NFLPA files complaint on Butler’s behalf

The NFL Players Association isn’t very pleased with the New England version of a hero’s welcome.

The union filed a complaint against the Patriots on Thursday because the team barred Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler from on-field activities for six days after he missed a voluntary team session on May 26.

The union filed the grievance without Butler’s approval, saying that it has “a responsibility to pursue all violations of the collective bargaining agreement consistently.”

The union’s defense — which looks pretty difficult for the Pats to argue against, and frankly is a more important issue than Deflategate since it pertains to workers’ rights — is that Article 21 of the CBA states that an “absence from a voluntary activity cannot result in adverse consequences affecting his working conditions.”

Butler, who clinched the Super Bowl with his goal-line interception of Russell Wilson, reportedly could not make New England’s workouts on time due to weather-related travel issues that delayed his flight from Mississippi.

Clemson LT Battle applies for supplemental draft

Clemson starting left tackle Isaiah Battle has entered his name in the NFL supplemental draft, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced on Thursday.

Battle did not declare for May’s regular NFL Draft, but an impending extra mouth to feed has changed his needs.

“I have some family matters to address, with a child due this summer, and I feel it is in my best interest to enter the NFL supplemental draft,” Battle said through a school release. “I want to thank everyone at Clemson, especially Coach Swinney and the assistant coaches, for what they have done for me the last three years. I also want to thank my teammates. They have all had a big impact on my career.”

One of those teammates ended up on the wrong end of a Battle punch in 2013, resulting in a one-game suspension. However, a quick temper isn’t necessarily a bad trait for an offensive lineman to possess.

If no team takes Battle in the supplemental draft — doing so forfeits a pick in the requisite round of next year’s draft — he is free to sign with any team as an undrafted free agent.

Warren Sapp is still a jerk

No, this is not a recycled headline.

Hall of Fame jackass defensive tackle Warren Sapp was charged in Las Vegas Thursday on three counts of domestic battery misdemeanors stemming from an April incident that began at a Henderson, Nevada hotel. Sapp is accused of biting his girlfriend, throwing her to the ground and stepping on her head.

If convicted, Sapp faces up to 18 months in jail.

This isn’t the first time he’s had trouble at a hotel in recent months. Sapp was arrested in Februrary for soliciting a prostitute and then assaulting her. He pleaded guilty to those charges and got the solicitation count dropped after completing a pre-trial diversion program. Alas, the hooker episode still cost Sapp his job at NFL Network.

Amazingly, Sapp’s girlfriend did not dump his ass after he was caught with said hooker. The Vegas incident started when he allegedly dumped a margarita in her face during an argument, then carried over and got worse when they proceeded to her condo. That is where the three actions described in the charges took place.

Sapp’s court date is scheduled for July 23.