The Cleveland Browns and the agent of injured defensive end Desmond Bryant spent much of Tuesday discussing whether the team would be willing to pay Bryant any portion of the $6 million in base salary he is due this season, according to a league source.
The outcome could potentially impact other NFL players.
The Browns have no obligation to pay Bryant, given that he suffered a season-ending torn pectoral a week before training camp while lifting weights in a gym in New York, leading Cleveland to place him on the non-football injury list.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus and the Browns met Tuesday to try to figure out if there is a way for the team to pay Bryant, but they did not make much progress, according to Rosenhaus. Talks will continue.
Should the Browns decline to pay a portion of Bryant's salary, it could have ramifications for other NFL players who want to work out away from their team's training facility.
Bryant led the Browns in sacks last season with six and has started all 41 games he has played for Cleveland over the past three seasons.
Bryant entered the NFL with the Raiders in 2009 as an undrafted free agent out of Harvard.