Dolphins want Gaffney but reports are he wants back in NE

[Frezo]

I don't think there is any rule against cutting a player who is injured.

I think there is without an injury settlement though. But, I'm not sure.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

OK, indulge me in a little conspiracy theorizing here:

A player who started camp healty is now clearly injured and can't take the field. Yet the Patriots cut him. Not waived injured w/injury settlement, cut. Ordinarily, you simply can't do that.

Doesn't that mean they MUST have come to an agreement with the player on how they wanted to handle the situation? And wouldn't such an agreement, which lets the team off the hook for an injury settlement while allowing the player to re-sign with the original team at any time, have to be done on terms of goodwill with both sides interested in a reunion?

What else COULD it mean?

There's not necessarily an agreement, players with minor injuries get released. You're not going to IR someone with with a sprained ankle but it might prevent him from making the team. That could be the case here.

I think it's more that if they have a spot and a need for him at the time when he's healthy they may bring him in.

That quote doesn't make it sound like there is an agreement. It sounds like the Pats would be his first choice when healthy.

"I was told by a good source that Gaffney's preference is to return to New England once he's healthy. If they don't want him, then he would look around to other teams.

Read more here: Why Brian Hartline return is great news (PLUS) practice and cuts update | Miami Dolphins In Depth

 

[Ring 6]

I think there is without an injury settlement though. But, I'm not sure.

I think this is heavily misunderstood. Many players are cut that have some type of injury. Such a rule would basically require every cut player to never miss a practice or have to be paid off.
I'm pretty sure the injury settlement scenario only applies to releasing a player from IR

 

[Off The Grid]

Just spitballing...

God LOVE ya, Brother Clay: I hold you in HIGH Esteem.

The term is..."SpiffBalling."

 

[Off The Grid]

GOD, I Love FootBall!!

I pray to GOD ~ to EVERY God ~ that he comes back to us.

Brother Jabar Gaffney ~ 3rd Down BEAST, MONEY Man, and Mover Of Chains ~ is utterly, vitally, ESSENTIAL to our chances of ringing up #4!!

 

[Frezo]

I think this is heavily misunderstood. Many players are cut that have some type of injury. Such a rule would basically require every cut player to never miss a practice or have to be paid off.
I'm pretty sure the injury settlement scenario only applies to releasing a player from IR

Could be. I tried to read "ARTICLE 45 INJURY PROTECTION" in the CBA, but fell asleep.
http://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/collective-bargaining-agreement-2011-2020.pdf

 

[patchick]

There's not necessarily an agreement, players with minor injuries get released. You're not going to IR someone with with a sprained ankle but it might prevent him from making the team.

I think this is heavily misunderstood. Many players are cut that have some type of injury. Such a rule would basically require every cut player to never miss a practice or have to be paid off.
I'm pretty sure the injury settlement scenario only applies to releasing a player from IR

It's my understanding that you cannot simply cut a player who was injured playing/practicing/working out for your team, such that they are not currently cleared to take the field. That's true even if they project to be able to return in a week or two. If a team does cut an injured player, he can file an injury grievance.

This SI article seems to support that:

Technically, NFL players injured on the job cannot be cut without compensation. The standard NFL contract requires that if a player is injured on the job, and if the player promptly communicates the injury, then he is owed payment for as long as his injury prevents him from playing that season. Normally, the player's agent and the team's general manager try to agree on an injury settlement.
Cutting formerly concussed players could become thorny issue for NFL

 

[Ring 6]

It's my understanding that you cannot simply cut a player who was injured playing/practicing/working out for your team, such that they are not currently cleared to take the field. That's true even if they project to be able to return in a week or two. If a team does cut an injured player, he can file an injury grievance.

This SI article seems to support that:

It is probably somewhere in the middle and much more complicated.
I would assume it also does not apply to transactions before the 53 man deadline passes.

 

[patchick]

It is probably somewhere in the middle and much more complicated.
I would assume it also does not apply to transactions before the 53 man deadline passes.

I wouldn't assume that at all. Players are waived/injured and negotiate injury settlements in training camp all the time -- e.g Ross Ventrone a few days ago. The contractual protections should be the same regardless of the date.

 

[Ring 6]

I wouldn't assume that at all. Players are waived/injured and negotiate injury settlements in training camp all the time -- e.g Ross Ventrone a few days ago. The contractual protections should be the same regardless of the date.

Ventrone was placed on IR, then given an injury settlement, so he would not solve the point in question.
There is certainly reason to believe that there are different rules for a 90 man roster player and a 53 man roster player, if for nothing else other than the question of whether the player would have survived cuts to begin with.

In any event, an injury settlement would only cover the period of time the injury is expected to keep the player from being able to participate, so it would have to be a serious injury extending at least into the season.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

It's my understanding that you cannot simply cut a player who was injured playing/practicing/working out for your team, such that they are not currently cleared to take the field. That's true even if they project to be able to return in a week or two. If a team does cut an injured player, he can file an injury grievance.

This SI article seems to support that:

Technically you can't cut him but what would Gaffney gain by filing a grievance? - 3 weeks pay and a reputation as a trouble maker? A year on IR?

With a minor injury, it's sometimes better for all involved to release the player. Do you think Gaffney wants to spend the year on IR or playing?

They likely said, "We'll cut you now, go get healthy and in 3 weeks we'll see where we're at."

 

[lamafist]

I think in situations like this, players are often given the choice of being put on the IR or agreeing to be released without a settlement.

If the player believes that he'll be ready to play reasonably soon, and that there is at least one team that will want to sign him, he'd probably prefer to be cut. Spending a year on the IR tends to decrease you're perceived value for the next year, especially for older players.

 

[Boston Boxer]

It is possible that the Patriots FO has explained the team's roster building process and the circumstances that a vet like Gaffney or Branch will return under.

There are 17 front 7 players on the d I can't see that situation existing for very long (not counting Pryor who can come off PUP). There are a few players that IMO the Pats would like to get on the PS squad who would be scooped up by others if they were exposed by a cut this weekend (Forston, Francis & Rivera).

They did this with Warren this year and the same thing could happen with Gaffney and or Branch after game 1.

I agree. I think there must be some conversations that take place when we cuts folks. Gaffney and Branch know they have a place on this team when they are healthy and the Pats need them back. I think the same might be said for Hoyer.

 

[The Scrizz]

Depends on his recovery from injury,some of the older players tend to struggle to recover sometimes.

When did players a decade younger than me become too old to heal quickly?

I must have one foot in the grave.

But encouraging and not surprising that NE is his 1st option. He signed here for a reason and is experienced enough (notice I didn't say old enough) to know that the Pats can't hold a spot open for him while he's injured. I have felt all along that he will be back.

 

[The Scrizz]

I was just asking for clarification on cutting injured players in the Salas thread and I come here and there's a whole discussion going on.

This is why I love this place. Thanks for the info Patschick, etc even if there isn't consensus.

 

[Betterthanmost]

Say what? He is at their facilities at the moment.

 

[signbabybrady]

Is there ANY other team in the NFL who can cut players and said players play along and not talk to other interested teams, with the hope that later on the cutting team will be calling back?

Really. Think about it. How many other teams have "shadow rosters" with the likes of Branch, Gaffney, KFaulk, or Gerard Warren?

Maybe there are, but I am impressed where the Patriots are in players' eyes. There is not another HC in the sport as respected by players as Bill Belichick. Maybe not loved, but respected.

I think the shadow roster thing gets way to played up here. I think its pretty common for teams to have guys with some knowledge of their team hanging around in hopes of getting picked up. In most cases these are likely lesser known players cut from camp. I think in our case because of the success you have a few guys clinging to memories Faulk or hoping for one last chance at a ring Warren. And I think most of the guys Faulk aside would take a job with another team if they were willing to pay.

A move like Gaffney's isn't a shadow roster thing as much as a calculated gamble. In this case the Pats are willing to gamble that no one else will overpay for Gaff and that if they are going to pay him the same as anything he can get on the market why wouldn't he hang around but don't be fooled when he is healthy if his spot is not returned he will be moving on.

 

[Linda_The_Pats_Fan (She was NEM)]

Gaffney says he wants to return to Pats

Branch is cut but there is talk he may be brought back.

Gaffney is cut and now he says he wants to come back.

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: The Blitz» Blog Archive » Jabar Gaffney wants back in with Pats, according to Miami Herald

I would like to see both of them back so that our WR corps is Welker, Lloyd, Branch, Gaffney, Salas and Edelman*. (6) (Not so sure about Salas) (Slater just does not do anything for me)

Toss in Gronk and Hernandez, and how do you stop this offense??

*Also special teams.

 

[condon84]

Re: Gaffney says he wants to return to Pats

He or Branch will be back. I just don't see Salas as the main backup to Lloyd.

 

[BBass]

Re: Gaffney says he wants to return to Pats

So didn't Randy Moss...