In an attempt to overrule a decision that will influence future NFL contracts, the NFL Management Council has appealed a grievance won by former Broncos receiver Ashley Lelie.
The objection of the ruling was filed at the U.S. District Court of Judge David Doty in Minneapolis. A court clerk at Doty’s chambers said no further information other than the filing of the objection by NFL Management Council attorneys was available. An NFL spokesman said Wednesday the league would have no comment on the appeal.
A special master of the court ruled Nov. 16 that the Broncos would have to repay Lelie – who was traded to Atlanta in a three-way deal with Washington in August – $220,000 in option bonus money.
The appeal is more about the precedent the ruling set than the money the Broncos owe Lelie. The Lelie ruling changes the forfeiture provisions on option bonuses and gives teams much less protection in those contracts.
Most contracts of first-round picks are based heavy on option bonuses, so the ruling was not popular in the league. Denver’s grievance against Lelie will be heard later this month in Atlanta. It is based on signing bonus money and fine money Lelie amassed while holding out from training camp before he was traded.
