Couch might file grievance

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Couch might file grievance
Sherman thinks Green Bay would win


By TOM SILVERSTEIN
tsilverstein@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 9, 2004

Green Bay - If recently released quarterback Tim Couch files a grievance against the Green Bay Packers for releasing him injured, coach Mike Sherman said he thought the Packers would prevail.

Sherman said he had not been told a grievance would be filed, but Couch's agent, Tom Condon, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that it was a possibility. Condon requested medical information from the Packers but did not inform them whether he intended to file a grievance.

Condon has 30 days to decide whether to appeal the Packers' decision to release Couch without an injury settlement.

Asked if he would be surprised if Couch filed the grievance, Sherman said, "It wouldn't surprise me, it would shock me."

Couch was bothered by a sore right biceps during training camp and was forced to drop out of or miss 12 practices. He also sat out the third exhibition game against Jacksonville. He played one 12-play series in the final game against Tennessee and then was cut on Sunday.

Couch completed just 32.4% of his passes and led the offense to eight first downs in 14 series of play over three games. He finished the exhibition season ranked 106th out of 115 National Football League quarterbacks in passer rating with a 41.5 mark.

Condon told the Plain Dealer that Couch was going to visit renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., to find out the full extent of his injury. Condon requested medical information from the Packers "to find out what their prognosis was."

Condon told the Plain Dealer that Couch never had a magnetic resonance imaging test during his brief stay with the Packers.

Sherman acknowledged that that was true, but said he specifically had team physician Patrick McKenzie speak to Couch about his arm and that Couch never indicated the injury was more than just soreness.

"McKenzie went to see him when he didn't play in that game against Jacksonville to see if he was all right and he said he was fine," Sherman said. "He never complained to the doctor about his arm."

When asked if he thought Couch had a pre-existing condition when he came to camp, Sherman said, "He said he didn't throw, he didn't have a minicamp or an off-season."

At issue should the grievance be filed would be Couch's $600,000 base salary, which was wiped off the books when he was released. If a player is injured, the team must continue to pay him until he is healed or reach an injury settlement.

Any money the Packers paid Couch would count against their salary cap.

http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/sep04/257767.asp
 
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