http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7241981
If only Nothcutt had TO's talent and put up his numbers.
Northcutt, agent take T.O.'s lead, file grievance
April 8, 2004
By Jay Glazer
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
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First it was Terrell Owens. Now it is Dennis Northcutt's turn to try to challenge the system.
Northcutt's agent, Jerome Stanley, told SportsLine.com that his client has filed a grievance against the Cleveland Browns, hoping to free him the way Owens was to sign with the team of his choice. Northcutt, not the NFL Players Association, filed the grievance.
"The grievance is to gain him free agency over their refusal to resolve this matter in good faith," said Stanley. "They are just trying to ruin his career.
"We are filing a grievance against the Cleveland Browns. We would like them to declare Dennis a free agent. They negotiated with me for Dennis to be a free agent. The reason we didn't press it in the beginning is because we were trying to negotiate a settlement. We didn't press it until we saw it going downhill."
A call to the Browns has not yet been returned. Stanley and Northcutt were put in a precarious position when they failed to void his deal by the appropriate date, meaning Northcutt was stuck with Cleveland instead of exploring free agency. Thus such a grievance might be looked upon as a cover-up for their own mistake, as was the case with Owens.
"I'm not trying to cover up for my own mistake," said Stanley. "What is the cover up? Just because an old lady drops a wallet in the grocery store, should you take the money? No. What ever happened to doing right? Should they be justified in ruining his career over that?"
The Ravens have been trying to lure Northcutt to replace Owens, who had settled his grievance to be free to go to Philadelphia. Stanley says that Cleveland would trade the receiver to the Ravens for a second-round pick but would only ask for a fifth-rounder from anybody else.
"The way they are treating him now is just mean-spirited," he said.
Still, the Browns are not obligated to do anything with the player. In fact, considering his low base pay he's set to earn this year, why wouldn't they stick to their guns throughout this affair?
"They know he will not play for his salary," he said. "They don't want him to come in there because they don't want a big problem. You usually want guys around who want to be around."
The 5-11, 175-pound wideout started just six games for Cleveland last season and caught 62 balls for 729 yards.
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