WASHINGTON — A trial between former NFL teammates over a jersey number was averted Monday when running back Clinton Portis agreed to pay $18,000 to former Washington Redskins teammate Ifeanyi Ohalete.
Ohalete will receive all but $2,000 of the $20,000 he was seeking as the balance due for a $40,000 agreement that gave Portis the Redskins jersey No. 26 last year. The case appeared headed for a trial in a Maryland District Court on Tuesday.
"We jostled around a little bit, and we came to that figure as a final resolution," said John Steren, Ohalete's attorney, who said one of Portis' lawyers made the offer.
Ohalete, who is now with the Arizona Cardinals, was 2 1/2 hours from boarding a flight for the trial.
"I really wasn't looking for vindication. I just wanted to get this thing over with," Ohalete told The Associated Press from his home in Arizona. "I did my half and I just wanted what was mine in return.
"It worked out better for me. I didn't want to miss practice."
When Portis signed a new contract with the Redskins in 2004 after being traded from Denver, he said he wanted the wear the same jersey number he wore for two seasons with the Broncos. However, No. 26 already belonged to Ohalete, and he was adamant that he wanted to keep it. Protracted negotiations led to a contract signed by Portis, Ohalete and witness Brad Berlin, the Redskins equipment manager.
"The document is being drawn on June 4, 2004, to verify the agreement between Clinton Portis and Ifeanyi Ohalete for the sale of Ifeanyi's jersey number in exchange for monetary compensation," the contract said.
It called for Portis to pay Ohalete $40,000 in three installments: $20,000 immediately, $10,000 by Week 8 of the NFL season, and $10,000 by Christmas Day. Portis paid the $20,000 up front and got his coveted No. 26. Ohalete switched to No. 30.
But Ohalete then was cut by the Redskins during training camp in August and was claimed off waivers by Arizona. Portis apparently felt Ohalete's departure voided the rest of the contract, so he didn't pay the final two installments.
"I think he's crazy," Portis told Sirius NFL Radio after the suit was filed in late December. "How could you request something when you got cut, but I would have had the number anyway. I think he's crazy, so I guess we'll be in court together."
Ohalete said the contract was "pretty cut and dry. It shouldn't have come to this. It should have been settled long ago."
Ohalete doesn't expect to have any contact with Portis.
"I don't have any need to talk to him," Ohalete said. "I don't think we were friends before and I don't think we'll be friends now It was all business."
Athletes' attachments to certain jersey numbers is ubiquitous on all levels, leading to spats when ordering uniforms for church league softball and deep-pocketed deals between marquee pros.
Eli Manning, for example, had to pay for punter Jeff Feagles' family vacation to Florida to snag the preferred No. 10 after the New York Giants drafted Manning with the No. 1 overall pick in 2004. Feagles also got a new kitchen in his home from Plaxico Burress when he gave Burress his No. 17 after the wide receiver signed with New York.
But this case was one of the most extreme. Negotiations between Steren and Portis' agents, Drew and Jason Rosenhaus, went nowhere until Portis put the matter into the hands of a lawyer Monday.
Steren said Ohalete was content to give up the $2,000, given the time and trouble it would have taken for the player to travel from Arizona for a civil trial.
"It would have been a little bit of trouble to come here," Steren said.
Portis' attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
lol. I would o funderstood had POrtis been under his old cheap contract but he signed a huge contract, not to pay another 20k is ridiculous. You make a contract, be a man and own up to it.
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Males shouldn't be jealous that's a female trait -- Jay Z
Am I the only one that thinks it's a little cocky to fight over a number? I mean... what's the big deal? Just play the game. Going to court for a jersey number is ridiculous.
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I read the story and Portis is 100% correct for not continuing to pay after that other guy got CUT, RELEASED from the team....come on...why?? That other dude is childish for wanting money. Hmmmm, a nobody or a STAR to get the number....what a dumbazz. He was just trying to a get a few extra bucks to pay for his hookers and get his name on sportscenter and maddenbaord.....I can't even remember the other guys name or what position he plays, so much for that!!!!
And by the way....I juist posted in here, not reading your post DLove, cause I already read it and plus, if I did read it again, then I'd remember that dudes name and my post would mean abosolutely nothing....LOL!!
The whole situation is a little rediculous in my opinion...I on one hand do agree with Portis...This guy got cut and that number no longer belonged to him...This guys acts like that number was his and only his..He got cut...He was no Theisman and never will be...I think these two guys should take this money they are fighting over and give it away and really do something productive with it..When you are fighting over # and this kind of money is involved it really gives you a good picture where we are and what is important...Wow!
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The number belonged to Ohalete when the agreement was made... If you make an agreement to purchase something from somebody and then the person dies do you not still owe someone the money?
If you agree to pay for something you should pay for it.. Portis got to wear the number while Ohaalete was still a redskin and for that right he agreed to pay money. So he should pay it.. whether it was 1 day or a week, or 10 years.
If you buy a car and you agree to pay $20,000 for it in monthly installments and then a year later another car just like it comes out thats cheaper can you just stop paying for the other car? NOPE... thats ethics. If you give your WORD to do something.. DO IT..
Sorry for disagreeing with most of you.. I just think a mans word should mean something... And Portis is a punk *** little byatch that money is like $5 to you or I compaired to what he gets paid... would you go back on your word over $5??
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Well said Cash!!! I'm going to go even further then that. How dumb can a person be. A number doesn't make u run better. I wouldn't have given a damn if I was wearing a 106 just as long as I was playing. Pay somebody for a number, are u kidding me. He could have waited until the guy was gone and got the number back. I bet he wishes he didn't pay the money for the number now since he didn't run well last year. So much for what a number does for u.
Extremists are like slinkys... Ultimately useless in the grand scheme of things... But still brings a smile to the face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Sorry for disagreeing with most of you.. I just think a mans word should mean something... And Portis is a punk *** little byatch that money is like $5 to you or I compaired to what he gets paid... would you go back on your word over $5??
I was one of the few against Portis as well, looks like being right is a minority
=p
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Males shouldn't be jealous that's a female trait -- Jay Z
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