SmashMouth

The Saints and Nick Fairley both have filed grievances with the NFL’s Management Council over what the team owes the defensive tackle, General Manager Mickey Loomis said Wednesday.

“There’s grievances filed, so we have to go through the process,” Loomis said, via Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune.

Fairley signed a four-year, $28 million deal with the Saints in the offseason, but he never played in 2017 after a team doctor discovered a heart condition. The Saints placed him on the non-football illness list after Fairley visited three heart specialists.

Fairley, 30, likely won’t play again.

He played for three teams in six seasons, making 20.5 career sacks.

Fairley had an $8 million signing bonus as part of the $14 million guaranteed in the contract he signed in March. It’s unclear how much the Saints have paid Fairley.

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ScottF

Sad what happened, but business is business. We shouldn't be on the hook for $28 million, or at the very least, it should not count against the cap

Rugby Saint II

Don't teams just give the player an injury settlement and move on?

ScottF

since the team has filed a grievance, I'm assuming we made an offer and Fairley turned it down.

Surely there is precedence here

AsylumGuido

An injury settlement would be made for a football related injury. This isn't the case.

AsylumGuido

There must not be a precedence. The player passed his physical given before his deal was signed. The deal included a prorated signing bonus. The Saints are wanting the amount prorated to 2018 back most likely and Fairley's side wants it paid. The Saints are probably saying that Fairley did not satisfy the terms of the contract since he was never able to play. It could get a little messy, but would set a precedent for the future.

st thomas

her we go, no-play no-pay.no matter what the nfl or what the nflpa or what i'm trying to say is his free services thru the players agreement when it all plays out and he has to hire legal concil its going to the lawyers after its all over, so nick take what they offer you the second time and get out of it. please.

TheOak

In this day and age of very highly compensated Agents, Team Legal council, and League review of contracts, there should be language that covers disease defect etc... I suspect there is. If there is then the end result is already spelled out, if there isn't then rulings in cases where there is ambiguity generally go against the drafter of the agreement.

CheramieIII

Fairley fairley shouldn't get anything. It's his condition and doesn't the NFL have some kind of insurance policy to handle this!

AsylumGuido

It isn't about medical bills. It isn't about the cash money. I believe it is about the cap money. If the Saints can void at least a portion of the contract they would regain that allocated cap space.