Uh oh.
When word emerged last week that Jets linebacker Bart Scott will be appearing on TNA Wrestling’s iMPACT! on Spike TV (Thursday, 9:00 p.m. ET), it widely was assumed that Scott’s role would be confined to talking, and perhaps a little posturing, posing, and/or preening.
As it turns out, he’ll be wrestling.
A source with knowledge of the situation tells us that Scott gets physical in the segment that was taped last week, including “wrestling moves and simulated violence.” The source was surprised by the extent to which Scott engaged in ring-related activities, which are performed against Kurt Angle (a 1996 Olympic gold medal winner) and Kazarian.
The NFL Standard Player Contract contains clear restrictions on the ability of players to engage in potentially hazardous activities. Specifically, paragraph 3 provides: “Without prior written consent of the Club, Player will not play football or engage in activities related to football otherwise than for Club or engage in any activity other than football which may involve a significant risk of personal injury. Player represents that he has special, exceptional and unique knowledge, skill, ability, and experience as a football player, the loss of which cannot be estimated with any certainty and cannot be fairly or adequately compensated by damages. Player therefore agrees that Club will have the right, in addition to any other right which Club may possess, to enjoin Player by appropriate proceedings from playing football or engaging in football-related activities other than for Club or from engaging in any activity other than football which may involve a significant risk of personal injury.”
Reached for comment as to whether the Jets were aware of Scott’s wrestling, whether they consented to it, and whether they believe wrestling violates Scott’s contract, Jets spokesman Bruce Speight declined to comment.
If/when a lockout is imposed, Scott will be able to do all the wrestling that he wants, without any possible restrictions or limitations from the team.