Beyond Ashley Lelie receiving $220,000 from the Broncos on Friday, his grievance ruling could have ramifications for many existing and future contracts around the NFL.
An outside arbitrator ruled in favor of the former Denver receiver in his grievance against the team, it was announced Friday. The Broncos can appeal the ruling.
Lelie argued he was forced into signing an agreement that he would forgo $220,000 in option bonuses in order to be traded to Atlanta in August.
Because of the ruling, which was based on new language in the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement reached in March, the forfeiture provisions of option bonuses are expected to be changed.
Players who have contracts heavy on option bonuses rather than signing bonuses no longer will be in danger of losing those bonuses in holdout situations.
This could mean option bonuses no longer will be part of contracts, which could have a major effect on how contracts for first-round draft picks are constructed.
“It feels good to have that money back in my pocket,” Lelie said Friday after the Falcons’ practice. “To lose that much money, cash, after taxes, is kind of tough.”
Attorneys for the NFL, which was representing the Broncos, and the NFL Players Association, representing Lelie, presented arguments to the arbitrator Nov. 6.
“There’s no animosity toward the Broncos,” Lelie’s Denver- based agent Peter Schaffer said. “We just want to move on. We wish Denver a great season, and Ashley a great career, and want to put this all behind us.”
While Lelie won his grievance, the Broncos’ grievance will be heard in coming weeks. That grievance is based on a forfeited bonus and fines accrued during Lelie’s holdout before the Aug. 23 trade. Lelie amassed $378,000 in fines for missing training camp, $11,000 for missing minicamp and gave up a $100,000 bonus by not attending a offseason workout program.
Denver is expected to try to recoup the fines and a portion of Lelie’s original $3.3 million signing bonus. The total is expected to be more than $1 million.
Bill Williamson can be reached at 303-954-1262 or bwilliamson@denverpost.com.
