NFL Files Grievances Against NFLPA Regarding Advice Given By Them To The Players

The NFL stated Monday that it is launching a grievance against the NFLPA, alleging that the union urged players to simulate injury in order to gain advantage in contract negotiations.

NFL Files Grievances Against NFLPA Regarding Advice Given By Them To The Players

The NFL disclosed the grievance in a memo, which NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported. JC Tretter, former Cleveland Browns center, is named in the memo.

“Beginning this past summer and continuing through training camp, NFL Players Association leadership, including President JC Tretter, have become increasingly vocal in advising NFL players dissatisfied with their current contracts to consider feigning or exaggerating injuries to withhold service as a way to increase their leverage in contract negotiations,” according to the memo.

An arbitrator will hear the grievance, which was submitted on September 11.

The NFL stated in a statement addressed to the league’s executive committee and acquired by LAPRESSE that the union made the notion to running backs during a Zoom meeting before the season.

According to the league, any player who followed the union’s counsel and faked an ailment would be in violation of the collective bargaining agreement.

“This conduct is a clear violation of the union’s agreement to use ‘best efforts to faithfully carry out the terms and conditions of the [CBA]’ and ‘to see that the terms and conditions of all NFL Player Contracts are carried out in full by players,'” the memo said. “The union’s conduct is also reckless as any player that  chooses to follow this advice and improperly withhold services under his player contract will be subject to discipline and financial liability under the CBA, club rules, and/or the player’s contract.”

The grievance requests that the union “cease and desist from such improper conduct, as well as other remedies that the arbitrator may deem appropriate.”

This summer, running back discussions were heated as All-Pros Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Jonathan Taylor failed to obtain long-term contracts. After being placed on the franchise tag, Barkley and Jacobs subsequently signed one-year contracts, but Taylor remained on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list in the last year of his rookie contract.

Other prominent running backs, such as Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry, spoke out in support of their teammates and allegedly attended a Zoom conference to explore how to enhance running back salary. The running back complaints and meetings, according to Colts owner Jim Irsay, were conducted in “bad faith” at the request of their agents.

The NFLPA contested the memo in a brief statement, Pelissero reports.

“This is ridiculous and without merit,” the statement reads.

 

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