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The ugly standoff between the Jets and Kelechi Osemele went up several levels over the weekend.
Osemele had shoulder surgery on Friday against the team’s wishes.
Clarifying previous tweet: Kelechi Osemele did not show up to the Jets’ facility today. The team considers it an unexcused absence, per source. He’s having shoulder surgery that has not been authorized by the team. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) October 25, 2019
Osemele and the NFLPA are now considering taking action against the team doctors with the state.
Per Kelechi Osemele’s agents: Osemele’s surgery went well yesterday, but damage to shoulder was more extensive than anticipated. His representatives and NFLPA are now considering specific action against the Jets’ team doctor for violations of State Medical Board Regulations.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 26, 2019
The Jets responded to all of this by releasing Osemele.
The #Jets have released OL Kelechi Osemele, rather than place him on IR. The grievances will follow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 26, 2019
This is not the end of the story, however. A legal process will play out as Osemele appeals fines the team has levied on him for missing practice and seeks to get the rest of the money owed to him.
While this temporarily eliminates the distraction, the standoff is hardly over. Kelechi Osemele has already asked the NFLPA to file a grievance on his behalf to help recoup any lost wages and guarantee he receives the $5.79 million left of his 2019 salary. https://t.co/z1pVeTBN4J
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) October 26, 2019
The facts will come out during the legal proceedings.
The optics of this are not good for the Jets. A number of things are clear right now.
- Osemele has a serious injury.
- He cannot play effectively.
- The Jets were not going to continue starting him.
It’s very difficult to understand why the Jets have dragged this battle out and allowed it to become so public.
There’s no good that can come from the way the team handled this matter.