Hearing in Branch Case Postponed

Arbitrator John Feerick today postponed a hearing, scheduled for Saturday, on holdout wide receiver Deion Branch's grievance against the New England Patriots.

Feerick denied a motion by the league that the case should be dismissed because Feerick did not have jurisdiction over it. But he pushed back the hearing, likely until after NFL special master Stephen Burbank resolves a separate case related to Branch's dealings with the Patriots. Burbank, the University of Pennsylvania law professor who's in charge of resolving disputes between the league and the players' union arising from their collective bargaining agreement, is scheduled to hear arguments late next week.

The NFL Players Association last week filed both a grievance and a special mater case on Branch's behalf. The grievance contends that the Patriots acted improperly by refusing to trade Branch to the New York Jets for a second-round draft choice. The special master case accuses the Patriots of failing to bargain in good faith with Branch on a new contract.

The league, representing the Patriots, had argued to Feerick that the grievance also falls under Burbank's jurisdiction, but Feerick disagreed.

By Mark Maske |  September 7, 2006; 7:09 PM ET  | Category:  Patriots
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