Arrington to file a grievance

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

regarding that contract detail that was left out....

(just heard on ESPN Radio)

[PhillyGirl]

I dont' get it...what is the grievance about and what is he planning on winning?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Washington Post

taterskins' Arrington Has Filed Grievance

By Nunyo Demasio
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 15, 2004; Page D03


Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington has said he filed a non-injury grievance with the NFL against the taterskins organization over a contract dispute.




At issue is a $6.5 million roster bonus for 2006 that Arrington and his agent Carl Poston contend was not included in an eight-year, $68 million extension that Arrington signed on Dec. 26 at taterskins Park. With the roster bonus, Arrington's contract would be worth $74.5 million.

Arrington -- who filed the grievance Friday -- is requesting that the NFL take his case to arbitration to have the roster bonus placed in the contract or have the deal voided.

League spokesman Greg Aiello could not be reached to comment last night.

The contract -- which included a combined signing bonus of approximately $20 million -- was signed on the final day of the NFL's deadline for extensions. The deal allowed the taterskins salary-cap flexibility for this offseason, and was intended to make Arrington, 25, a taterskin for the rest of his NFL career.

"I firmly believe and have trusted my agents, Carl and Kevin Poston," Arrington said last night. "And I believe they're the best in the business. This is a clear case of a contract negotiation done at the last minute in good faith with the team to be a life-long taterskin, and to clear cap room to make the team better.

"There was a mistake made during this time."

Arrington originally signed a seven-year contract worth roughly $50 million after being selected second overall in the 2000 NFL draft out of Penn State. Before signing the December extension, Arrington's salary-cap figure averaged an unwieldy $10 million per season.

When the extension was announced, Poston described it as an $80 million deal, indicating a substantial discrepancy. Arrington's contract issue had been an NFL rumor for several weeks. But the Pro Bowler didn't make a public comment until March 3, the start of free agency, when he made an appearance at taterskins Park and met Coach Joe Gibbs face-to-face for the first time. Arrington said at the time that he wouldn't allow the contract issue to affect his play or his relationship with the coaching staff.

taterskins Vice President Vinny Cerrato, who doesn't handle contract negotiations, referred all questions to taterskins spokesman Karl Swanson, who couldn't be reached to comment late last night. But on March 3, Swanson said: "LaVar's contract was reviewed by his agent in draft form numerous times. . . . A month later, the agent claimed that something was left out the contract. If anyone owes an explanation to LaVar, it is his agent."

Notes: New York Giants linebacker Brandon Short has not accepted the taterskins' offer, according to a source familiar with the situation. The club made a similar offer to Greg Favors, who hasn't yet replied while considering inquiries from Jacksonville and Denver. The taterskins have a visit scheduled for Chicago Bears linebacker Warrick Holdman today at taterskins Park.

[General_Failure]

We all gotta eat.

[Zanshin]

He'd make a dandy SAM...maybe we can package a fifth rounder and Thrash for him.  

[cmleary0919]

Imagine his deal getting voided.. and Big Red signing Arrington as well to sure up the LBs.. Mmmmm...

[General_Failure]

That sounds good, but we all know Reid doesn't spend money on LBs.

[Sgt PSN]

That sounds good, but we all know Reid doesn't spend money on LBs.

This time 2 months ago we said the same thing about wide receivers.    

[General_Failure]

Before today there was no proof that he wouldn't spend on a receiver. He's had his chance to sign LBs, mainly Trotter.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Update - agreement reached

I love this part:

The dispute began shortly after Arrington signed an eight-year, $68 million extension late in the 2003 season. Arrington and agent Carl Poston subsequently charged that a bonus of $6.5 million for 2006, which they said had been agreed upon, was omitted from the final draft of the contract that the star linebacker signed. Poston acknowledged that he had not read the final contract.

It cracks me up that a prick agent like Carl Poston is also an incompetent one.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

The taterskins fans down here in D.C make me farging sick. A year ago when Arrington was sitting on his can they were all cracking on him, "He overpursues, a distraction, not a core-'Skin" yada yada yada. So now he is playing again (limited to about 30 snaps tomorrow when they get their assess kicked), the same fans are acting like it is the second coming of Christ.......an overpursuing, mostly out-of-position Christ......

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

What's funny is his squabble/holdout got basically zero national press.

[General_Failure]

That's another sign that the evil MEDIA hates the Skins. They won't even go to the trouble of pointing out when one of their players is a fargup just to keep the team out of the public eye.

[Bigskinbauer]

hmmmm they hate us so they don't go and say that we have players holding out???

First off he never was holding out and arrington didn't go off and cry to the media every day about his contract issues. 

Most people in Washington aren't going crazy about him comming back, we are all happy but the latest polls off fansites list taylor and washington our most important players on defense by a lot

[General_Failure]

Oh right right, he was injured. Sorry.