Osemele released by N.Y. Jets
Team, guard clashed over need for shoulder surgery
NEW YORK — Kelechi Osemele is no longer a member of the New York Jets.
The veteran guard’s contentious standoff with the team, however, is far from over.
The Jets announced Saturday they released Osemele a day after he had surgery on his right shoulder in Boston to repair a torn labrum without the team’s approval. New York was made aware of Osemele’s plan to have surgery, but because he was not with the team and the surgery wasn’t authorized, it was considered an unexcused absence.
The Jets had been fining Osemele the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement — $579,000 per week, the amount of each of his game checks — for not practicing, saying it was “conduct detrimental to the team.” Osemele had filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association against the team.
“They owe him the balance of his contract both under the standard injury guarantee provision of the player contract and under termination pay,” Osemele’s agent, Andrew Kessler, said in a statement. “We will pursue through that and all fines to be rescinded through grievances.”
Osemele was making a fully guaranteed $9.85 million this season, so he is due about $5.2 million more over the final nine weeks.
The 30-year-old offensive lineman was scheduled to make $11.35 million next season, but that money was not guaranteed and he said earlier this week he “absolutely, 100%” expected to be cut by the Jets in the offseason.
It turned out, the move happened even sooner.
Osemele was listed on the team’s injury report Friday as doubtful to play at Jacksonville and then downgraded Saturday to out. The Jets later announced they cut ties with him.
The Jets have not yet publicly commented on the situation, with coach Adam Gase saying that’s an issue for general manager Joe Douglas and the front office, and he’s simply preparing his team for its game at Jacksonville.
COWBOYS: It appears the team is pleading with quarterback Dak Prescott to work with them and lower his contract demands.
At least, that is how Vice President Stephen Jones sounded on his radio show on 105.3 The Fan Friday when asked about Prescott’s stellar play and the current stalemate in contract negotiations.
The Cowboys (4-3) are heading into this week’s bye with Prescott playing the best football of his career and no deal close.
“The only reason we’re having a negotiation is to talk him into all the reasons why it’s good to have a good supporting cast around him,” Stephen Jones said Friday. “What we’re trying to do is keep this young football team together. We think it’s a really good one. … Ultimately, we’ll figure this out.”
The Cowboys have already offered a deal worth than $30 million annually but Prescott’s demands have been in the $34 million range with reports of them approaching $40 million.
49ERS: Receiver Jordan Matthews was released Saturday so the team could resign veteran long snapper and former New Mexico State Aggie Kyle Nelson.
Nelson (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) has had two previous stints with the team and has appeared in 92 games through seven seasons. The Waco, Texas, native was suspended in August for 10 games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He said he unknowingly took a tainted supplement.
SAINTS: New Orleans activated receiver Krishawn Hogan from their practice squad Saturday and waived receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey.
Hogan, who was signed to New Orleans’ practice squad Sept. 18, began his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts but played in only two regular season games without a catch. His season ended prematurely with a major knee injury in Week 5 and he did not play last season.