Russell

If you were dumb enough to draft the guy with the first pick in the draft, then pay him what you owe him.

QFT

Why anyone would play for this organization after all the crap they've pulled in the last few years is beyond me. Money is funny like that, I guess.

 

[Ian]

This could be one of the most ridiculous things I've seen in a while

I don't see how a player could possibly be asked to pay back money that he was compensated with in good faith from his employer - regardless of any clause in the contract (which I could be wrong, but I would think there is absolutely no way I could see his agent agreeing to). Russell did nothing wrong (other than play like crap) and was simply cut (ie: fired) - so I can't see this one going anywhere.

 

[spacecrime]

Players are always demanding that contracts be modified when they "exceed" the contract. I think it would be hypocritical of them of them to not acknowledge the merits of this grievance and support Al Davis. Plus, players should stand behind this grievance to set the precedent of modifying contracts based on performance, so that more guys can do like Branch did and Crayton is trying to do: get their contracts modified.

Not that I agree with it. I think the Raiders ought to pay up, but I also think the NFl should not have allowed Branch to play for another team after refusing to honor his contract.

I think whatever happens, it needs to go both ways. Either leave Russell and his money alone and not allow players to shoot their way out of town, or let players hold out but allow teams to recap bonus money for pro-rated years.

Fair is fair.

 

[apple strudel]

Fair is fair.

Sure, if you're playing a different game than the one players and teams are playing.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Players are always demanding that contracts be modified when they "exceed" the contract. I think it would be hypocritical of them of them to not acknowledge the merits of this grievance and support Al Davis. Plus, players should stand behind this grievance to set the precedent of modifying contracts based on performance, so that more guys can do like Branch did and Crayton is trying to do: get their contracts modified.

Heh. 10 char

 

[PatsChamp88]

Good luck! They did it to themselves

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Good luck! They did it to themselves

Actually this is one time it is hard NOT to sympathize with Al Davis. JeMarcus Russell owed a duty to show up fit and ready to play.

 

[apple strudel]

Actually this is one time it is hard NOT to sympathize with Al Davis. JeMarcus Russell owed a duty to show up fit and ready to play.

Not picking a fight, but Al owed his organization and his fans some due diligence on the guy he invested tens of millions of dollars in (he also owes them some good coaches, some good schemes, and a whole bunch of other halfway competent stuff, too).

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Not picking a fight, but Al owed his organization and his fans some due diligence on the guy he invested tens of millions of dollars in (he also owes them some good coaches, some good schemes, and a whole bunch of other halfway competent stuff, too).

Bingo. Accountability starts at the top. Al has never taken responsibility for any of his myriad of screw ups in the last several years, preferring instead to shift blame and responsibility onto the purported screw up for merely existing... So why should his players. He notoriously overpays/overdrafts for measurables as well as marginal on field talent and underpays for and undervalues coaching because he lets his ego run the franchise.

This is just classic Al. He wants the credit when they win and someone else blamed when they suck...This time he wants his frustrated beyond belief fan base to rally behind him and aim their pitchforks in Russell's direction. And the half of them who didn't come to terms with the fact that nothing's going to change in Oakland until Al meets his maker will.

 

[eom]

I didn't read those other links, so maybe this has been posted, but here's some detail about the contract situation:

Chasing the $39 million man | National Football Post