Something strange is happening with Jake Bailey.
The Patriots suspended Bailey Friday ahead of their regular-season finale Sunday against the Bills. While the team provided no reason for the suspension, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports it was due, in part, to a disagreement over when the punter was ready to return to game action. The Patriots placed Bailey on injured reserve with a back injury Nov. 19.
Bailey was slated to return from injured reserve on Dec. 21, and has been participating in some practices over the last two weeks. He signed a four-year, $13.5 million extension in August.
But since Bailey is now on the suspended/reserve list, his future guarantees are voided. A player can challenge that in arbitration, however.
On Saturday, Bailey’s agent released a statement saying they have filed grievance and intend to fight his client’s “unknown suspension.”
Bailey was in the midst of a rough season, falling to the bottom of NFL rankings with a 42.1 average and 35.3 net. His replacement, Michael Palardy, has also struggled.
In addition to Bailey, the Patriots suspended rookie cornerback Jack Jones Friday. Both suspensions are retroactive to Dec. 31, meaning Bailey and Jones are slated to miss two game checks.
Jones’ agent said Friday there was a “miscommunication” regarding his rehab process for a knee injury, and he’s hopeful there will be an “amicable resolution.”
Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports that Jones’ and Bailey's suspensions are unrelated.