Linebacker Dexter McCoil insists he and his agent, Dan Vertlieb, are not filing a lawsuit against the Edmonton Eskimos.

But it does not mean they don’t have a grievance with the CFL club.

Following practice on Monday, McCoil would not get into specifics of the situation, only to say it was a CFL Players’ Association issue.

“I’m here to tell everybody right now that me or my agent right now is not suing the team,” McCoil said. “We’re not suing anybody, it’s a CFLPA issue. But I don’t deal with personal contract business or anything like that during the season. I’m focused on the game and if you have questions about Ottawa, about practice or anything like that, I’ll answer it. I don’t have anything to do with that (dispute) right now. We’re not suing anybody, I just wanted to make that clear.”

McCoil is in the second year of a two-year contract, plus an option with the Eskimos.

Sources say the situation between McCoil and the Eskimos stems from not being offered a one-year contract plus an option, which is required under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. That would have allowed last year’s outstanding CFL rookie a chance to pursue opportunities in the NFL at the conclusion of the season.

Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey refused to speak to the media following practice on Monday, walking away from a group of reporters. Vertlieb has not returned calls from the Edmonton Sun.

“I don’t have anything to do with that now,” McCoil said when asked if there was NFL interest. “I’m just focused on the game this week. If you have any questions about that, I would gladly answer them.

“There is no suit or anything like that from me and my agent. My agent hasn’t told me any bad news or given me bad advice or anything like that. My agent hasn’t said anything about any suit and I haven’t either, I just want to make that clear.”

A native of Metaire, La., McCoil, 23, played college football at the University of Tulsa, where he finished with 315 tackles and 18 interceptions in four seasons with the Golden Hurricane.

He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Oakland Raiders in 2013, then went on to play with the Los Angeles Kiss of the Arena Football League.

McCoil signed with the Eskimos prior to the 2014 season and won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award after collecting 67 tackles, four sacks and six interceptions in 18 games. He also had a league-leading three defensive touchdowns and 10 special teams tackles.

It is believed McCoil’s performance garnered interest from NFL teams, but he was contractually committed to Edmonton for this season and the next. Getting out of his contract at the end of this season would allow McCoil to pursue NFL opportunities.

“You have to let the league and let the agents worry about all that kind of stuff,” said Eskimos head coach Chris Jones. “We don’t worry about all that. I’ve spoken with Dexter and he’s a very mature young man even though he’s only been in the league a year.

“He’s been thrust into some spotlight situations and he’ll handle it fine.”

If the CFLPA does file a grievance, it could force Hervey to produce evidence McCoil was offered a one-year deal with an option but chose a two-year deal with an option instead.

Vertlieb, a Vancouver-based attorney, successfully filed a similar grievance with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on behalf of receiver Chris Williams following the 2012 season. Williams went on to have a brief stint with the Chicago Bears, but returned to the CFL and is now a member of the Ottawa RedBlacks.

“A lot of agents will try to do whatever they’ve got to do when there is interest from outside organizations,” Jones said. “I’m not going to comment more than that. But in our league, they try to come up and they try to take good players, and hopefully, the right thing happens.”

— with files from Gerry Moddejonge