Patterson's agent plans to file grievance against Eagles
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Patterson's agent plans to file grievance against Eagles
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Mike Patterson's agent said that he planned to file a grievance through the NFL Players Association after the Eagles placed his client on the Non-Football Illness list on Wednesday.
"This is not how you treat people if you're a winning organization," Peter Schaffer said to The Inquirer.
Patterson will lose about $150,000 or 50 percent of his remaining salary, according to Schaffer.
Patterson contracted pneumonia last week and was hospitalized. He was home and resting as of Tuesday, according to team trainer Rick Burkholder.
Schaffer said that he spoke to Howie Roseman after he was informed of the move and told the Eagles general manager then that he planned to file a grievance because he believed the defensive tackle likely contracted the illness because of work.
"I think it's pretty clear that he got it at practice or at the NovaCare Complex," Schaffer said. "That's where he spends all his time. That's all he's doing is practicing and working out."
The Eagles released a statement Wednesday evening.
"Our number one priority is to get Mike Patterson well enough to get back on the football field," the Eagles said. "He has worked hard this year to get back and he has our full support as an organization."
Patterson's season is over. Players placed on Non-Football Illness lists must sit out for at least eight games. This is Patterson's second stint on the list this year. The Eagles placed him on it in late August as he recovered from January brain surgery to have an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) removed from his brain.
The Eagles reduced Patterson's pay 50 percent, as is their right, until he returned for the Nov. 5 game at New Orleans. He lost about $1 million, but was paid in full for the five games he played this season. Patterson finished the year with nine tackles and one sack.
Patterson, 29, is the Eagles' longest-tenured player. He was selected in the first round of the 2005 draft. The team is not expected to bring the eight-year veteran back next season. He has four years left on his contract.
"I told Howie this morning that if he could prove to be that Mike didn't get pneumonia at practice I wouldn't file a grievance," Schaffer said. "He said he couldn't."
Schaffer has had a long-standing relationship with the Eagles. He would have lunch with Roseman and former Eagles president Joe Banner every year at the Indianapolis scouting combine.
"I love Howie, but this is wrong and petty," Schaffer said. "To do this to one of your leaders and to a guy that fought back from brain surgery is just wrong."
The Eagles signed fullback/tight end Emil Igwenagu off the practice squad and to their 53-man roster to take Patterson's place. They also signed defensive tackle Ronnie Cameron to the practice squad.
Joe Banner was a good teacher.— Bruce in NM
Essense of the bitter owner.— Zeru- The Eagles organization showed their lowest of standards by doing this to a player who did everything he could to put his life on the line for them, last year and this year. I'm disgusted by Roseman and Lurie. Jeff Lurie should be ashamed of himself, billionaire owner, classless human being ... if I still lived in Philly and had my tickets, I'd burn them in the parking lot and try to get TV and radio involved to demonstrate how bad things have gotten. Kuharich wasn't much worse, neither was Tose, as far as skinflints go ...— petergou
- Real 'classy' organization. They seem to be losers on and off the field.— black prince
- Once again the Eagles prove what a classless organization that they really are. And Andy Reid considers himself a christian.— RH
- Look at all the sheep bahing at one side of the story that a likely scumbag agent has circulated. This likely has nothing to do with money.— Sidewinder7
- Stay classy Eagles.— 76sixers
- shades of the norman breman era— stayoutofphilly
- WOW,,,,I bet during the offseason, tons of free agents will be lining up to sign with the Eagles. If this were any other business, lawyers would be lining up behind Patterson waiting to go after the Eagles. Its just wrong of the Eagles and their management...simple...factual.— drhoffman
- This is why I have no confidence in Jeff or Howie moving forward even after they fire Andy. It is consistent , however, with the owners treatment of Eagles employees;he does whatever he can get away with, then runs around wondering why fans think he's a bad person.— drbob1
- This team was a loser when they signed Michael Vick. It showed the fans what the Eagles thought about them.
The disease started with the owner, and was spread to anyone he was in contact with. It's time a football oriented owner takes over, and he and the other schmuck Roseman the bean counter, leave the country.— phineas - Howie - doc your own pay you accountant weasel! Lurie- for 150K really? Way to galvanize a locker room against management...dummies— frustrated1
- Give a new contract to conVicktim but cut a sick man's pay. Gold Standard character guys indeed.
— autolykos - eagles blow, long before this with patterson— jamarder
- Yeah, if I was losing $150K for 3 weeks of work, I'd be upset too. Wait? What?— GreenWing
