The Raiders claim that defensive lineman Richard Seymour hasn’t reported for duty yet because he’s working out issues with the Patriots.
The Patriots claim they’re aware of no lingering issues between themselves and the man they traded for a 2011 first-round pick.
On the surface, common sense favors the latter explanation. Seymour has been traded. As of Sunday, the Raiders are the franchise with which he would have financial issues, because the Raiders are the team that has acquired the responsibility to pay his salary.
What other financial issues could there be? Did Seymour loan money to coach Bill Belichick? Is Seymour trying to cancel the order he placed for a new line of Patriots hoodies?
That said, the Boston Herald (insert simultaneous eye roll from all Pats fans) reports in vague and general terms that “the hangup appears to be a financial one with the Patriots.”
Sorry, but without some detail as to what it might be, we’re not prepared to buy it.
Apart from the fact that it makes no sense, it would be unprecedented. When a player is traded by a team, the team is done with him. There’s nothing more to discuss. It’s over. Move on, move out.
The only possible explanation that would make this bizarre situation even remotely comprehensible is that Seymour and agent Eugene Parker realize that the Patriots got the better of the deal with the Raiders, and that Seymour and Parker are trying to engineer a money-for-nothing severance package in exchange for Seymour’s agreement to not throw a huge wrench into the gears by refusing to show up for work with the Raiders.
Though Seymour would have no right to try to squeeze more money out of the Pats, he definitely has leverage. If he decides to dig in his heels, the trade would fall apart — and the Patriots would have a very unwanted distraction on their hands.
The trade would fall apart? The trade is doen and has cleared the NFL offices? He has no leverage. The NFL does not have a no-trade clause for players…
Eugene Parker….the new Rosenhaus
I will laugh my ass off if this deal falls apart.
I’m tired of the Raiders making deals with the Patsys that are one-sided and seem to help New England more than it does Oakland.
First the Moss deal, now this one. Enough already…
“…Seymour and Parker are trying to engineer a money-for-nothing severance package in exchange for Seymour’s agreement to not throw a huge wrench into the gears by refusing to show up for work with the Raiders….”
Extortion? Nah, a NE player would never do anything that was morally questionable.
He is just pissed because he went from the best Div in the AFC to the AFC worst
Oakland is where former good players go to die
Its the Sr Center of the NFL
Seymour would have to report or the raiders can place him on a non football list that would basically end his season and he would not become a free agent. So why would he not report? He has no leverage.
The trade can fall apart…
He can somehow “fail” his physical…
@ledtear
The trade is done, save for the all important physical examination. If Seymour never takes that physical, then the door is left open for potential shenanigans.
It should all blow over in a day or two. But, if Seymour is serious about not coming, this could be really entertaining.
If he is a “no show” to the raiders, and the trade falls through, can the Pats then suspend him for conduct detremental to the team? Costing the team a first round pick seems detremental to me.
Mike, what you FAILED to leave out in your article that WAS printed in the Herald article was…
According to a LEAGUE source
Unless the Herald is lying… they called the league and was told that there is indeed a hang up.
How about you trying the same?
It’s called investigative journalism.
Can goodell suspend agents? Or maybe revoke their license? I think the NFL minus Eugene Parker would be a much better place. Rosenhaus f*cks sh*t up sometimes but at least the guys he chooses to do it with are usually top tier caliber players. Not saying Seymour isn’t really good but he is a 3-4 d end, those aren’t the most difficult guys to find out there.