Folks at 280 Park Avenue likely have been pleased to hear the rumors that the new management of the NFL Players Association has been separating itself from Jeffrey Kessler, the long-time outside counsel whose firm undoubtedly made millions over the years representing the union’s interests in a wide variety of disputes with the league.
But the league will have to deal with him in a different arena. According to Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, former Browns G.M. George Kokinis has hired Kessler to handle the looming grievance regarding the Browns’ attempt to fire Kokinis with cause — and thus to stiff Kokinis out of any future payments.
The Browns, in turn, have hired Fred Nance, a Cleveland lawyer who was one of the finalists for the position of Commissioner in 2006.
Kessler, per Grossi, will argue that the Browns breached Kokinis’ contract by promising that he’d have final say over the roster — and by thereafter preventing him from exercising it.
We’ve said from the outset that Kokinis’ biggest blunder was believing that the contract meant what it said. Apparently, he didn’t notice the winking and nodding that occurred while the document was drafted in a way that would allow him to leave the Ravens while still under contract there. Indeed, if Kokinis hadn’t gotten final say over the composition of the team, the Ravens could have (and by all appearances would have) blocked the move.
But while we think Kokinis has a strong case if the Browns’ best argument is that Kokinis failed to exercise the authority that coach Eric Mangini wouldn’t let him exercise, we think George has made another blunder by hiring Kessler.
Under his contract, Kokinis’ claims eventually will be resolved by the Commissioner or his designee, possibly general counsel Jeff Pash. And the folks in the league office can’t stand Kessler, who has a reputation for being unnecessarily combative. So, in order to find for Kokinis, the person who hears the grievance will have to overcome any personal disdain for Kessler and his tactics.
Though Kokinis still might win, he would have been better off hiring someone who won’t be automatically tuned out by the guy who’ll be deciding the outcome.
Will the Ravens be part of the suit, as well? If the promotion was a fraud, at a minimum they are owed a pick (Cleveland’s 1st rounder in 2010 should be nice and valuable, given the way that Mangini has ground that team into into er dirt) and possibly a monetary penalty for the fakery? I’m sure that Belichick of the Patriots might be able to suggest a suitable number.
Open question: Has ANY coach EVER screw up as much as Mangini? This is making Lou Holtz’s year with the Jets and Bill Petersen of the Oilers appear like Lombardi, by comparison? Where a PFT survey of worst NFL coaches ever?
Florio,
You are the lawyer, so tell me this: Would the Ravens have a case of some sort against the Browns if they are found to have given Kokinis a contract they didn’t intend to honor in order to prevent the Ravens from having rights to keep him? It seems like there would be some grounds, especially if Kokinis is arguing that he only chose to move to the Browns because he honestly believed he’d have full control. If the Browns hadn’t told him he’d have full control, he’d still be with the Ravens. So, it seems like the Brown’s dishonesty harmed both Kokinis and the Ravens…
We’ve said from the outset that Kokinis’ biggest blunder was believing that the contract meant what it said.
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What an idiot! Who their right mind would believe anything an official contract says?
Just think how good this might have turned out if Mangini was actually good at something.
Haha, wishful thinking. If anything, Baltimore still owes the Clowns some draft picks for the hypocritical Mayflowering of their team years ago.
I don’t follow this story too much, but I have heard multiple times Kokinis just quit showing up to his office, even after being reprimanded by Cleveland. I don’t care if someone told him he was going to be King Shit or not, you don’t show up for your job you don’t deserve a penny when they fire your ass.
Now, get rid of Mangina for cause as well and Cleveland may actually be able to upgrade from pathetic to simply god-awful.
Is the point of the article that Florio the attorney was “out-muscled” by another attorney?
Are the player’s agents are too “physical” for you?
How many of their responses to your filings left you with a “concussion”?
I agree Pondbridge. Ravens should get something for this.
I hope Kokinis takes them for everything he can get. Mangini has to be the worst coach history….
yes of course ‘winking & nodding”…that’s exactly how it happened….and you’re a freakin lawyer?
nothing like spread LIES
sometimes you’re patheitic
All Kessler has to do is hold up a picture of Fat Boy in his right hand, and a copy of the Brown’s record in his left, and ask: “You fired Kokinis over THIS guy????”
Just like Ravens fans to want something for nothing…. just like how they got their team.
Losers
“Just like Ravens fans to want something for nothing…. just like how they got their team.
Losers”
The Coop: I’m an angry Browns’ fan too, but I’m not stupid. Baltimore didn’t receive their team “for nothing.” They got it by agreeing to build a stadium; something that our wonderful city was too frugal to do. You know, because our politicians and city/county officials have pocketed our tax money for decades…. What a great place to live… corrupt politicians AND a horrible football team.
The fans in Cleveland do not deserve what we’ve gotten, but it sure is hard to blame it on Baltimore and/or Modell after all these years.
biglebronski10 says:
November 15, 2009 7:43 PM
“Just like Ravens fans to want something for nothing…. just like how they got their team.
Losers”
The Coop: I’m an angry Browns’ fan too, but I’m not stupid. Baltimore didn’t receive their team “for nothing.” They got it by agreeing to build a stadium; something that our wonderful city was too frugal to do. You know, because our politicians and city/county officials have pocketed our tax money for decades…. What a great place to live… corrupt politicians AND a horrible football team.
The fans in Cleveland do not deserve what we’ve gotten, but it sure is hard to blame it on Baltimore and/or Modell after all these years.
The fans in Cleveland do deserve this. They voted for the politicians that let the team go in the first place. And they will continue to vote for these idiots, because they are stupid too. I’m so sick of hearing what people deserve. You deserve nothing in life, you earn it. Shut your yapper.
Right, just like Baltimore got something for nothing…. keep talking, idiot.