Report: Aaron Hernandez running out of money to pay attorneys

Jun 26, 2013; North Attleborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former tight end Aaron Hernandez (left) stands with his attorney Michael Fee as he is arraigned in Attleboro District Court. Hernandez is charged with first degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd. Mandatory Credit: The Sun Chronicle/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2013; North Attleborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots former tight end Aaron Hernandez (left) stands with his attorney Michael Fee as he is arraigned in Attleboro District Court. Hernandez is charged with first degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd. Mandatory Credit: The Sun Chronicle/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports /
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Aaron Hernandez is reportedly running short on funds to pay his attorneys because the New England Patriots are trying to get out of paying him his bonus, according to the Sporting News.

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Hernandez was due a $12.5 million bonus from the Patriots as part of his 2012 contract extension. But just months after signing the deal, two Boston men were allegedly killed by Hernandez in a drive-by shooting.

The team has filed a grievance to recoup some or all of that bonus money.

Per the story, two of Hernandez’s attorneys, Charles Rankin and James Sultan, have filed papers with the court stating they may not continue to represent the former Patriots tight end.

Hernandez is charged with three homicides in Massachusetts.

The two attorneys were both at Hernandez’s arraignment on Wednesday, but filed papers stating their representation was “limited to arraignment only and related proceedings.”

“The defendant is in the process of seeking to make financial arrangements to retain counsel,” Rankin and Sultan said in their filing.

A third attorney who has represented Hernandez, Michael Fee, was not part of these court filings.

The home of Hernandez is under a restraining order preventing him from using it for anything other than paying future judgments in potential civil suits stemming from these cases.

Guess Mr. Hernandez is about to become familiar with the concept of “public defender”.