Awesome news regarding TRich's contract: Colts can walk away from his ~$3M guaranteed because of suspension.

[Dustin]

The suspension of Trent Richardson will allow the Colts to walk away from the 3.18 guar for 2015. His contract has strong voiding language.

— Mark Dominik (@MarkdominikESPN)

January 23, 2015

 

@MarkdominikESPN

The suspension of Trent Richardson will allow the Colts to walk away from the 3.18 guar for 2015. His contract has strong voiding language.

[Clem-Dog]

This is excellent news.

[BOTT]

Praise Jesus

[NBColtsFanatic]

What does this mean? They could release him and wouldn't have to pay him?

[Dustin]

What does this mean? They could release him and wouldn't have to pay him?

 

Exactly. 

[TKnight24]

God is so good...... All the time

[krunk]

Grigson is a master mind!

[Indyfan4life]

I really hate it for TRich. Was so, so excited when he joined the Colts. Was a big fan when he played for Alabama. Wish him the best of luck if he ends up with another NFL team, or whatever he chooses to do in life.

[jvan1973]

, he is a goner

[PrincetonTiger]

His Colt Career is done

[PeterBowman]

sucks for him, I remember reading when he struggled his first year with the team he was a good team player and a hard worker.

 

Wonder what happened...

 

 

also, I bet they give him a chance to earn a spot next year and cut him if he doesn't.

[MTC]

That's messed up. 

[Derakynn]

The I'd possibley see an appeal coming should that happen.

[bavanlan]

The I'd possibley see an appeal coming should that happen.

Ya think?

LOL.

[Scully]

Contract is a contract, doubt there is much to appeal

[Fx Stryker]

That seems so strange.

 

What if they suspended him just to void his contract...

[corgi]

Grigson may overpay but he normally has a good bail-out clause in the contracts. EDIT I know it was his Browns contract. Wasn't thinking, sorry I'm human.

[Superman]

Grigson may overpay put he normally has a good bail-out clause in the contracts.

 

Grigson didn't do the Richardson contract.

[Dustin]

Grigson may overpay but he normally has a good bail-out clause in the contracts.

 

This was the Browns contract. 

[AntonMcG]

Was this stipulation written into his contract from the Browns that we inherited?

 

If the suspension was geared toward doing this, it is a pretty underhanded move by the Front Office.

[Scully]

Was this stipulation written into his contract from the Browns that we inherited?

If the suspension was geared toward doing this, it is a pretty underhanded move by the Front Office.

if my memory serves me correctly he was suspended due to missing the walk through for the patriots game

[corgi]

Grigson didn't do the Richardson contract.

Is that a normal clause in rookie contracts? I knew Grigson didn't do the contract, momentary lapse of brain activity.

[Dustin]

Was this stipulation written into his contract from the Browns that we inherited?

 

If the suspension was geared toward doing this, it is a pretty underhanded move by the Front Office.

 

He was suspended for missing walkthroughs, which he admitted to doing. 

[Superman]

If there are particulars in his contract, then this could be true.

 

Per league rules, if a player is suspended by the league, it can void future guarantees on his contract. But anything that's specific to the player's contract, while it has to be approved by the league, it can go beyond league rules.

 

My initial response was "no, that's not the way it works." But Dominik says this is written into his contract.

[Thewholefnshow28]

[Superman]

Was this stipulation written into his contract from the Browns that we inherited?

 

If the suspension was geared toward doing this, it is a pretty underhanded move by the Front Office.

 

Depends on the situation. He very obviously missed the team walkthrough, and so, he earned the suspension.

[Derakynn]

Contract is a contract, doubt there is much to appeal

The assumption being he could argue that he was suspended just so they could easily get out from under his contract without having to pay him. 

[Dustin]

If there are particulars in his contract, then this could be true.

 

Per league rules, if a player is suspended by the league, it can void future guarantees on his contract. But anything that's specific to the player's contract, while it has to be approved by the league, it can go beyond league rules.

 

My initial response was "no, that's not the way it works." But Dominik says this is written into his contract.

 

Didn't Cleveland do the same thing? Gordon's suspension made it so he didn't accure a full season and I didn't hear anyone (NFLPA) make a big deal about that.

 

Don't really know if that falls under the same category. 

[TKnight24]

The assumption being he could argue that he was suspended just so they could easily get out from under his contract without having to pay him.

And then the case would be won by the colts who have Richardson on file admitting he missed the walkthrough

[21isSuperman]

God is so good...... All the time

This post nearly made me burst out in laughter in the middle of work

 

This is great news!

[AntonMcG]

if my memory serves me correctly he was suspended due to missing the walk through for the patriots game

 

 

He was suspended for missing walkthroughs, which he admitted to doing. 

 

 

If there are particulars in his contract, then this could be true.

 

Per league rules, if a player is suspended by the league, it can void future guarantees on his contract. But anything that's specific to the player's contract, while it has to be approved by the league, it can go beyond league rules.

 

My initial response was "no, that's not the way it works." But Dominik says this is written into his contract.

 

Yes, but has there not been a lot of fogginess around the particulars of this suspension? Did he have a genuine reason?

 

I have not heard enough to say either way... but if the Colts used a technicality to avoid paying a player money that they are contractually owed, then I wouldn't be a big fan of the tact.

[AntonMcG]

And then the case would be won by the colts who have Richardson on file admitting he missed the walkthrough

 

Thanks Harvey Spector.

[TKnight24]

This post nearly made me burst out in laughter in the middle of work

This is great news!

Oops, sorry. Don't need your boss getting involved lol

[Superman]

Didn't Cleveland do the same thing? Gordon's suspension made it so he didn't accure a full season and I didn't hear anyone (NFLPA) make a big deal about that.

 

Don't really know if that falls under the same category. 

 

I don't think it falls under the same category.

 

Gordon was suspended by the league, not the Browns. And it was a drug-related suspension, which I believe it has to be for future guarantees to be automatically voided.

 

Richardson was suspended by the team. Technically, a team could suspend any player at the end of the year and void their future guarantees. The Bears could have suspended Jay Cutler in order to get out of his contract.

 

I'm sort of talking out of my butt here, because I haven't looked up the specific rules and I don't know the particulars of Richardson's contract, but according to what Mark Dominik tweeted (this is the former GM of the Bucs, right?), there is specific language in Richardson's contract that allows for his guarantees to be voided in the event of a suspension. That would be separate from the league rule, as that language wouldn't be needed in a player contract; it's a league rule. So it could apply to non drug-related suspensions. It could also be specific to suspensions stemming from arrests or violent acts or something like that. I'm assuming again, but I don't think Dominik would tweet something like this, something that really doesn't involve him or a player on his former team, unless he has seen the contract.

[Dustin]

I don't think it falls under the same category.

 

Gordon was suspended by the league, not the Browns. And it was a drug-related suspension, which I believe it has to be for future guarantees to be automatically voided.

 

Richardson was suspended by the team. Technically, a team could suspend any player at the end of the year and void their future guarantees. The Bears could have suspended Jay Cutler in order to get out of his contract.

 

I'm sort of talking out of my butt here, because I haven't looked up the specific rules and I don't know the particulars of Richardson's contract, but according to what Mark Dominik tweeted (this is the former GM of the Bucs, right?), there is specific language in Richardson's contract that allows for his guarantees to be voided in the event of a suspension. That would be separate from the league rule, as that language wouldn't be needed in a player contract; it's a league rule. So it could apply to non drug-related suspensions. It could also be specific to suspensions stemming from arrests or violent acts or something like that. I'm assuming again, but I don't think Dominik would tweet something like this, something that really doesn't involve him or a player on his former team, unless he has seen the contract.

 

Gordon was suspended by the Browns for missing a walkthrough.

[Gyan Rrigson]

Thanks Harvey Spector.

Lol...I love that show.

[Superman]

Yes, but has there not been a lot of fogginess around the particulars of this suspension? Did he have a genuine reason?

 

I have not heard enough to say either way... but if the Colts used a technicality to avoid paying a player money that they are contractually owed, then I wouldn't be a big fan of the tact.

 

He didn't call the team in advance to tell them he'd miss walkthrough. Or so the story goes. So either way, it appears the suspension is earned and valid. We'll probably learn more.

 

And so long as I understand correctly, Richardson's guaranteed money is already in escrow. If the Colts don't have a legitimate reason to withhold his guaranteed money, then it won't be withheld. I guess that doesn't speak directly to your concern, but all things told, I don't have any sympathy for the guy. He missed walkthrough, he (evidently) didn't inform the team, and he earned the suspension. If it triggers a clause in his contract, and the Colts were probably going to axe him anyway, that's just collateral damage (or windfall, in the Colts case).

 

I guess I get your angle. But it doesn't bother me. And that's not just because Richardson is a bad player.

[ColtsFanMikeC]

if my memory serves me correctly he was suspended due to missing the walk through for the patriots game

 

 

Depends on the situation. He very obviously missed the team walkthrough, and so, he earned the suspension.

 

He obviously missed the walkthrough, which is grounds for suspension.  However, what are folks' thoughts on him being suspended, then cut without pay if he missed the walkthrough because he had a very serious family emergency?

 

*Disregard - I missed AntonMcG's post.

[Superman]

Gordon was suspended by the Browns for missing a walkthrough.

 

Ah. I forgot about that.

 

If the Browns didn't pay him for that game, then he doesn't accrue a season. That's a similar situation.

[Larry Horseman]

Ah. I forgot about that.

 

If the Browns didn't pay him for that game, then he doesn't accrue a season. That's a similar situation.

 

Right, Gordon wasn't paid for enough games this year to accrue a season. It was him being suspended without pay for the last game that made it the case. He was only paid for 5 games, instead of the 6 need to accrue a season. 

 

His is a completely different situation than TRich, however. I'd be interested to see the language in TRich's contract. This almost sounds to good to be true/too convenient. That said, there's rumblings from local media that there is much more to the story, like him being escorted out of the complex by force prior to missing walk through. IDK...this could get interesting.