Bengals might have League problems with Henry $$ arrangement (1 Viewer)

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/...w-henrys-money/

Report: Bengals oversaw Henry's money

Posted by Mike Florio on December 20, 2009 7:24 AM ET

TMZ.com previously reported that Bengals receiver Chris Henry and his fiance met with a wedding planning company the night before the accident that resulted in his death.

Here's a new nugget from TMZ -- two checks that were given to the company came from the Bengals organization, with signatures from "two team honchos."

The team tells TMZ that the checks came from "money that [Henry] had requested us to oversee."

In a salary-cap environment, any team that provides such services invites scrutiny from the league office. Even if the money fully came from salary and other reported compensation paid by the team to the player, the mere act of managing a player's money has value to the player, and thus is subject to the cap system.

Regardless of whether the Bengals have plenty of extra 2009 cap space, failure to apply a value to these services and report them to the league office arguably constitutes a salary-cap violation. Consider the terms of Article XXV, Section 1 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement: "A Club (or a Club Affiliate) and a player (or a Player Affiliate or player agent) may not, at any time, enter into undisclosed agreements of any kind, express or implied, oral or written, or promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind: (a) involving consideration of any kind to be paid, furnished or made available or guaranteed to the player, or Player Affiliate, by the Club or Club Affiliate either prior to, during, or after the term of the Player Contract; and/or (b) concerning the terms of any renegotiation and/or extension of any Player Contract by a player subject to a Franchise Player or Transition Player designation." (Emphasis added.)

The stakes in this regard are fairly high. Under Article XXV, Section 6(b), the Commissioner may impose a maximum fine of $5.25 million on the team, order the forfeiture of two first-round draft picks, fine any team executive who committed the violation up to $375,000 and suspend the executive for up to a year.

Though helping Herny manage his money is a far cry from sliding under the table a briefcase full of it, the point here is that the subject of giving anything of value to a player requires teams to be sure to disclose such matters, because of the magnitude of the potential consequences.

And while the league is unlikely to give the Bengals a hard time regarding its effort to help Henry, the next question becomes whether the Bengals are providing similar services to other players -- and whether the Bengals have disclosed these arrangements to the league.

 

[Mr Capicollo]

When the NFL is starting to resemble the enforcement madness that is the NCAA, it's time to stop with the BS.

It sounds like the Bengals were acting as a trustee of sorts for Henry, who as we all know Mike Brown made his personal project to reform and help.

 

[RUSF18]

I don't see anything in there that says the league needs to be notified within a certain timeframe. If not, seems like Cincy can say that the news that followed prevented them from following up with the league, or that the fact that the checks were never cashed (presumably) means they didn't actually provide money.

Can't see the league pursuing it unless they've been doing it for other players and not disclosing it.

 

[fatness]

The stakes in this regard are fairly high. Under Article XXV, Section 6(b), the Commissioner may impose a maximum fine of $5.25 million on the team, order the forfeiture of two first-round draft picks, fine any team executive who committed the violation up to $375,000 and suspend the executive for up to a year.

Considering what the Patriots got for filming opponents in violation of league rules, this violation by the Bengals (if there is one) merits at best a "stern look and talking-to".

 

[GroveDiesel]

Ridiculous. And leave it to a slimeball like Mike Florio to try to make this into a big deal.

 

[Mr Capicollo]

Ridiculous. And leave it to a slimeball like Mike Florio to try to make this into a big deal.

Mike Florio

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

I should've figured there was something shady going ---- that turnaround was a little hard to believe.

cincy is like the guy hitting 15 homers his first 3 yrs, then suddenly knocking out 40.

for shame.

 

[August West]

Non-issue ... consider the sources ... TMZ and PFT.

 

[fatness]

I should've figured there was something shady going ---- that turnaround was a little hard to believe.cincy is like the guy hitting 15 homers his first 3 yrs, then suddenly knocking out 40.for shame.

Still trying.

 

[Sam Quentin]

Reminds of this incident (Winegate)

 

[August West]

Reminds of this incident (Winegate)

You've got some memory !!!

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

The stakes in this regard are fairly high. Under Article XXV, Section 6(b), the Commissioner may impose a maximum fine of $5.25 million on the team, order the forfeiture of two first-round draft picks, fine any team executive who committed the violation up to $375,000 and suspend the executive for up to a year.

Considering what the Patriots got for filming opponents in violation of league rules, this violation by the Bengals (if there is one) merits at best a "stern look and talking-to".

I think I'd probably have to agree with you that the league will look the other way on this one.I remember all the speculation that if it had been any team other than the patriots, nothing would've been done, and now we'll see that put to the test --- although, I think we all know how the test will turn out.....

 

[fatness]

I remember all the speculation that if it had been any team other than the patriots, nothing would've been done, and now we'll see that put to the test --- although, I think we all know how the test will turn out.....

Are you saying this is an equivalent offense to what the Patriots did?

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

I remember all the speculation that if it had been any team other than the patriots, nothing would've been done, and now we'll see that put to the test --- although, I think we all know how the test will turn out.....

Are you saying this is an equivalent offense to what the Patriots did?

circumventing the salary cap?no, not at all ---- the foundation of the entire league is the parity resulting from it's salary cap system.this is far worse than what the pats did, which is largely regarded as nothing by many players and coaches, and had been tolerated as common practice 'til shortly before the event.like I said, this will be a good test of the league's integrity.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I remember all the speculation that if it had been any team other than the patriots, nothing would've been done, and now we'll see that put to the test --- although, I think we all know how the test will turn out.....

Are you saying this is an equivalent offense to what the Patriots did?

circumventing the salary cap?no, not at all ---- the foundation of the entire league is the parity resulting from it's salary cap system.this is far worse than what the pats did, which is largely regarded as nothing by many players and coaches, and had been tolerated as common practice 'til shortly before the event.like I said, this will be a good test of the league's integrity.

:(

 

[fatness]

Are you saying this is an equivalent offense to what the Patriots did?

circumventing the salary cap?no, not at all ---- the foundation of the entire league is the parity resulting from it's salary cap system.this is far worse than what the pats did, which is largely regarded as nothing by many players and coaches, and had been tolerated as common practice 'til shortly before the event.

OK. :(

 

[Kool-Aid Larry]

it's common knowledge that the broncos and niners garnered a great deal of their success by cheating the salary cap, and when these shady dealings finally saw the light of day they were penalized accordingly.

it's a little naive to think that cheating the cap shouldn't bear any consequence.

in the end, it doesn't really matter, though.

karma will have it's final say in the playoffs, whatever goodell decides.