Arbitrator finds NFL encouraged teams to cut veteran guarantees

[Corbin]

​

An arbitrator's ruling reportedly has found the NFL encouraged teams to reduce guaranteed contracts for veteran players in 2022 (Tim Bradbury)

AFP
Jun 24, 2025 at 6:14 PM MDT


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.

 

[Corbin]

Tried to find something on this without posting dumb ass Foolios nonsense..

This is just sad but reality of how people act in their self interest.

 

[Corbin]

View: https://youtu.be/8nTHx2d-Xgc?si=o6bgoY0LfpZJ2Txg

 

[snackdaddy]

Billionaires trying to squeeze millionaires.

 

[dang]

Billionaires trying to squeeze millionaires.

Isn’t that the standing billionaire motto:
Q: How do you get to be a billionaire?
A: By squeezing millionaires.

 

[ScotsRam]

This has the potential to be a huge scandal. Its shocking to me that the NFLPA would agree to this outcome not being made public. They're asleep at the wheel.

 

[dieterbrock]

Just goes to show how impossible it would be for the "NFL" to "fix" games
I mean if they cant get away with something as innocuous as this, there's no way they could keep something bigger under wraps

On a side note, before calling the owners cheap, realize that paying out less in guaranteed money means more available funds to pay out to current players.
This isnt about circumnavigating paying the players, its about circumnavigating the cap and paying players MORE

 

[dieterbrock]

Billionaires trying to squeeze millionaires.

It's actually the opposite

 

[OldSchool]

This has the potential to be a huge scandal. Its shocking to me that the NFLPA would agree to this outcome not being made public. They're asleep at the wheel.

Probably because they know agents do similar things. Each side in this equation break the rules.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Billionaires trying to squeeze millionaires.

SQUEEZING Watson, by giving him a quarter of a BILLION dollars guaranteed?

I'd love to be squeezed like that.

 

[fearsomefour]

Billionaires trying to squeeze millionaires.

sign me up for that club....

 

[fearsomefour]

Just goes to show how impossible it would be for the "NFL" to "fix" games
I mean if they cant get away with something as innocuous as this, there's no way they could keep something bigger under wraps

On a side note, before calling the owners cheap, realize that paying out less in guaranteed money means more available funds to pay out to current players.
This isnt about circumnavigating paying the players, its about circumnavigating the cap and paying players MORE

As has been shown over and over, secrets are hard to keep....too easy for someone to blow it....

 

[RamFan503]

As has been shown over and over, secrets are hard to keep....too easy for someone to blow it....

I see what you did there.