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.
The agent should sue himself for encouraging Patterson to keep playing after his brain surgery.— Paul SoTX- Really?!? Are you kidding?!? Of all the fiasco's the Howie/Jeffy duo have overseen, and have seen blown up in their faces, it seems reasonable to these fools to gyp your longest standing non-mercenary vet because HE GOT SICK less than a year after he fought back from brain surgery to play in what was already a completely lost season?!? And they wonder why this "gold standard" franchise has become completely unlikeable...— rdglbav
- So if Howie get pneumonia and can't prove he got it while at work, will Lurie cut his pay in half? NFLPA union is weak, this would never happen with the MLB players union.— zeke128
- What a bunch of losers running this organization. If Lurie doesn't get rid of Roseman they'll go nowhere. In fact, if Lurie doent get out of this city they'll never go anywhere. The Eagles were his second choice and it shows— Unstable1
- Wow this is shocking. Howie must be really proud of himself. The poor guy has brain surgery and now gets hospitalizated with pneumonia, and all they care about is how much money they can get back from him. It's a disgrace. Just because you "can" take back some of his salary doesn't mean you should. Sometimes you should do whats right and let they guy keep his paycheck. Something tells me if Howie had to take a leave of absence for medical reasons he would expect to maintain his salary. Lurie better step up and pay patterson.— Gerald Delaney
- But they'll pay Reid next year and toss 4 million at Vick to make him go away. This franchise has really screwed up its priorities - more like the mold standard...— CrotchetyOldMan
- You want to save money.... let Marty "The Offensive Genius" Morhinwig go! ...and so what if his name is spelled wrong— M420
- Just read Thelonius' post.Haven't thought about Ricky Waters comment in a long time but this puts it in new perspective.Give the poor guy his $$$— amolino802
- What a disgrace!!! Quit being a bunch of cheap LOSERS and fork over the guy's paycheck. This seriously disgusts me. Can this organization get any more pathetic??!!?— boom dynamite
- Some well deserved outrage here. This is so typical of the way they operate. I am so disgusted and glad to have dialed back my support for them under this regime long ago. They even managed to tease me a little last week, but the future is dismal at best, too many questionable choices and reaches trying to appear smart, look at their draft picks history if you want to laugh or cry, especially the early rounds. Most were out of the league quickly if they even made the team or they keep them around like our safteys lately, not wanting to admit their mistakes. Why not just IR him, a loyal soldier that was inspirational to the rest of the team and performing well, he didn't make that much for his career, definitely not overpaid for his contributions IMO.
DC3030 love the shout out to "nickels", glad that guy followed Joe to Cleveland.
- Lurie the penny pincher!— Street Sense13
- Grievance may be difficult to prove because illness of this type is not usually considered occupational, BUT, for the amount of $$ involved IGGs come across as a really cheesy organization. Shame on you Jeffrey,— NewMick314
- That Jeff Lurie is one tough guy. As always, picking on the defenseless. I've rooted for the Eagles players for years but never this twerp or the other front office sissies he's hired. And, he's the only put.z in the NFL that would hire Roseman to run the football operation. This organization is not worth spending a dime on. You won your one game. Lose the rest.— Ballgame
- Howie "Nickels" Roseman!— Mark1npt
- "This is not how you treat people if you're a winning organization," Peter Schaffer said... The Eagles are NOT a winning organization, so atleast, they have that going for them. Organization is garbage and lets leave it at that.— Apollo Creed
