NFLPA asks league about search of Washington facility – KIRO 7 News Seattle

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

Sports director Ryan Vermillion has been suspended for an ongoing criminal investigation unrelated to the team.

Two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that federal police officers, including agents from the U.S. Drug Administration, issued 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 “has a direct impact on the health and safety of players. The NFLPA insisted on language in our collective agreement, which requires clubs to comply with all state and federal laws and regulations. We look forward to learning more so we can protect our players. “

A league spokesman declined to comment.

Security Veteran Landon Collins, Washington’s NFLPA representative, said he did not know the request but was cool with the statement sent.

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

Washington returned to practice Wednesday without Vermillion, who didn’t travel to Atlanta for his game last week. Former trainer Bubba Tyer, who retired in 2009, was on the facility and on the field during practice.

Coach Ron Rivera said Tyer helped on a voluntary basis.

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

Rivera has worked with Vermillion for more than a decade, since their time together in Carolina, and brought him to Washington after he was hired and responsible for running football.

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