NFLPA asks league about search of Washington facility

Updated Oct. 6, 2021 2:55 p.m. ET

Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The NFL Players Association said Wednesday it sent a formal request to the league for information about Washington’s practice facility being searched by federal authorities last week.

Head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion was put on administrative leave for what a Washington spokesman called an ongoing criminal investigation unrelated to the team.

that federal law enforcement officials, including agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, served a search warrant at the facility last week. Another search warrant was served at a local home, according to one of the people.

The NFLPA said the situation “directly impacts player health and safety. The NFLPA insisted on language in our collective bargaining agreement that obligates clubs to adhere to all state and federal laws and regulations. We look forward to learning more so we can protect our players."

A league spokesman declined comment.

Veteran safety Landon Collins, Washington's NFLPA rep, said he was unaware of the request but was cool with the statement that was sent out.

“We don’t have much to say because we don’t know what’s going on,” Collins said, adding he and his teammates are trying to focus on football. “When we get more information about what’s going on or any information about what’s going, we just kind of keep it to ourselves or talk amongst ourselves and just go from there and make a conclusion from there”

Washington returned to practice Wednesday without Vermillion, who did not travel for its game at Atlanta last week. Former trainer Bubba Tyer, who retired in 2009, was at the facility and on the field during practice.

Coach Ron Rivera said Tyer was assisting on a voluntary basis.

“He came in to help out, and that's it: He’s got time and he wanted to come and just help us,” Rivera said. “We’re going to do everything pretty much by committee. I go down there and I check in, and I check in with the trainers and then I check in with our therapists and we go from there.”

Rivera has worked with Vermillion for more than a decade dating to their time together in Carolina and brought him to Washington after he was hired and put in charge of football operations.

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