The NFL Players Association has filed a formal complaint against the New England Patriots for benching Malcolm Butler during organized team activities after the player missed a flight and was late to practice, according to Randy Scott of ESPN. Butler was benched in late May after he arrived late to OTAs, and was benched for a total of six practices, according to reports at the time.
NFLPA files complaint over Patriots barring Malcolm Butler from OTAs
The NFL Players Association filed a complaint against the Patriots for benching Malcolm Butler during OTAs after he was late to practice due to a missed flight.
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Butler did reach out to the Patriots to let them know that his flight was cancelled due to weather and that he would be late for practice. Bill Belichick runs a tight ship, however, and it’s well-known that NFL teams encourage players to get in town early to avoid these kinds of things. The NFLPA obviously feels that this is a violation of worker’s rights, whether or not Butler himself wants to pursue things.
According to the report, this complaint was filed without Butler’s consent. Because it involves a general potential violation of work rules, the union can proceed without needing Butler’s permission. As such, it shouldn’t affect Butler’s standing with the team, especially given that the initial report surrounding his benching said that Butler “treated it as a lesson learned and has brought the right attitude to Gillette on a daily basis.”
So what’s next here? The NFLPA will likely ask for the Patriots’ team participation, attendance lists, discipline schedule and even practice film, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network. It could be a lengthy process, though what the NFLPA is ultimately seeking as a potential punishment for Belichick and the Patriots is unknown.
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