The NFL Players Association has filed two grievances against the New England Patriots to recoup salary and bonuses for former tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was cut from the team after being charged with first-degree murder.
The players union is seeking Hernandez’s 2013 and 2014 base salaries, plus two bonuses, which together are worth $6.2 million. The union said in a statement that it is not tone deaf to the allegations of the case, but “there are important precedents here we must protect.”
Hernandez was arrested in June for the murder of semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd; the Patriots released Hernandez the day he was arrested. Patriots owner Robert Kraft responded to the grievance filing, saying: “Simple: you can look at our history. We honor all of our contracts, and we expect the people who sign them to honor their part of their contract.” Hernandez was indicted by a grand jury in August and has pleaded not guilty.
[ESPN]