Report: Union examining CB Butler's absence from Patriots OTAs
The New England Patriots are under investigation once again.
The NFL Players Association is launching a probe into the way the Patriots have handled cornerback Malcolm Butler this offseason, NFL Media's Albert Breer reported on Wednesday.
Butler, whose game-clinching interception made him the hero of Super Bowl XLIX, was late for the first practice of OTAs last month because he missed a flight. The Patriots reacted by reportedly benching Butler from practice for the past three weeks.
The Boston Herald first reported the news.
Butler has participated in meetings, film review and weight-room sessions, but has not been allowed to practice on the field.
The NFLPA is looking into a potential violation by the Patriots of Article 21, Section5(a) of the collective bargaining agreement, according to Breer. The section reads as follows:
"No Club official may indicate to a player that the Club's offseason workout program or classroom instruction is not voluntary (or that a player's failure to participate in a workout program or classroom instruction will result in the player's failure to make the Club or result in any other adverse consequences affecting his working conditions). Contact work (e.g., "live" blocking, tackling, pass rushing, bump-and-run) is expressly prohibited in all offseason workouts."
There's no telling what type of punishment the Patriots could receive if the union concluded this happened. However, the Seattle Seahawks and coach Pete Carroll were fined $300K and lost two double practices for violating the non-contact rules last season.
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