Former All-Pro offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele claims he needs surgery to repair a torn labrum and that three doctors — including those of the New York Jets — have confirmed as much.
The Jets have not only dismissed Osemele’s claim that their physician recommended surgery, but they have also refused to authorize any form of surgery to date.
On Wednesday, Osemele escalated the growing feud between him and the Jets, revealing that he intends to have surgery whether Gang Green likes it or not and whether they approve it or not.
“Honestly, I haven’t even been looking [at the fines],” Osemele told the New York Post. “I’m not even concerned about the money, right now I’m concerned about my health. Yes [it is a lot of money], but I’ve made a lot of money in my career. I’m not one of those people who does [expletive] for money at this point in my life. My health is important to me, it’s really about that.”
The Jets continue to maintain that Osemele can play through the injury and have begun to fine him for conduct detrimental to the team after he began refusing to practice last week. And barring a change, the team intends to go after his full $580,000 game check for each week he refuses to play/practice.
“I’m not going to get into his situation. He hasn’t asked to talk to me. If he wants to talk to me he can come into my office,” head coach Adam Gase told reporters on Thursday.
Osemele, who is on the books for $9.85 million this season, has filed a grievance against the Jets and is confident he’ll be able to recoup any of the money he loses via fines.
“From the moment I wake up, just putting a shirt on, taking a shower, it’s constant [pain],” Osemele said. “Just trying to sleep, waking up with deep-aching pain and throbs and stuff like that because I’m not on strong pain medication, because I’m not playing. I’m in pain all the time.”
The NFLPA has also become involved and said they plan to protect Osemele by any means necessary.
“Our union supports every player’s right to a second medical opinion, workers’ compensation and the best medical care,” the NFLPA wrote in a Thursday statement. “It is not appropriate or ethical for employers in any line of work to dictate the medical care and treatment of any employee. We are considering all options to protect Kelechi Osemele, as we would for any of our members.”
Given that Osemele was benched for poor performance and has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after this season, don’t expect the marriage between him and the Jets to last much longer.
