Amid a collusion scandal in which the NFLPA reportedly helped cover up NFL efforts to suppress guaranteed money in player contracts, the union’s executive committee is backing executive director Lloyd Howell Jr.
In a memo that was leaked to multiple NFL reporters Sunday, the NFLPA’s executive committee “categorically” rejected reports “insinuating doubts within this committee” or that it had asked Howell to step down from his role as executive director.
Advertisement
From the leaked memo:
“As members of the NFLPA Executive Committee, we categorically reject false reports insinuating doubts within this committee or suggestions that we have asked our Executive Director to step down. We further reject attempts to mischaracterize the committee’s views or divide our membership.
“We have established a deliberate process to carefully assess the issues that have been raised and will not engage in a rush to judgement. 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. As we approach the 2025 season, we look forward to continuing our important work together and ensuring the strength and unity of our association.”
The memo was issued in the wake of multiple explosive reports regarding alleged organized efforts from NFL leadership and owners to stifle guaranteed pay in player contracts.
Reports: NFLPA helped conceal details of alleged NFL collusion
In June, journalist Pablo Torre uncovered a 61-page ruling by arbitrator Christopher Droney that previously was not made public and whose details had reportedly been withheld from NFL players by the NFLPA.
Droney’s ruling determined that league executives including commissioner Roger Goodell urged team owners to reduce guaranteed player compensation in the wake of a $230 million fully guaranteed contract between the Cleveland Browns and quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Advertisement
In his ruling, Droney determined that the NFLPA showed “by a clear preponderance of the evidence” that Goodell and NFL general counsel Jeff Pash urged teams to reduce guaranteed money in player contracts.
“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,” Droney’s ruling reads, per Torre.
In spite of that conclusion, Droney ruled in favor of the NFL, declaring that he could not prove by a “clear preponderance” that NFL teams acted on that advice. Since Watson’s deal, multiple high-level quarterbacks including two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson, have signed contracts that did not come with fully guaranteed money.
What the NFLPA reportedly hid from players
On July 9, ESPN reported that the players’ union worked in tandem with the league to hide crucial details of the arbitration ruling from players, including Droney’s conclusion that NFL management “encouraged the 32 NFL Clubs to reduce guarantees in veterans’ contracts.”
Advertisement
Instead, per the report, Howell informed players of the broad strokes of the ruling, including that Droney ultimately ruled in favor of the NFL. Why Howell and the NFLPA would have done this is not clear.
From the ESPN report:
“Howell informed the committee that the NFLPA had lost its collusion grievance but did not share any details of Droney’s findings or share copies of the ruling with the players. Instead, he blamed his predecessor, DeMaurice Smith, for wasting resources on the three-year legal battle.”
Reported conflict of interest for Howell emerges
Placing Howell under further scrutiny, ESPN reported on July 10 that Howell is working as a part-time consultant for the Carlyle Group, an NFL-approved private equity firm seeking minority ownership in NFL franchises. The report exposes a clear conflict of interest for the man in charge of representing players in negotiations with league owners.
“It would be an outrageous conflict for the head of a labor union to have an interest in a third party that is aligned with the NFL,” former NFLPA counsel Jim Quinn told ESPN. “The relationship between a labor organization and the employer organization is adversarial by definition, and as a result, as a leader, you have to be absolutely clear and clean as to having no even appearance of conflict.”
Since those reports, Torre reported that a Change.org petition has circulated among NFLPA staff and NFL players calling for Howell’s resignation from the NFLPA. It’s not clear who organized the petition or if any players or NFLPA staff members had signed it.
Advertisement
Howell has not publicly addressed any of the reports since they’ve been published and declined comment to ESPN regarding the Carlyle Group report.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Šádek se nebrání vstupu miliardáře. Jsme otevřeni jednání, říká plzeňský boss
Westendorf (od našeho zpravodaje) - „Pro mě trend nástupu miliardářů znamená na klubové úrovni těžší pozici. Pokud by se objevil zajímavý český investor s jasnou nabídkou a filosofií, jsme v rámci akcionářské struktury otevřeni jednání,“ říká Šádek. Vyjadřuje se také k situaci kolem plzeňského klenotu Pavla Šulce nebo k názorům, že po úspěchu na valné hromadě FAČR provede revoluci v komisích včetně komise rozhodčích.Tým ladí formu na sezónu. V jaké fazoně jste vy?Závěr ligy a na něj navazující předvolební období a valná hromada mně trochu síly ubraly, ale zregeneroval jsem na Slovensku s rodinou. Jsem zase v plné síle. Myslím si, že zase budu rozdávat radost kolem sebe. Věřím, že i kluci na hřišti.Kádr Viktorie doznal řady změn. Přišli čtyři noví hráči (Karel Spáčil, Denis Višinský, Adrian Zeljkovič, Tomáš Ladra), odešla dlouholetá opora Lukáš Kalvach. Navíc se mluví o přestupu klíčového muže Pavla Šulce. Dojde ještě ke změnám v týmu?Posílili jsme přesně tam, kde […]
Blockbuster Trade: LeBron James to Warriors, Jimmy Butler to Lakers?
Everyone is talking about the future of LeBron James, as this could be his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and possibly in the NBA. The veteran star appears increasingly uncomfortable in the Purple and Gold, as he seeks a team with legitimate championship potential.LeBron James reportedly doubts the Lakers' ability to contend for a title and end their championship drought, which dates back to 2020. As a result, rumors suggest he may be exploring options for what could be his "final dance" in the NBA. Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers have already expressed interest in a potential reunion.Bronny James shows that he is a fierce competitor in front of LeBron JamesNevertheless, in a dramatic late twist, the Golden State Warriors are reportedly aiming to create a historic duo for next season: Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Bringing together […]
Leonardo Jardim define meta no Brasileirão após goleada do Cruzeiro: “Temos que dar tudo”
Leonardo Jardim na beira do campo pelo Cruzeiro (Foto: Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)Apesar da grande atuação e da vitória por 4 a 1 sobre o Grêmio, no Mineirão, o técnico Leonardo Jardim evitou falar em favoritismo ao título do Campeonato Brasileiro. Em entrevista coletiva após o jogo, neste domingo (13), o treinador português deixou claro que o objetivo principal do Cruzeiro é garantir vaga na próxima Libertadores. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE“Neste momento, nós temos os nossos objetivos bem definidos. Como já falei, não podemos criar expectativas de que o Cruzeiro foi feito para ser campeão. O Cruzeiro foi feito para ser competitivo e chegar à Libertadores. Este é o grande objetivo proposto pelo clube”, afirmou o técnico.A fala veio após a importante goleada da equipe mineira, que vem mostrando evolução e consistência sob o comando de Jardim. Ainda assim, o treinador manteve os […]
MLB Draft 2025: Nationals and Angels deliver Day 1’s biggest surprises as Orioles bring in a haul of talent
ATLANTA — The first three rounds of the 2025 MLB Draft took place Sunday in Atlanta. Although there were no draftees in attendance — a disappointing, if intriguing, circumstance to monitor for the event moving forward — this year’s draft still provided plenty of excitement and surprising moments that will help shape the league for years to come.Here are the four biggest takeaways from Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft:AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEven before the Nationals fired general manager Mike Rizzo a week before they drafted the No. 1 overall pick, it was extremely difficult to parse which direction they would go. Rizzo’s dismissal clouded the mystery further, but the common expectation within the industry was that Washington was weighing Oklahoma high school shortstop Ethan Holliday and LSU ace left-hander Kade Anderson as the two leading candidates.Well, it turns out that Washington’s […]
Is this the loss that changed the current history of the Dallas Cowboys? Fans are still fuming
The Dallas Cowboys' crushing defeat to the Green Bay Packers during the 2014 NFC Divisional Round remains one of the most debated and emotional moments in modern NFL history. With just minutes left in the game, the Cowboys trailed 26-21 but were within striking distance of a go-ahead score. Facing a critical fourth-and-two, quarterback Tony Romo launched a deep pass to wide receiver Dez Bryant, who made an acrobatic leaping grab and stretched for the end zone.Micah Parsons looks weak as he's held back by a sumo wrestler without even tryingInitially ruled a catch at the 1-yard line, the play appeared to set Dallas up for a potential game-winning touchdown. However, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy challenged the ruling, triggering a lengthy review. Upon further inspection, referees determined that Bryant did not maintain possession throughout the process of going to […]
Mano Menezes assume parcela de culpa na derrota do Grêmio e reconhece: “No 4 a 1 não salva ninguém”
Mano Menezes em entrevista coletiva (Foto: Reprodução/YouTube)O Grêmio voltará de Belo Horizonte para Porto Alegre com um resultado traumático na bagagem. 4 a 1 para o Cruzeiro, em um jogo amplamente dominado pela equipe mandante. Os mineiros controlaram a partida durante todo o tempo, venceram com autoridade e deixaram o Tricolor Gaúcho na 12ª colocação da tabela. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEA partida, válida pela 13ª rodada do Brasileirão, marcou o retorno do Grêmio à competição após um mês de pausa para o Mundial de Clubes. Apesar do tempo disponível para treinamentos, o time comandado por Mano Menezes pouco mostrou em campo e foi superado pelo adversário em todos os setores.Uma das provas da superioridade cruzeirense se deve ao fato de os mineiros terem feito dois gols em cada tempo, três marcados por Kaio Jorge e um por Villalba. O Grêmio descontou com […]
Related
Šádek se nebrání vstupu miliardáře. Jsme otevřeni jednání, říká plzeňský boss
Westendorf (od našeho zpravodaje) - „Pro mě trend nástupu miliardářů znamená na klubové úrovni těžší pozici. Pokud by se objevil zajímavý český investor s jasnou nabídkou a filosofií, jsme v rámci akcionářské struktury otevřeni jednání,“ říká Šádek. Vyjadřuje se také k situaci kolem plzeňského klenotu Pavla Šulce nebo k názorům, že po úspěchu na valné hromadě FAČR provede revoluci v komisích včetně komise rozhodčích.Tým ladí formu na sezónu. V jaké fazoně jste vy?Závěr ligy a na něj navazující předvolební období a valná hromada mně trochu síly ubraly, ale zregeneroval jsem na Slovensku s rodinou. Jsem zase v plné síle. Myslím si, že zase budu rozdávat radost kolem sebe. Věřím, že i kluci na hřišti.Kádr Viktorie doznal řady změn. Přišli čtyři noví hráči (Karel Spáčil, Denis Višinský, Adrian Zeljkovič, Tomáš Ladra), odešla dlouholetá opora Lukáš Kalvach. Navíc se mluví o přestupu klíčového muže Pavla Šulce. Dojde ještě ke změnám v týmu?Posílili jsme přesně tam, kde […]
Blockbuster Trade: LeBron James to Warriors, Jimmy Butler to Lakers?
Everyone is talking about the future of LeBron James, as this could be his final season with the Los Angeles Lakers, and possibly in the NBA. The veteran star appears increasingly uncomfortable in the Purple and Gold, as he seeks a team with legitimate championship potential.LeBron James reportedly doubts the Lakers' ability to contend for a title and end their championship drought, which dates back to 2020. As a result, rumors suggest he may be exploring options for what could be his "final dance" in the NBA. Teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers have already expressed interest in a potential reunion.Bronny James shows that he is a fierce competitor in front of LeBron JamesNevertheless, in a dramatic late twist, the Golden State Warriors are reportedly aiming to create a historic duo for next season: Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Bringing together […]
Leonardo Jardim define meta no Brasileirão após goleada do Cruzeiro: “Temos que dar tudo”
Leonardo Jardim na beira do campo pelo Cruzeiro (Foto: Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)Apesar da grande atuação e da vitória por 4 a 1 sobre o Grêmio, no Mineirão, o técnico Leonardo Jardim evitou falar em favoritismo ao título do Campeonato Brasileiro. Em entrevista coletiva após o jogo, neste domingo (13), o treinador português deixou claro que o objetivo principal do Cruzeiro é garantir vaga na próxima Libertadores. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE“Neste momento, nós temos os nossos objetivos bem definidos. Como já falei, não podemos criar expectativas de que o Cruzeiro foi feito para ser campeão. O Cruzeiro foi feito para ser competitivo e chegar à Libertadores. Este é o grande objetivo proposto pelo clube”, afirmou o técnico.A fala veio após a importante goleada da equipe mineira, que vem mostrando evolução e consistência sob o comando de Jardim. Ainda assim, o treinador manteve os […]
MLB Draft 2025: Nationals and Angels deliver Day 1’s biggest surprises as Orioles bring in a haul of talent
ATLANTA — The first three rounds of the 2025 MLB Draft took place Sunday in Atlanta. Although there were no draftees in attendance — a disappointing, if intriguing, circumstance to monitor for the event moving forward — this year’s draft still provided plenty of excitement and surprising moments that will help shape the league for years to come.Here are the four biggest takeaways from Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft:AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementEven before the Nationals fired general manager Mike Rizzo a week before they drafted the No. 1 overall pick, it was extremely difficult to parse which direction they would go. Rizzo’s dismissal clouded the mystery further, but the common expectation within the industry was that Washington was weighing Oklahoma high school shortstop Ethan Holliday and LSU ace left-hander Kade Anderson as the two leading candidates.Well, it turns out that Washington’s […]
Is this the loss that changed the current history of the Dallas Cowboys? Fans are still fuming
The Dallas Cowboys' crushing defeat to the Green Bay Packers during the 2014 NFC Divisional Round remains one of the most debated and emotional moments in modern NFL history. With just minutes left in the game, the Cowboys trailed 26-21 but were within striking distance of a go-ahead score. Facing a critical fourth-and-two, quarterback Tony Romo launched a deep pass to wide receiver Dez Bryant, who made an acrobatic leaping grab and stretched for the end zone.Micah Parsons looks weak as he's held back by a sumo wrestler without even tryingInitially ruled a catch at the 1-yard line, the play appeared to set Dallas up for a potential game-winning touchdown. However, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy challenged the ruling, triggering a lengthy review. Upon further inspection, referees determined that Bryant did not maintain possession throughout the process of going to […]
Mano Menezes assume parcela de culpa na derrota do Grêmio e reconhece: “No 4 a 1 não salva ninguém”
Mano Menezes em entrevista coletiva (Foto: Reprodução/YouTube)O Grêmio voltará de Belo Horizonte para Porto Alegre com um resultado traumático na bagagem. 4 a 1 para o Cruzeiro, em um jogo amplamente dominado pela equipe mandante. Os mineiros controlaram a partida durante todo o tempo, venceram com autoridade e deixaram o Tricolor Gaúcho na 12ª colocação da tabela. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADEA partida, válida pela 13ª rodada do Brasileirão, marcou o retorno do Grêmio à competição após um mês de pausa para o Mundial de Clubes. Apesar do tempo disponível para treinamentos, o time comandado por Mano Menezes pouco mostrou em campo e foi superado pelo adversário em todos os setores.Uma das provas da superioridade cruzeirense se deve ao fato de os mineiros terem feito dois gols em cada tempo, três marcados por Kaio Jorge e um por Villalba. O Grêmio descontou com […]
Be the first to leave a comment