And the Jets Knew about it!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-redskins-jets-morton&prov=ap&type=lgns
Arbitrator in Morton case owns Redskins' season ticket
By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
April 9, 2003
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- The arbitrator who awarded kick returner Chad Morton to Washington on Monday is a Redskins' season ticket holder.
And the New York Jets, who lost Morton -- the fourth player to leave the team for Washington as a free agent -- knew about it.
Richard Bloch ruled the Jets did not fully match Washington's five-year, $8 million offer to Morton, a restricted free agent. New York, on advice from the NFL Management Council, left out a voidable years provision in the deal, and the NFL Players Association challenged the Jets' contract.
``The NFLPA wants to make it clear that arbitrator Bloch disclosed this fact to all of the parties before the arbitration hearing,'' the union said in a release, ``and that all of the parties, including the Jets, immediately agreed that arbitrator Bloch should hear and decide the arbitration.''
The union added that reports it ``helped to convince the Jets that it was appropriate for arbitrator Bloch to continue to serve are absolutely false.''
Union leaders explained it was not unusual for an arbitrator to also be a season ticket holder for a team. Bloch has been an NFL arbitrator for 15 years.
The ruling was another setback for the Jets, whose general manager, Terry Bradway, last month chided Redskins owner Dan Snyder for overpaying for free agents.
Morton and the Redskins were pleasantly surprised by the ruling. Morton wanted to play in Washington because offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, his former position coach at USC, promised him the opportunity to play running back.
``Here at least I know I'll get a chance,'' Morton said.
Morton's primary job will be to return kickoffs and punts for the Redskins, whose return game has been inconsistent since Brian Mitchell was cut three years ago. He'll join a crowded running back competition that includes Trung Canidate, Ladell Betts and Kenny Watson. But at least that's better than New York, where Morton said he didn't even participate in offensive drills.
``I'll feel like part of the team,'' Morton said.
Morton ranked second in the AFC in kickoff returns last season and set a Jets record with 1,509 kickoff return yards. He returned two for touchdowns on opening day in Buffalo, including the opening kickoff in overtime.
Earlier Wednesday, Redskins coach Steve Spurrier attempted to smooth things over with the Jets, from whom his team also signed receiver Laveranues Coles, guard Randy Thomas and kicker John Hall.
``If there's any ill will or bad feeling between the Jets and the Redskins, I don't think it's on the coaching level or the player level,'' Spurrier said. ``It just seemed like they had players, free agents and restricted free agents, that filled our needs. ... It just happened that way.''
If nothing else, all of this intrigue will make the Sept. 4 Jets-Redskins season opener even more interesting.
``If there's bitterness between management-level people, that's something they need to talk about,'' Spurrier said.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-redskins-jets-morton&prov=ap&type=lgns
Arbitrator in Morton case owns Redskins' season ticket
By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
April 9, 2003
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- The arbitrator who awarded kick returner Chad Morton to Washington on Monday is a Redskins' season ticket holder.
And the New York Jets, who lost Morton -- the fourth player to leave the team for Washington as a free agent -- knew about it.
Richard Bloch ruled the Jets did not fully match Washington's five-year, $8 million offer to Morton, a restricted free agent. New York, on advice from the NFL Management Council, left out a voidable years provision in the deal, and the NFL Players Association challenged the Jets' contract.
``The NFLPA wants to make it clear that arbitrator Bloch disclosed this fact to all of the parties before the arbitration hearing,'' the union said in a release, ``and that all of the parties, including the Jets, immediately agreed that arbitrator Bloch should hear and decide the arbitration.''
The union added that reports it ``helped to convince the Jets that it was appropriate for arbitrator Bloch to continue to serve are absolutely false.''
Union leaders explained it was not unusual for an arbitrator to also be a season ticket holder for a team. Bloch has been an NFL arbitrator for 15 years.
The ruling was another setback for the Jets, whose general manager, Terry Bradway, last month chided Redskins owner Dan Snyder for overpaying for free agents.
Morton and the Redskins were pleasantly surprised by the ruling. Morton wanted to play in Washington because offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, his former position coach at USC, promised him the opportunity to play running back.
``Here at least I know I'll get a chance,'' Morton said.
Morton's primary job will be to return kickoffs and punts for the Redskins, whose return game has been inconsistent since Brian Mitchell was cut three years ago. He'll join a crowded running back competition that includes Trung Canidate, Ladell Betts and Kenny Watson. But at least that's better than New York, where Morton said he didn't even participate in offensive drills.
``I'll feel like part of the team,'' Morton said.
Morton ranked second in the AFC in kickoff returns last season and set a Jets record with 1,509 kickoff return yards. He returned two for touchdowns on opening day in Buffalo, including the opening kickoff in overtime.
Earlier Wednesday, Redskins coach Steve Spurrier attempted to smooth things over with the Jets, from whom his team also signed receiver Laveranues Coles, guard Randy Thomas and kicker John Hall.
``If there's any ill will or bad feeling between the Jets and the Redskins, I don't think it's on the coaching level or the player level,'' Spurrier said. ``It just seemed like they had players, free agents and restricted free agents, that filled our needs. ... It just happened that way.''
If nothing else, all of this intrigue will make the Sept. 4 Jets-Redskins season opener even more interesting.
``If there's bitterness between management-level people, that's something they need to talk about,'' Spurrier said.
