Hutchinson fate delayed!!!

[kgun12]

Vikings | Hutchinson's fate delayed
Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:39:25 -0800

Gregg Bell, of the Associated Press, reports the future fate of Seattle Seahawks transition free agent OG Steve Hutchinson will be decided by an arbitration process. That will delay the Sunday deadline, March 19, for the team to match an offer to Hutchinson by the Minnesota Vikings. The NFL Players Association said Friday, March 17, that the league has filed a claim on behalf of the Seahawks contending a clause in the offer sheet Hutchinson signed with the Vikings last weekend circumvents the league's labor contract. The clause in question would guarantee Hutchinson the entire contract sum if Hutchinson is not the team's highest-paid offensive lineman. NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed that the NFL had filed the case. Richard Berthelsen, general counsel for the NFLPA, said the union will argue against the Seahawks' and league's claims. "They say the clause circumvents our collective bargaining agreement. It is our belief that it does not," Berthelsen said. Berthelsen said the union's interpretation of the issue is that the clause is permitted by the CBA because it is a "principal term" of the agreement.

[LifetimeBillsFan]

Re: Hutchinson fate delayed!!!

This is a "poison pill" clause that was put into Hutchinson's contract to get him out of Seattle. It was put into the deal because Minny and everyone else knew that Seattle could and would match any reasonable financial offer to Hutchinson, but would have a hard time doing this because of Walter Jones. It's not that surprising that the Seahawks are challenging this clause, although I'm not sure that they can win on it.

This won't change anything or make Hutchinson any more available--it will just delay the outcome. Until a decision is made, Minny's offer still stands and Seattle will have the opportunity to decide whether to match or not, depending on whether the clause stands or not. Notice that they are not challenging the amount of money--which would indicate that they are willing to match that part of the offer.

All this shows is how determined Seattle is to try to keep Hutchinson if there is any way for them to do so without upsetting the entire salary structure of their team. Their willingness to go so far as to challenge a "poison pill" clause in a contract offer to Hutchinson should be enough to convince people that there really would have been no way for the Bills to get him.

[Spiderweb]

Re: Hutchinson fate delayed!!!

Vikings | Hutchinson's fate delayed
Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:39:25 -0800

Gregg Bell, of the Associated Press, reports the future fate of Seattle Seahawks transition free agent OG Steve Hutchinson will be decided by an arbitration process. That will delay the Sunday deadline, March 19, for the team to match an offer to Hutchinson by the Minnesota Vikings. The NFL Players Association said Friday, March 17, that the league has filed a claim on behalf of the Seahawks contending a clause in the offer sheet Hutchinson signed with the Vikings last weekend circumvents the league's labor contract. The clause in question would guarantee Hutchinson the entire contract sum if Hutchinson is not the team's highest-paid offensive lineman. NFL spokesman Michael Signora confirmed that the NFL had filed the case. Richard Berthelsen, general counsel for the NFLPA, said the union will argue against the Seahawks' and league's claims. "They say the clause circumvents our collective bargaining agreement. It is our belief that it does not," Berthelsen said. Berthelsen said the union's interpretation of the issue is that the clause is permitted by the CBA because it is a "principal term" of the agreement.

Seems that this is treading on the Wil Wolford turf that cost the Bills his services. I thought this type of "clause" was prohibited a little after we got screwed by the same type of deal.

[kgun12]

Re: Hutchinson fate delayed!!!

Seems that this is treading on the Wil Wolford turf that cost the Bills his services. I thought this type of "clause" was prohibited a little after we got screwed by the same type of deal.

I think that is what the delay is for. To see if it is like Wolford's.

[!Papacrunk!]

Re: Hutchinson fate delayed!!!

Hutch would be a great addition to any line, but it's unreal how much a guard is going to get paid. Hopefully this will be an abhoration, and other gaurds won't think that's the new pay level when some guards start to get successful.