Patrick Mahomes, other players baffled by Broncos’ ability not to pay Ja’Wuan James

Ja’Wuan James’ injury, while bad for him, could be good for NFL players in general.

The players seem to realize that there is a very real difference between getting injured while training on the team premises and injuring oneself while training elsewhere.

News that James, who has (or at least had) a fully guaranteed salary of $ 9.85 million for 2021, will most likely lose that money because he suffered an Achilles tendon tear while working away from the team’s facilities was confused by the players. like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

“So they will take his contract to train out of season??? Mahomes said on Twitter.

Yes, they will. They will do it because they can. They will especially do so because the NFL Players Association has tried to get players to boycott voluntary off-season training this year, prompting the league to directly remind teams (and indirectly remind players) that any player who suffers a serious injury outside of work risks losing their salary. . In the case of Ja’Wuan James, the price could be even higher.

Mahomes is not alone in his misunderstanding of the rules. And, frankly, Mahomes would never have to worry about the bosses not paying his salary if he suffered an injury outside of work.

Still, he should have at least some idea that this might be a problem. Remember when a video of Mahomes playing basketball surfaced and the Chiefs quickly slammed the door on it? Presumably, his agents would have (or at least should have) explained to him the consequences of a “non-football-related injury” – that is, any injury (football-related or otherwise) occurring outside the premises. team, training or game.

Each agent must explain the risks to each player or train outside the establishment. The wages can be lost forever. Warranties may be void if the player misses even one mandatory practice due to the injury. Signing bonus money can be chased and recovered.

The union should also explain this. Instead, player leadership continues to advocate skipping voluntary training, apparently due to the pandemic, but in fact because: (1) veteran players prefer not to volunteer training at all; and (2) some in the player management remain unhappy that a 17-game season was imposed on the NFLPA in the last CBA – as if the NFL would not have secured a 17-game season by letting it expire. ‘agreement, implementing a lockout. , and while waiting for the players to collapse.

We always support the players. There is no game without the players, and too often fans side with the owners in league-union disputes. However, we cannot support the Players Association on this one, as it endangers players’ individual salary and other financial factors without any real benefit. Owners don’t care if players skip out of season practice; all this only unnecessarily agitates the coaches.

Ja’Wuan James, who reportedly worked at the team’s premises and left to recommendation of the NFLPA, learned this lesson the hard way. Other players can now learn this lesson without losing millions of dollars.