Lane Johnson Sues NFL And NFLPA, Per Report

Lane Johnson. (Jeff Fusco)

Lane Johnson filed unfair labor practice charges against the NFL and NFL Players Association, the MMQB’s Albert Breer reported. Johnson’s complaint, which was filed with the Department of Labor under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, stems from the 10-game suspension he is currently serving for his second failed drug test. 

During his October appeal hearing, Johnson’s team debated the league about testing procedure. However, in his most recent public comments after the Eagles’ loss to the Lions, he declined to further specify what the disagreement was about. Breer told 97.5 The Fanatic on Tuesday evening that Johnson feels “he wasn’t given due process.” An NFLPA spokeman declined comment, while Johnson, an NFL spokesman, and a Philadelphia Eagles spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Johnson has clearly been unhappy with how his failed drug test was handled by the league since the start of the process. The Eagles right tackle initially blasted the NFLPA, too, for not standing up for the players they represent, but he later backed off of that stance when he said they “were there” for him during his appeal hearing. Johnson has already served six games of his suspension, so it’s unclear what impact this could have on his punishment.

According to former NFL agent and team executive Andrew Brandt, it’s “very rare” for a player to file these types of charges against his own union or the league. Former NFL running back Cedric Benson did something similar over discipline handed down for conduct that occurred during the lockout.