D-3 Players in the Pros

[gc_fan]

Jerheme Urban was released again by the Seahawks on Tuesday, the 8th.  per the Seattle Times:...

The Seahawks waived Urban on Tuesday, citing an injury clause in Urban's contract that called for his release if he aggravated a stress fracture in his left foot. Unfortunately for Urban, who had been playing well, that happened at Arizona, and the team had no choice but to let him go and stick to the contract

Urban, who turns 25 later this month, appeared in four games for Seattle after being re-signed on Oct. 4. He had seven catches for 151 yards. Last season, he played in six games with one start and caught his first pro touchdown, but the Seahawks released him on Sept. 13 of this year to add depth on the defensive line

[historymajor]

Here's the lame logic used to release Urban...

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/seahawks/story/5318684p-4819766c.html

[wally_wabash]

How is that logic lame?  His release was in the contract that Urban himself signed.  It's not like he got blindsided here. 

[historymajor]

Ok, try this on,,, you're working as a cop....  you get shot on the job... when you recover the police department says that you'll have to sign a waiver that if you get shot in the same place again, you're fired.... and you get shot again....  I'd think that Workman's Comp rules would prevent an employer from asking for, or enforcing such crap!

[smedindy]

Fact is, players sign these contracts knowing the risks. He was unlucky enough to get hurt again. This probably happens more than one would know - it's just that Urban made enough of a splash that it got noticed as a head-scratching move without the explanation.

If a backup guard signs with one of these clauses, then gets hurt in practice and is released, no one would bat an eye.

[DPULefty22]

As a Seahawks fan, I can tell you that the Hawks are very high on Urban and will probably re-sign him once he gets healthy. There's no bigger fan of Urban than Coach Mike Holmgren, I can assure you. It's a shame he had to get hurt - with Darrell Jackson out at least 2 more weeks, Urban was getting opportunities as the third or fourth wideout and playing very well.

And, yes, it does kill this DePauw fan to root for a Trinity Tiger - but if he's part of a Super Bowl run for my beloved Seahawks, it's all good.

[Li'l Giant]

I don't know about workers' comp law in Washington, but I practice it in Texas and here there are provisions that differentiate coverage from professional athletes and regular workers. So, in your hypothetical with the cop, that would be a void contract. But with professional athletes there are provisions of the Texas Workers Comp Act that allow teams to choose between comp coverage and whatever the collective bargaining agreement would allow. I'm assuming that Washington law has some similar provision.

[Ron Boerger]

Here's my take on the deal with Urban.  Yes, he signed something that said he would agree to be cut without pay if he got hurt on the job.  The employer still has the option to ignore that if it so desires.   But they wanted to save a whopping $150K or so bye-bye Urb, don't let the door hit you in the butt on your way out for the third time, if we are desperate we'll call you again until we don't need you.

Meanwhile, another Seahawk got injured in an altercation at a bar and is also out for the season.  According to HIS contract, the 'Hawks don't have to pay him one red cent, either, but they do because "it's the right thing to do." 

So ... the moral of the story is to make sure you go get drunk first before getting injured. 

[Mr. Ypsi]

Ron,

Welcome to professional sports in 2005!  Kinda sucks, doesn't it?

[smedindy]

I don't think it's right to make light of Hamlin's serious injuries. That's pretty bush league - he could have died.

Urban's contract was specifically written because of this injury, and it occured in the field of play, while Hamlin was injured outside of the game.

Because of the contracts, the Seahawks felt they had no choice to do what they did to Urban. With non-football injuries, some teams do decide to pay and some don't.

[DPULefty22]

Meanwhile, another Seahawk got injured in an altercation at a bar and is also out for the season.  According to HIS contract, the 'Hawks don't have to pay him one red cent, either, but they do because "it's the right thing to do." 

So ... the moral of the story is to make sure you go get drunk first before getting injured. 

That's really weak, BFB. At least know the facts of the story first before you make an accusation like this. According to all published reports, Ken Hamlin (the player in question) was not intoxicated when the altercation occured, and his injury occured when he was attacked from behind - a bystander hit him in the back of the head with something and fractured his skull.

Comparing a freak occurance like that to an on-field injury is asinine.

[DPULefty22]

According to Mike Sando of the Tacoma News-Tribune, Urban's release has been rescinded and he will be placed on IR.

[historymajor]

Yes, It was confirmed tonight that Jerheme's teammates and coaches went to bat for him and he was reinstated and added to the IR....  surgery scheduled for next week in Houston.  Let's hope he makes a full recovery!

It's refreshing to know that sometimes 'business decisions' can be over-ridden by 'good-sense decisions'.  I believe that I owe an apology to the 'Hawks... they seem to have done the right thing!

[reality check]

No news as of late on Jamal Robertson with the Panthers although I read a newspaper article about local products in the NFL from the Dayton Daily News and Jamal is reportedly making $455,000 this year with the Panthers.  I couldn't be happier for him but he's getting to that point where he's no longer a cheap special teamer/third string back...

[AUPepBand]

Alfred University graduate Bill Schuster is a referee in the NFL. He follows a similar path as long-time NFL referee Norm Schacter.