Bair states that this invokes a three-game suspension after the player sign, but I'm not so sure that's the case.
According to Article XXXII, Section 4(c) of the collective bargaining agreement, a restricted free agent who has not signed a contract and has not reported to training camp, may be placed on the roster exempt list under the following conditions:
"(i) If the player has not reported at least the day before the Club’sBased on the language in the CBA, McNeill and Jackson will miss the first regular season game, and if neither report by next Thursday night, they'll miss the first two regular season games. If neither report by September 1, then they will miss the three regular season games scheduled after they report to the facility.
second pre-season game, he may be placed on roster exempt until the day following the Club’s first regular season game.
(ii) If the player has not reported at least the day before the Club’s third pre-season game, he may be placed on roster exempt until the day following the Club’s second regular season game.
(iii) If the player has not reported at least the day before the Club’s fourth pre-season game, he may be placed on roster exempt until the day following the third regular season game scheduled after the date he actually reports."
Of course, Jackson is suspended for the first three regular season games anyway for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
2 comments:
Im pretty certain you are correct about them not being guaranteed a suspension. This happened with the Chargers and Antonio Gates back in 2005. They sent him the letter, placed him on the list, and he signed 3 days later. He was forced to sit out the season opener and returned by week 2.
Based on McNeill and Jackson's intent on not reporting until they absolutely have to, the three-game vacation is going to happen. It just doesn't appear to be automatic that they'd miss three games by receiving the letter and being placed on that list. They could show up by Thursday and only miss the opener.
At least that's my interpretation of that section of the CBA section clipped above.
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