The NFLPA said this week that they were filing a grievance against the Buccaneers on behalf of kicker Lawrence Tynes related to the team’s decision to place Tynes on the non-football injury list.
Jason La Canfora of CBS spoke to sources from the union and reported some details about the grievances on Sunday. Among them are that three other Bucs players reportedly contracted staph infections around the same time as Tynes and guard Carl Nicks, that a member of the Bucs training staff may have been treated for MRSA as players were reporting to camp and that Tynes’ treatment was delayed because the team never did a culture of his infection.
The grievance also claims coach Greg Schiano played a role in Tynes landing on the NFI list, which allows the Bucs to avoid paying his salary (although they aren’t doing that) and impacts his ability to receive 401(k) and other benefits while costing him a year of service time. The grievance alleges that the Bucs’ choice also delayed Tynes’ treatment. Schiano also reportedly said Tynes was doing fine at the same time he was receiving a PICC line in his chest to deliver antibiotics to fight the infection and has reportedly not spoken to Tynes since the decision about the NFI list was made.
Tynes is still on the PICC line and his football future is unclear at this time. More action from the union could follow if Tynes is unable to resume his career.