Jets cut Osemele day after non-approved 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 “We will pursue through that and all fines to be rescinded through grievances.”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.

Osemele, acquired in a trade with Oakland in March, said he first felt pain in the shoulder on Aug. 5 during training camp with the Jets. The two-time Pro Bowl selection said he re-injured the shoulder at New England on Sept. 22. He has not played or practiced since.

The root of the conflict has been over when Osemele needed to have the surgery — immediately or after the season. The Jets believe, based on the medical reports from the team doctor and an independent doctor, that it is a pre-existing injury Osemele has played through for a while. The offensive lineman, however, said he can no longer take painkillers and needed the surgery now so he has time to heal and prepare for next season.