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USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
JC Tretter resigning from NFLPA amid scandals within union
Days after the NFL Players Association's executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned, the favorite to replace him is resigning as well. Former Cleveland Browns center and NFLPA president JC Tretter told CBS Sports that he is resigning from the NFLPA, removing his name from candidacy for the now-vacant executive director position. "Over the last couple days, it has gotten very, very hard for my family. And that's something I can't deal with," Tretter told CBS Sports. "So, the short bullet points are: I have no interest in being [executive director]. I have no interest in being considered; I've let the executive committee know that. I'm also going to leave the NFLPA in the coming days because I don't have anything left to give the organization." NFL, NFLPA explainer: What to know about grievances, Lloyd Howell, next steps Tretter served as president of the NFLPA from 2020 to 2024 and resigns amid multiple scandals involving Howell and the players' union. Howell faced questions after the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast released a 61-page arbitration report showing the NFL encouraged owners "to reduce guarantees in future contracts with players at the March 2022 annual meeting." Howell, the head of the NFLPA at the time, reached a confidentiality agreement with the NFL that kept players and the public from knowing what was in the report. Since his resignation, reports came out that Howell charged the NFLPA for multiple strip club visits. The "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast also reported another confidential deal between the NFL and the NFLPA on an investigation into fake injuries. Tretter's comments during an interview in 2023 led to the investigation. Tretter was considered a frontrunner to replace Howell in upcoming NFLPA executive director elections. "I'm not resigning because what I've been accused of is true," he told CBS Sports. "I'm not resigning in disgrace. I'm resigning because this has gone too far for me and my family, and I've sucked it up for six weeks. And I felt like I've been kind of left in the wind taking shots for the best of the organization." OPINION: Former NFLPA head Lloyd Howell was sunk by his own secrets NFLPA chief player officer Don Davis is reportedly the other frontrunner and seems poised to take the position. Davis played linebacker for 11 years in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams and New England Patriots. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
UPI
3 days ago
- Sport
- UPI
NFLPA's Lloyd Howell resigns amid controversies, cites 'distraction'
July 18 (UPI) -- Lloyd Howell announced his resigned from his role as NFLPA executive director amid multiple controversies, which surfaced through reporting in recent months. Howell said it was clear that his "leadership has become a distraction to the important work" of the union. He informed the union's executive committee Thursday night that he was stepping down, effective immediately. "Two years ago, I accepted the role of executive director of the NFLPA because I believe deeply in the mission of this union and the power of collective action to drive positive change for the players of America's most popular sport," Howell said in a statement. "Our members deserve a union that will fight relentlessly for their health, safety, financial futures, and long-term well-being. My priority has been to lead that fight by serving this union with focus and dedication. "It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day. For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA executive committee that I am stepping down as executive director of the NFLPA and chairman of the board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season. "I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish at the NFLPA over the past two years. I will be rooting for the players from the sidelines as loud as ever and I know the NFLPA will continue to ensure that players remain firmly at the center of football's future. The union sent a message to its membership stating that Howell informed them of his resignation. "This evening, Lloyd Howell informed us that he is stepping down as executive director of the union," the message said. "We accepted his resignation and are grateful for his service. The board will convene as soon as possible for a meeting on next steps and will be in touch with our membership soon." Last month, the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast obtained a 61-page arbitration report, which included a ruling by an independent arbitrator stating that there was insufficient evidence to prove collusion by NFL team owners to prevent players from receiving fully-guaranteed contracts. However, that report also included findings that the league encouraged owners to "reduce guarantees in future contracts with players" at a March 22 annual league meeting. The union is appealing that ruling. ESPN, the Washington Post The Athletic later reported that the league and union reached an agreement to keep the findings of the report confidential. Those outlets also reported that Howell was working as a "paid, part-time consultant" for The Carlyle Group at the same time he worked as head of the players' union. The Carlyle Group is a private equity firm that the NFL approved to seek minority ownership of its franchises, which could have led to a potential conflict of interest for Howell. Howell also was named in additional reporting, from the aforementioned outlets, for his alleged role in a scandal while he worked as chief financial officer for Booz Allen, a technology consulting firm, prior to his NFLPA tenure. That reporting stated that Howell was among executives notified that the firm had overcharged the federal government for months during their business dealings. The U.S. Justice Department announced in July 2023 that Booz Allen paid a $377 million settlement ruling in a lawsuit stemming from that matter. The settlement announcement came about a month after Howell was hired as the NFLPA's executive director. Howell also was sued in 2011 for sexual discrimination and retaliation while at Booz Allen. That lawsuit was later settled, but two player representatives who voted for Howell to serve as union director told ESPN earlier this week that they were unaware of the matter at the time of the vote. Other player representatives disputed those accounts in separate interviews with ESPN. The union announced on June 28, 2023 that Howell would succeed DeMaurice Smith as executive director. Smith held the role from 2009 to 2023. He was re-elected for a fifth and final term in 2021.
New York Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
NFL, union kept players in dark over key details from bombshell collusion decision
NFLPA leadership appears to have blocked critical information from the very players they serve to represent. The league and senior leaders of the NFLPA struck an 'unusual confidentiality agreement' that hid details of an arbitration agreement from players, including a discovery that the NFL management council pushed for teams to lower guarantees in player contracts, ESPN reported Wednesday. In January, arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled there was no collusion between NFL owners to keep salaries down, but he did conclude that 'by a clear preponderance of the evidence,' commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's general counsel encouraged owners to restrict players' guaranteed money in their contracts. That was part of a 61-page ruling, which was hidden by the confidentiality agreement until reporter Pablo Torre brought it to the public two weeks ago in an episode of his podcast, 'Pablo Torre Finds Out.' 3 NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. in July 2023. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock Some players told ESPN they were 'surprised by details in the ruling and didn't understand why the union hadn't shared the ruling with them.' Tuesday night, the NFLPA, which is led by executive director Lloyd Howell Jr., reportedly opted to seek an appeal of Droney's ruling — nearly six months after it was made. 'The appeal is a reflection of our obligation to enforce the CBA and our commitment to protecting our players' interests,' a senior union source told ESPN. 'We'll do what's best for players and we'll exhaust our options in doing so.' Attorney Peter Ginsberg, a lawyer at Moskowitz Colson Ginsberg & Schulman who has represented several NFL players over many years, told ESPN: 'By agreeing to a confidentiality agreement, the union purposefully blocked the players from receiving crucial information about the operations of the NFL. 'The NFL and the union should not be conspiring together to keep important information from the players.' 3 Deshaun Watson signed a fully guaranteed $230 million contract with the Browns in March 2022. Getty Images The alleged collusion stems from a lawsuit in 2022, when the NFLPA claimed that the teams and league broke the NFL's collective bargaining agreement by colluding to not offer players fully guaranteed contracts after Deshaun Watson signed his fully guaranteed $230 million deal with the Browns that March. The lawsuit specifically focused on quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson, who each reportedly sought fully guaranteed deals. 3 NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on May 21 at the NFL owners meeting. AP None of the three signed guaranteed contracts, and the lawsuit called for damages and for the three quarterbacks' contracts to be voided. In his findings, Droney did not void the contracts or award any money to the NFLPA — even if he did determine that it seems the league urged its teams to act in a certain manner.
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Browns at the center of unearthed NFLPA drama
The Cleveland Browns have found themselves on the outskirts of an unearthed controversy. The team was enjoying a quiet offseason after the mandatory minicamp. However, the Deshaun Watson trade continues to haunt the team from the grave. Pablo Torre of Pablo Torre Finds Out uncovered the 'Holy Grail of NFL secrets', or the grievance ruling relating to the allegations of collusion to prevent fully guaranteed contracts. The allegations stem from the fact that no quarterback has secured a fully guaranteed contract after the Browns fully guaranteed the Deshaun Watson contract. The grievance includes some testimony from Browns' owner Jimmy Haslam. The specific cases revolve around Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and Russell Wilson. Former Browns center and then-NFLPA President JC Tretter is also featured in the case. The arbitrator found the NFL was not colluding to keep guaranteed money down. Here is a complete breakdown of the case. The Suit The NFLPA brought the suit, alleging that the comments made by owners at the NFL league meetings, as well as a presentation by the NFL Management Council, a group composed of owners, about limiting guaranteed money, constituted collusion. The union initially focused on the contracts of Wilson, Murray, and Jackson before alleging there were efforts to suppress guaranteed money across the league. All three of the quarterbacks signed their contracts within a year of Watson's fully guaranteed contract. Why it's important Players have been desperate for fully guaranteed contracts for decades. Some have started to complain about the lack of fully guaranteed contracts during collective bargaining negotiations. However, no professional league guarantees contracts in their collective bargaining agreement; instead, it's part of their standard deal. NFLPA President Tretter saw an opportunity to push a precedent for fully guaranteed contracts after the Watson signing. He tried hard to get Wilson a fully guaranteed contract from the Denver Broncos. Tretter knew that if a small number of quarterbacks got fully guaranteed contracts, then soon all quarterbacks would have fully guaranteed contracts. Wilson signed a five-year, $242 million contract with $161 million in guaranteed money. Tretter was frustrated behind the scenes. He texted then-NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith to complain about Wilson, calling him a 'wuss' for not pursuing a fully guaranteed contract. In his testimony, Wilson testified that he thought his deal was effectively fully guaranteed. The mistake cost Wilson $81 million. Watson is currently the only quarterback with a fully guaranteed contract. NFLPA Evidence The NFLPA relied on testimony from NFL Owners and contract data to argue their case. The case seemed like a slam dunk to outsiders. The owners were very honest about their disdain for fully guaranteed contracts. They organized at the league meeting to encourage limiting fully guaranteed contracts. NFL owners privately celebrated each other's quarterback signings: Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell received a text from Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos congratulating him on signing Kyler Murray and stating it'd help them negotiate with Justin Herbert. Bidwell made sure to brag that the guarantees were low, and the team retained clawback language. However, the NFLPA was fighting an uphill battle in the collusion case. It's hard to prove tacit collusion. It requires a lot of evidence. The contract data provided by the union didn't conclusively prove that guaranteed contracts were lower than in previous years. Owner's Defense Owners are very aware of how entangled their team's financials are with each other. But that doesn't mean they collude to keep guaranteed money down. There's no reason for owners to collude with each other when the markets can serve that role with transparency. Price leadership is a natural phenomenon in free agency. Teams can set the price at a position if they have a talented player. The top contracts are the model for other players' contracts. For example, the wide receiver market has exploded. 14 of the 15 top contracts were negotiated over the past two seasons. The Minnesota Vikings signed Justin Jefferson to a $140 million contract. Within the following months, CeeDee Lamb signed a $136 million extension with the Dallas Cowboys, and Brandon Aiyuk was extended for $120 million. Ja'Marr Chase received a $161 million extension this offseason after stating he wanted more than Jefferson. As a result, a few teams can reshape the position markets over the years. Owners don't need to collude; they just need to wait for contract negotiations. The Ruling Arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled in favor of the league over the union. Droney had multiple reasons to support the league's arguments. He found the data provided by the NFLPA to be lacking, compared to an interactive model presented by the league. Droney acknowledged commissioner Roger Goodell encouraged teams to reduce guaranteed money, stating, 'There is little question that the NFL Management Council, with the blessing of the Commissioner, encouraged the 32 NFL Clubs to reduce guarantees in veterans' contracts at the March 2022 annual owners' meeting. However, the evidence did not establish by a clear preponderance that the Clubs agreed to do that or participated in such a scheme.' The NFLPA failed to provide evidence that all 32 teams were colluding against players by reducing guaranteed money. They also failed to provide evidence proving the quarterbacks would receive fully guaranteed contracts. Droney didn't believe Wilson had the leverage to obtain a fully guaranteed contract with two years remaining on his previous contract. Droney was very skeptical of the NFLPA's arguments. The grievance case was a Hail Mary for a union desperate for change. They had numerous allegations to prove, but lacked a proper process to verify them. While the case has some interesting testimony, there's not much else.
NBC Sports
24-06-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Arbitrator found NFL encouraged teams to collude regarding guaranteed contracts
Both sides were determined to keep it secret. Some in the media were determined not to allow that to happen. With both the NFL and the NFL Players Association refusing to release a 61-page ruling by System Arbitrator Christopher Droney in the collusion grievance regarding guarantees in the contract of certain veteran players, two members of the media — Pablo Torre and yours truly — kept pushing. We had a friendly competition to see who could get it first. Pablo won. I'm glad he did. In the NFL media ecosystem, more than 90 percent of the 'journalism' isn't journalism at all. It's positioning for advance notice of an announcement that inevitably will be made. The real journalism (and the only real journalism) in this space comes from finding out the things 'they' don't want us to know. And they (here, the NFL and NFLPA) didn't want anyone to know the outcome of the collusion grievance. Although the NFL won, the NFL lost. As Droney wrote at pages 55 and 56 of the January 14, 2025 ruling, 'There is little question that the NFL Management Council, with the blessing of the Commissioner, encouraged the 32 NFL Clubs to reduce guarantees in veterans' contracts at the March 2022 annual owners' meeting.' In other words, the NFL wanted its member teams to collude. That meeting happened only days after the Browns gave a five-year, fully-guaranteed, $230 million contract to quarterback Deshaun Watson. It also happened only two years after the NFLPA tried, for the second time, to make all player contracts fully guaranteed as part of the broader Collective Bargaining Agreement. The league had fended off that effort, both in 2011 and in 2020. And the league didn't want to concede full guarantees on a piecemeal basis, with one team at a time giving players fully-guaranteed deals until they became the norm. The league ultimately won because Droney found that the evidence introduced at the 2024 hearing did not prove, by a 'clear preponderance' of the evidence, that the teams accepted and acted on the encouragement of the NFL Management Council. For anyone who has followed the inner workings of the league over the years, that's an astounding conclusion. One that defies common sense. Why have a Management Council if teams are going to ignore the things they encourage the teams to do? Some would say it's stronger than encouragement. Some would say the encouragement of the Management Council must be followed. We'll have much to say about the evidence and Droney's possible reasons for finding that, basically, the NFL was the gang that couldn't collude straight. For now, check out the latest episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out, with yours truly riding shotgun, for more about what one source with knowledge of the proceedings described as the most significant ruling in American sports since 1994. And both sides managed to hide it from everyone. For months. Indeed, even though the NFL won, it was caught with its hand in the collusion cookie jar. The league was saved only by the fact that Droney believed no cookies were consumed. Despite the pervasive crumbs.
