The independent, joint investigation into how the Washington Redskins’ medical staff cared for Trent Williams as he dealt with a cancerous growth on his head has stalled without the participation of one key person: Williams himself.
Williams asked the NFL Players’ Association not to pursue an investigation into the months of drama that prompted him to hold out from Washington, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith told 106.7 The Fan on Tuesday, and the left tackle doesn’t plan to cooperate with the Redskins’ investigation.
“Our union will continue to support Trent,” Smith said in a statement. “Although he has asked us to not pursue a formal review of his treatment, we will consider all legal action if the affirmative disinformation campaign and the leaking of his private medical records does not stop.”
Smith later was interviewed on 106.7.
“We certainly will abide by a player’s decision, either to go forward or not go forward with those things,” he said. “But apart from whatever a player may want, if we see or believe that doctors are not living up to their ethical standards or if there is a release of a patient’s medical records, you know, that’s a situation where we might weigh in regardless of what the player’s wishes are.”
The NFLPA released a statement Sunday voicing its support of Williams while accusing the league-owned NFL Network of trying to harm the player’s reputation with false information.
After Williams spoke with reporters at length last Thursday, the Redskins announced they had requested the NFL’s Management Council and the NFLPA form a joint committee to review the records pertaining to Williams’ medical care as a third-party means of settling the matter. Now, that won’t go forward.
It remains to be seen whether Williams will ever play for the Redskins again. He reportedly wanted a trade out of town, but the deadline passed last week. Williams said he still “loves” owner Dan Snyder and his teammates but declared “there’s no trust” between himself and the organization.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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