The NFL Players Association’s long-running collusion fight with the league suffered another setback when a three-member panel ruled against the union and denied its appeal.
The case stemmed from allegations that the NFL encouraged team owners in 2022 to avoid offering fully guaranteed contracts after Deshaun Watson’s groundbreaking deal with the Cleveland Browns. The grievance focused in part on contract negotiations involving Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray.
The appeals panel found that the NFL had encouraged and invited clubs to reduce salary guarantees and bonuses, and that owners necessarily heard and understood that message. Even so, the panel concluded there was not enough proof that the clubs actually joined together in a collusive scheme.
The ruling left the league without damages exposure in the case, but it also reinforced language that was damaging to the NFL, including the panel’s statement that it could not fathom sophisticated owners failing to understand the meaning of the league’s message.
The broader dispute has also drawn attention because former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell faced criticism for keeping prior findings confidential from player leadership during the appeal process.
Although the NFL prevailed on the ultimate result, the case may continue to shape future contract negotiations and labor discussions over guaranteed money for star players.
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