Patriots P Jake Bailey suspended: Agent releases statement, announces grievance

Doug Hendrickson, the agent for Patriots punter Jake Bailey, released a statement Saturday announcing he has filed a grievance to fight Bailey’s recent suspension.

Released to multiple reporters, the statement read: “While Jake Bailey was on IR he never missed a single treatment, meeting, or practice. He was hoping to come off IR to play last weekend, but Jake was informed he was being suspended these last two games. This comes as a surprise given his full participation during injury reserve. We have filed a grievance to fight this unknown suspension.”

Bailey’s team suspension surfaced Friday on the league’s transaction wire, but was backdated to Dec. 31. It jeopardizes Bailey’s final two game checks for this season and reportedly voids his guaranteed salary for next season, which was part of a lucrative extension he signed this summer. Bailey, one of the NFL’s highest-paid punters, is scheduled to carry a $3.415 million cap hit in 2023, per Over the Cap.

The Patriots placed Bailey on injured reserve in mid-November and then the suspended list this week. Before he was moved to injured reserve, Bailey struggled mightily in the nine game appearances. He averaged 42.1 yards per punt with a 13.5% touchback percentage, both career worsts.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/qavxBfY