Ja’Wuan James files employment grievance against Broncos
Jun 7, 2021, 11:01 AM
According to multiple reports, former Denver Broncos right tackle Ja’Wuan James has filed an expected grievance against the team after his release following a torn Achilles tendon suffered while working out away from the team facility.
This is confirmed, as lawyers Mark Geragos, Ben Meiselas and Daniel Lust — who all also repped Colin Kaepernick — are working with James on the grievance. https://t.co/Wb4GpYAoxz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 7, 2021
James is seeking approximately $15 million in lost wages.
After tearing his Achilles in May, the Broncos placed James on the non-football injury list, which allowed the club to forgo the $10.58 million salary he was due in 2021 before the team released him a few weeks later.
According to ESPN, in his grievance, James is seeking his $10 million salary for the 2021 season and $5 million salary for the 2022 season, arguing that he was working out away from the facility under guidance from the Broncos
In the grievance, James claims the Achilles tear qualifies as a football injury.
“Claimant was not working out on his own,” the grievance states. “Claimant was working out as expressly and/or impliedly authorized and/or instructed by Respondent’s agents, including but not limited to the instructions and/or direction of the coach of Respondent and/or other agents of Respondent. Claimant was working out with other players on the team at the facility and mentoring younger players as requested and/or expressly and/or impliedly authorized by Respondent through its agent and/or agents.”
James played 63 snaps over three games combined (all in 2019) after signing a four-year, $51 million deal with the Broncos in March of that year.
The former Broncos right tackle recently signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens worth up to $9 million.
The NFL and Denver Broncos have both declined to comment on James’ grievance.
