Aaron Hernandez; NFLPA file grievances against Patriots

After Aaron Hernandez was arrested for murder and released by the New England Patriots, the NFLPA believed that Hernandez would be unable to recover his guaranteed base salary for 2013 and 2014.

The NFLPA now believes otherwise, according to Pro Football Talk, and has filed a grievance against the Patriots on Hernandez’s behalf. The union is seeking a payment of $1.323 million for Hernandez’s guaranteed 2013 base salary and $1.137 million for his guaranteed 2014 base salary. The NFLPA is also seeking $500,000 for a guaranteed 2014 workout bonus.

The Patriots are likely to fight against this. Since the Patriots cut Hernandez under paragraph 11 of the standard player contract, which states that teams can cut a player if said player “has engaged in personal conduct reasonably judged by Club to adversely affect or reflect on Club,” Hernandez’s guaranteed salary was seemingly voided.

The grievance was filed the same day Hernandez filed a grievance regarding the final $3.25 million of his $12.5 million signing bonus. The final payment isn’t due till  March 14, but citing the refusal to pay the guaranteed base salary for 2013, the NFLPA has opted to seek a ruling on the remaining signing bonus now.

Since this money was earned when he signed the contract in August 2012, it is more likely that he will recover this amount rather than his 2013 and 2014 guaranteed base salary. However, if Hernandez is charged  and convicted for the July 2012 murders of Safiro Furtado and Daniel Abreu, his signing bonus could also potentially be voided.

It’s possible that both grievances were filed to increase the chances that one will be successful.