Arbitrator Awards Morton to the Redskins
By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 7, 2003; 4:27 PM
The Washington Redskins added to their free-agent haul in their frenetic offseason when an arbitrator today awarded them kick returner Chad Morton, a restricted free agent from the New York Jets.
Arbitrator Richard Bloch made Morton, who ranked second in the AFC in kickoff returns last season, a member of the Redskins by upholding the NFL Players Association's claim that the Jets improperly matched a five-year, nearly $8 million contract offer sheet to him last month.
"This is a 100 percent victory for the player," said Richard Berthelsen, the union's general counsel. "Getting a ruling that the Jets had to match the void clause would have been a victory. Getting him to the team he wanted to be with is the ultimate victory."
The Jets, after consulting with the NFL's management council, did not match a provision in the Redskins' offer to void the final two seasons of the contract. Bloch sided with the union, which argued during a hearing on Thursday in front of the Washington-based arbitrator that the voidable-years clause was a principal term of the contract that the Jets had to match. The provision creates a sizable salary cap hit for Morton's team after three seasons and was designed by the Redskins to dissuade the Jets from matching the offer.
On March 13, the Jets announced that they would keep him by matching the Redskins' offer. Under the NFL's rules for restricted free agency, the Jets had one week to decide whether to match the Redskins' offer, which included a signing bonus of $2.5 million.
Morton, on the advice of agent Leigh Steinberg, did not sign the Jets' version of the contract and the union filed a grievance on his behalf. Berthelsen said he believed the Jets improperly matched the offer sheet and Morton should be awarded to the Redskins. The union maintained that, if Bloch decided the voidable-years clause was a principal term, the Jets should not be given another chance to match the Redskins' offer because their one-week window to match had long since expired. Bloch agreed, and the Redskins must give their fifth-round draft choice to the Jets as compensation for Morton.
He becomes the third restricted free agent added by the Redskins this offseason, following wide receiver Laveranues Coles and safety Matt Bowen. The club surrendered its first-round pick for Coles and its sixth-round selection for Bowen and is left with four choices in this month's draft -- one selection each in the second and third rounds and a pair of seventh-round picks. The Redskins traded their fourth-round choice to the St. Louis Rams in February for tailback Trung Canidate.
In all, the Redskins have acquired 13 players since the NFL's trading and free agent signing period began on Feb. 28. The team has signed nine unrestricted free agents and three restricted free agents in addition to trading for Canidate. Morton becomes the fourth free-agent defection from the Jets to the Redskins, joining Coles and a pair of unrestricted free agents, guard Randy Thomas and place kicker John Hall. The teams are scheduled to meet in the NFL's season-opening game on Sept. 4 at FedEx Field.
Morton, who turned 26 on Friday, averaging 26 yards per kickoff return last season. He had two touchdowns on kickoff returns in a season-opening triumph over the Buffalo Bills, including the game-winner in overtime. He likely will serve as the Redskins' punt returner as well.
The running back played little on offense in two seasons with the Jets after catching 30 passes out of the backfield for the New Orleans Saints as a rookie in 2000. He and Steinberg stressed during their deliberations with owner Daniel Snyder, Coach Steve Spurrier and other Redskins officials that Morton would like to play more on offense. Morton played tailback and wide receiver in college at USC while Hue Jackson, now the Redskins' offensive coordinator, was the school's offensive coordinator. Morton had 2,511 career rushing yards at USC, including 1,141 yards as a senior in 1999.
The Redskins already have three tailbacks, having acquired Canidate to go with Ladell Betts and Kenny Watson, so their backfield situation becomes rather crowded. Watson could be squeezed out of the playing-time mix.
By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 7, 2003; 4:27 PM
The Washington Redskins added to their free-agent haul in their frenetic offseason when an arbitrator today awarded them kick returner Chad Morton, a restricted free agent from the New York Jets.
Arbitrator Richard Bloch made Morton, who ranked second in the AFC in kickoff returns last season, a member of the Redskins by upholding the NFL Players Association's claim that the Jets improperly matched a five-year, nearly $8 million contract offer sheet to him last month.
"This is a 100 percent victory for the player," said Richard Berthelsen, the union's general counsel. "Getting a ruling that the Jets had to match the void clause would have been a victory. Getting him to the team he wanted to be with is the ultimate victory."
The Jets, after consulting with the NFL's management council, did not match a provision in the Redskins' offer to void the final two seasons of the contract. Bloch sided with the union, which argued during a hearing on Thursday in front of the Washington-based arbitrator that the voidable-years clause was a principal term of the contract that the Jets had to match. The provision creates a sizable salary cap hit for Morton's team after three seasons and was designed by the Redskins to dissuade the Jets from matching the offer.
On March 13, the Jets announced that they would keep him by matching the Redskins' offer. Under the NFL's rules for restricted free agency, the Jets had one week to decide whether to match the Redskins' offer, which included a signing bonus of $2.5 million.
Morton, on the advice of agent Leigh Steinberg, did not sign the Jets' version of the contract and the union filed a grievance on his behalf. Berthelsen said he believed the Jets improperly matched the offer sheet and Morton should be awarded to the Redskins. The union maintained that, if Bloch decided the voidable-years clause was a principal term, the Jets should not be given another chance to match the Redskins' offer because their one-week window to match had long since expired. Bloch agreed, and the Redskins must give their fifth-round draft choice to the Jets as compensation for Morton.
He becomes the third restricted free agent added by the Redskins this offseason, following wide receiver Laveranues Coles and safety Matt Bowen. The club surrendered its first-round pick for Coles and its sixth-round selection for Bowen and is left with four choices in this month's draft -- one selection each in the second and third rounds and a pair of seventh-round picks. The Redskins traded their fourth-round choice to the St. Louis Rams in February for tailback Trung Canidate.
In all, the Redskins have acquired 13 players since the NFL's trading and free agent signing period began on Feb. 28. The team has signed nine unrestricted free agents and three restricted free agents in addition to trading for Canidate. Morton becomes the fourth free-agent defection from the Jets to the Redskins, joining Coles and a pair of unrestricted free agents, guard Randy Thomas and place kicker John Hall. The teams are scheduled to meet in the NFL's season-opening game on Sept. 4 at FedEx Field.
Morton, who turned 26 on Friday, averaging 26 yards per kickoff return last season. He had two touchdowns on kickoff returns in a season-opening triumph over the Buffalo Bills, including the game-winner in overtime. He likely will serve as the Redskins' punt returner as well.
The running back played little on offense in two seasons with the Jets after catching 30 passes out of the backfield for the New Orleans Saints as a rookie in 2000. He and Steinberg stressed during their deliberations with owner Daniel Snyder, Coach Steve Spurrier and other Redskins officials that Morton would like to play more on offense. Morton played tailback and wide receiver in college at USC while Hue Jackson, now the Redskins' offensive coordinator, was the school's offensive coordinator. Morton had 2,511 career rushing yards at USC, including 1,141 yards as a senior in 1999.
The Redskins already have three tailbacks, having acquired Canidate to go with Ladell Betts and Kenny Watson, so their backfield situation becomes rather crowded. Watson could be squeezed out of the playing-time mix.
