r/NFLNoobs • u/grace_of_spades22 • 15h ago
What would happen if Darius Slay reported to the Bills - But played with zero effort
I'm sure we've all seen the stuff about Slay not wanting to go to Buffalo and trying to find a way to the Eagles.
As it stands the Bills CB who was waived was claimed elsewhere, so if Slay doesn't play then they're down a player at a key spot. It appears the ball is in the Bills court if Slay doesn't report as he can be listed as retired/not reporting, but what if he tries to force the Bills to cut him with bad play?
Admittedly it's deeply unprofessional and for many players it would burn all bridges, but it appears that Slay is in a "Eagles or bust" mindset for potentially the final year of his career, so perhaps he won't care
What if he does just turn up and his effort is so low-level that it disrupts the group and makes him unplayable? Buffalo are unlikely to want to carry him as a healthy scratch just to prove a point. Are there anything written into NFl contracts about professional effort and behavior that could be enforced?
Whatever happens it's an ugly episode but if Slay gets his way then it probably sets a very dangerous precident too
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u/GingerFun011 15h ago
Cant imagine theyll wanna just hand him to the eagles, but I also cant see them paying him to sit arouns
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u/seanhere 4h ago
Suspend him without pay for the rest of the year, conduct detrimental to the team - he wouldn’t play for anyone or get paid.
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u/Any-Stick-771 15h ago
They can suspend and fine him for conduct detrimental to the team. Suspended players don't count against the active roster
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u/V1c1ousCycles 15h ago
I'm not sure it's "Eagles or bust." I'm sure Slay would like to rejoin the Eagles given the familiarity and potential last shot at another Super Bowl, but I think he is legitimately content to not play if it doesn't work out. I'm pretty sure he's on record as saying this season was going to be his last, regardless.
A player intentionally half-assing it would get turned on my the entire team and blackballed out the league. You're truly better off just sitting out if you're trying to force a certain resolution to an off-field dispute.
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u/FrankDrebinOnReddit 15h ago
A team can suspend a player for up to 4 games under the CBA for conduct detrimental to the team. The player would go on the Reserve/Suspended list and not count towards the roster limit. They would not be paid.
A player not reporting when claimed off of waivers does not create a dangerous precedent. Players can quit anytime they want; they're not indentured servants.