Arbitrator finds NFL encouraged teams to cut veteran guarantees: reports
An arbitrator ruling on a collusion grievance between the NFL and its players union found the league encouraged all teams to reduce contract guarantees for veteran players in March 2022, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
Podcaster Pablo Torre and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com unveiled the 61-page ruling from January 14, 2025, and said the NFL and NFL Players Association had kept the outcome private.
"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," arbitrator Christopher Droney wrote.
That meeting was only days after the Cleveland Browns had given quarterback Deshaun Watson a five-year deal worth $230 million -- all of it guaranteed.
Droney, however, found in favor of the league in his ruling, saying evidence introduced at a 2024 hearing on the matter did not prove by a "clear preponderance" of evidence that teams acted on the NFL management council's encouragement.
NFL quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, and Kyler Murray signed huge contract extensions after Watson but none were fully guaranteed deals.
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