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High-Stakes Holdout: Haason Reddick Faces Legal Turmoil Amid Contract Dispute with Jets

New York Jets linebacker Haason Reddick is facing legal troubles amid his ongoing contract dispute with the team. A business partner has filed a lawsuit against Reddick, seeking $1.6 million in allegedly unpaid profits from the sale of a home health care company.

The lawsuit, filed by Micah Khan, claims that Reddick failed to honor an agreement to split the proceeds from selling Haven Home Health Agency. According to court documents, Reddick approached Khan in 2018 to help revitalize the struggling business, which Reddick had recently purchased.

Khan alleges that he dedicated himself full-time to turning the company around, leveraging his experience in the home health industry. The suit states that Khan’s efforts were instrumental in making Haven “a very successful company.” When Reddick eventually sold the business for $3.25 million, Khan expected to receive half of the profits as per their alleged agreement.

However, Khan claims that instead of payment, he was met with intimidation tactics. The lawsuit describes a confrontation where Reddick’s father allegedly made physical threats against Khan. In another incident, Khan says he was confronted by “more than a dozen black-gloved men” at a business meeting, who were introduced as “Haason’s personal security.”

Reddick’s attorney, Edward S. Robson, has dismissed the lawsuit as a “run-of-the-mill commercial dispute.” In a statement, Robson suggested that the plaintiff may be attempting to inflate the value of the claim by naming an NFL player as a defendant. He also noted that the lawsuit centers around an event that has not yet occurred – the sale of Haven Home Health Agency.

This legal battle comes amid Reddick’s ongoing holdout from the New York Jets. The team acquired the pass rusher in March, but contract negotiations broke down before the season began. Reddick subsequently requested a trade and has yet to play for the Jets.

The situation has become so contentious that Reddick’s agents have reportedly ceased representing him. His holdout has already cost him nearly $9 million in forfeited salary and bonuses this season alone.

Jets owner Woody Johnson has publicly appealed for Reddick to end his holdout, inviting him to “get in your car, drive down [Interstate] 95 and come to the New York Jets.” Johnson offered to provide an escort to bring Reddick directly into the team’s facility.

Reddick, 30, is coming off two consecutive Pro Bowl seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He recorded 11 sacks, 38 combined tackles (13 for loss), and 23 quarterback hits in the 2022 season. Over the past four years, Reddick has consistently tallied double-digit sacks, making him a potentially valuable addition to the Jets’ defense.

The ongoing holdout and now this lawsuit represent significant challenges for Reddick. As the legal process unfolds and his contract dispute with the Jets remains unresolved, questions persist about when – or if – Reddick will take the field this season. The situation serves as a reminder of the complex off-field issues that can impact professional athletes and their careers.