NFL, NFLPA explainer: What to know about grievances, Lloyd Howell, next steps
- - - NFL, NFLPA explainer: What to know about grievances, Lloyd Howell, next steps
Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY July 18, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Multiple reports on July 17 claim that the NFL and the NFLPA covered up a fake injury grievance filing, notably by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio and Pablo Torre of the "Pablo Torre Finds Out" podcast.
The NFL originally filed this grievance back in September 2023, arguing that the players union encouraged players to fake injuries. Comments from former NFLPA president JC Tretter months prior to that were used as the basis for the filing.
Report: NFL and NFLPA agreed to keep collusion findings secret
His comments alluded to players faking injuries to avoid fines during holdouts over contract negotiations.
"Now, I don't think anybody would say they were fake injuries, but we've seen players who didn't want to be where they currently are, have injuries that made them unable to practice and play, but you're not able to get fined, and you're not able to be punished for not reporting," Tretter said.
"I don't think I'm allowed to ever recommend that, at least publicly, but I think each player needs to find a way to build up leverage to try to get a fair deal," he continued.
The arbitrator ruled in favor of the NFL in February but it was not publicly acknowledged until July 17.
This grievance cover-up is the latest installment in what's been a shocking few weeks of revelations about confidential deals between the NFL and the NFLPA. Torre was the first to report the two sides struck a confidentiality agreement on a ruling over potential collusion by the league and owners.
NFLPA latest: Union leaders deny asking for Lloyd Howell's resignation, express support
There is a lot to unpack and understand in this ongoing story. Here's an explainer on the key points of the story so far:
How did this begin?
This all traces back to the Cleveland Browns signing Deshaun Watson to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract after trading for him in March 2022.
In the wake of that deal, other top quarterbacks signed contracts that were not fully guaranteed or had less guaranteed money than expected. Former NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith filed a grievance over NFL teams colluding to lower guaranteed money in response to Watson's deal.
Per a 61-page ruling first reported by Torre, there is evidence that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and former NFL general counsel Jeff Pash told teams shortly after that signing to limit guaranteed money in players' contracts.
Included in that ruling, per Florio, were text messages between Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell and Los Angeles Chargers owner Dean Spanos after Arizona signed quarterback Kyler Murray to a long-term extension.
“Congratulations on signing Murray," Spanos texted Bidwill.
“Thanks Deno! These QB deals are expensive but we limited the fully guaranteed money and have some pretty good language," Bidwill wrote back. "Thankfully, we have a QB that’s worth paying.”
“Your deal helps us for our QB next year," Spanos texted.
“I think many teams will be happy with it once they have a chance to review. Cleveland really screwed things up, but I was resolved to keep the guaranteed [money] relatively ‘low,'" Bidwill responded.
Because of the confidentiality agreement, Murray and other players mentioned in the ruling - Lamar Jackson and Russell Wilson - were unaware of what had happened.
Even though arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled against sufficient evidence of collusion by owners, he said in his decision that the NFLPA showed clearly that Goodell and Pash had urged owners to keep guarantees lower.
Who is Lloyd Howell?
Lloyd Howell is the current NFLPA executive director and was elected to the role in June 2023 to succeed Smith.
Howell's election was peculiar compared to prior elections. Instead of a 30-day notice to players on who would be running for the position, they were given notice the day of elections.
Howell's potential conflict of interest in this role was recently revealed by the Washington Post on July 11. He is a paid, part-time consultant with the Carlyle Group, a private-equity firm potentially seeking investment in NFL franchises if approved by the league.
A Carlyle Group spokesperson stated that Howell has no involvement within the company related to NFL activities.
NFLPA leaders put out a statement in support of Howell and denied asking him to step down.
"We believe in and remain committed to working with our Executive Director and other members of NFLPA staff and player leadership who have a shared mission to advance the best interests of players," the statement read in part.
But Howell is also part of an ongoing investigation by the FBI regarding NFLPA's dealings with OneTeam Partners, a group-licensing firm that helps players profit outside of their salaries via usage of their names and likenesses.
The NFLPA and the Major League Baseball Players Association created OneTeam Partners in 2019. It is under investigation for the leaders of the players unions improperly profiting off of the OneTeam Partners licensing deals.
Next steps for NFLPA, NFL
Nearly six months after Droney's ruling that was kept confidential until Torre, Florio and others revealed it, the NFLPA is seeking an appeal to the ruling.
The NFLPA hired an outside law firm and created a special committee of players to review Howell's activities as executive director.
NFLPA executive committee members have declined to comment on Howell and the current situation beyond that statement of support.
This article will be with more information when available.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL, NFLPA explainer: What to know about Lloyd Howell and more
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