Turns out the collective bargaining agreement saga of a few weeks ago may have something of an epilogue.
Safety Eric Reid, who was released by the Carolina Panthers two weeks ago, has enlisted a legal team to request an total invalidation of the new labor deal. A letter drafted by Reid’s lawyers and sent to the players’ union claims that the version proposed to players on March 5 includes language that differs from the final version, dated March 15. Reid and his attorneys are seeking a new vote on the CBA as well as an independent investigation looking into the document’s alterations.
Reid made his case public via his Twitter account on Monday morning.
Side by side of the CBA language players voted on vs CBA posted on @NFLPA site post vote pic.twitter.com/X89ClFjq9E
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) March 30, 2020
As detailed by ProFootball Talk’s Mike Florio:
“The four-page letter dated March 30, 2020 and signed by Ben Meiselas and Ray Genco of Geragos & Geragos points to inconsistencies in Article 60, Section 4 from the March 5 version of the CBA and the March 15 version of the CBA. Article 60 contains rules regarding the NFL Player Disability & Neurocognitive Benefit Plan. The revisions from March 5 to March 15, when applied to the relevant language of the disability plan, allegedly modify offset rules claims from made on or after January 1, 2015 to claims made prior to January 1, 2015.”
The March 15 document does include new language. According to Florio, “the revisions make a significant change to eligibility for and/or amount of disability payments.”
The change in CBA language after the vote, even if it were minor, is a big deal and grounds for invalidation. But here the change has a major and direct impact on hundreds MORE disabled players and their families. Investigate. Invalidate. https://t.co/83J5nSjOWV
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) March 30, 2020
Reid was among the outspoken critics of the CBA that passed by a fairly narrow margin- 60 votes out of nearly 2,000- on March 15.
“Even if a new vote were taken,” Florio points out, “the CBA likely would pass. At these uncertain times, the players likely won’t embrace further uncertainty in the form of a 2021 offer that may not be nearly as favorable as the offer they accepted, given current global public-health and economic circumstances.”
“The easiest fix, frankly, would be to make the March 5, 2020 version of the agreement the official CBA,” he suggests.
The league, for now, is moving forward with implementation of several key items from the new CBA; a conference call among team owners is set to take place on Tuesday. Four votes are expected to be held during that call, including one on the expanded postseason format as passed in the March 15 CBA.
[vertical-gallery id=642436][lawrence-newsletter]