Redskins sue former player after overpaying him by $40,000

The Washington Redskins filed a lawsuit Thursday against former linebacker H.B. Blades to recover $40,000 the team mistakenly paid him due to a clerical error.

A summons was also filed, giving Blades 21 days to reply to the Redskins' complaint.

"The Redskins mistakenly paid an additional $40,000 to Blades on December 27, 2013 as a result of a clerical error," the organization said in their filing, according to The Washington Post.

Blades agreed to repay the Redskins more than $20,000 in a 2014 arbitration hearing, but failed to make the payment.

The Redskins are valued at nearly $3 billion, so their decision to sue Blades may invite further scrutiny for one of the league's most criticized organizations.