Hernandez found dead in prison

Patriots, NFL may still have to pay Aaron Hernandez’s family after death

Patriots, NFL may still have to pay Aaron Hernandez's family after death

Aaron Hernandez’s suicide Wednesday could impact the amount of money he’s owed by the NFL and the New England Patriots.

Hernandez, who played for the Patriots for three seasons, apparently hanged himself during the appeal process of his conviction of murdering Odin Lloyd as well as a gun-related conviction in a double-murder case. Because Hernandez will not be able to take part in the appeals process, the court will vacate all charges, per Massachusetts and federal law.

That could have ramifications for whether his estate gets money from the NFL and his former team. What do they owe him? Do they owe him anything?

“And that’s the question that’s starting to be raised with respect to the bonus provisions in his contract and his NFL pension,” lawyer Michael Coyne told CSNNE’s “Toucher and Rich” Wednesday. “If these convictions are ultimately vacated — both his conviction with Odin Lloyd and his conviction on the gun charge — because of his failure to appeal, will his estate, will his child and his wife be able to recover either some of the bonus that’s still due to him under the Patriots contract or any of his pension benefits that the NFL might owe him?”

In June 2013, the Patriots withheld $3.25 million of Hernandez’s signing bonus. They also refused to pay him his $2.5 million in his guaranteed base salary. New England cited the collective bargaining agreement as their reason for withholding that guaranteed money. That’s the money Hernandez’s lawyers will likely pursue.

Coyne added: “The question is then: If he’s no longer criminally liable, has he violated the provisions of any of his contractual terms? And you know, where there’s money like this involved, the lawyers will have a field day.”

In other words, the legal loophole could result in some income, paid by the Patriots and the NFL, for Hernandez’s family. And lawyers will explore how much money, if any, they can recoup for their client’s family by scrutinizing his contract with the Patriots.