Remember when Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract took a long time to resolve and they sent home the assembled reporters for a press conference.
The story was that there was nothing to see here. As is often the case, the truth is that there were. (But, of course, anyone pointing out this dynamic is labeled a “conspiracy theorist.”)
PFT got Garoppolo’s contract. It contains a critical final clause – Addendum G – which deals with the foot injury Garoppolo suffered during the 2022 season and had surgery for after signing with the Raiders.
Addendum G is a waiver and release. In the first paragraph, the waiver recognizes that, without it, Garoppolo would not pass the team’s physique “due to a pre-existing medal and a medium wedge and a fracture of the base of the second metatarsal of the foot. left of the player and that the Club would not enter into an NFL player contract with the player.” This is the injury he suffered during the 2022 regular season, opening the door for Brock Purdy to play.
In the second paragraph, Garoppolo expressly acknowledges and waives the risk of further injury, including possible “permanent disability” by continuing his career. “The Player also understands that this condition has impaired his ability to play professional football,” the disclaimer states, “and that continuing to play professional football may result in the deterioration, aggravation or re-injury of existing conditions, rendering the player physically unable to perform services that would be required of the player by an NFL player contract.”
In the third paragraph, Garoppolo expressly assumes all risk of continuing to play, despite the condition.
In the fourth paragraph, Garoppolo waives any claim against the Raiders, the league and anyone else who may be responsible for anything related to the condition.
In the fifth paragraph, Garoppolo agrees that any dispute over whether an injury involves the conditions specified in the waiver “will be resolved at the discretion of the club doctor”, while preserving the player’s ability to seek a second opinion.
The contract preserves the team’s ability to terminate the agreement without further obligation, “for any reason related to the waiver and release attached as Addendum G.” The waiver becomes null and void if, at any time during the 2023 season, Garoppolo passes a physical exam, is active for at least one regular season game, and does not suffer a new left foot injury as described in addendum G. .
As originally negotiated, Garoppolo had a signing bonus of $11.25 million and a base salary of $11.25 million for 2023. The foot injury led the Raiders to scrap the signing bonus, the 22, $5 million becoming the base salary in 2023.
He won’t until he has passed a medical examination. In the meantime, the Raiders can cut it “for any reason related” to Addendum G.
The removal of the signing bonus and the presence of Addendum G explain the delay in closing the deal. And that underscores the possibility that Garoppolo will never play for the Raiders – and never get paid a dime by them.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract includes waiver of foot injury originally appeared on Pro Football Talk