An arbitration ruling concluded a grievance by the NFL Players' Association against NFL owners over alleged collusion to prevent guaranteed contracts. The arbitrator found no collusion, despite revealing that owners discussed concerns about guaranteed contracts during a March 2022 meeting after Deshaun Watson's fully guaranteed deal. Emails between NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and legal counsel Jeff Pash indicated they aimed to caution owners against guaranteed contracts, suggesting a preference to limit such deals, potentially benefiting the owners' control over player contracts.
The arbitrator's ruling reveals how NFL owners can legally discuss collusion, showing that corporate structures allow for conversations that may undermine free agency.
The arbitrator's report points to a March 2022 owners meeting where guarantees were discussed, suggesting collusion to prevent future guaranteed contracts.
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