NFL Owners and Accountability

NFL owners experience minimal accountability, if any, to external parties. In 2022, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) devised a mechanism aimed at holding poorly performing teams accountable, a move that did not sit well with those owners.

The Grievance Response

In retaliation, the owners filed a grievance. Recently, the NFL sent out a memo celebrating a ruling that prohibits the NFLPA from “creating and publicizing” its annual report cards. In response, the NFLPA pledged to keep compiling the evaluations, even if it can’t release them fully.

Understanding the Ruling

To grasp the limitations placed on the players, one must review the 26-page ruling, which I’ve examined thoroughly. The grievance centered around two sections of the Collective Bargaining Agreement: Article 51 and Article 39. The NFL contended that the report cards breached Article 51 by encouraging public criticism of teams, coaches, and operations.

Outcomes of the Ruling

Ultimately, the NFL triumphed regarding Article 51 but lost in the context of Article 39. Arbitrator Scott E. Buchheit stated that he found no compelling evidence that the two surveys could not coexist, given appropriate adjustments.

Survey Cooperation Issues

Notably, the joint survey mandated by Article 39 has not occurred since 2015 due to the NFL’s lack of cooperation. Thus, the NFLPA’s own survey does not interfere with Article 39.

Publicizing Results

Buchheit asserted that while the NFLPA can conduct surveys and produce report cards, Article 51 bars it from publicizing those results. The ruling specified that the NFLPA must not disclose the findings on its public website or make any public comments that appear to criticize a club or its personnel based on these results.

Future Implications

Nevertheless, the report cards can still be shared with players privately. Buchheit emphasized that the NFLPA has the right to distribute the 2026 report card exclusively to its members, including the ratings and criticisms similar to previous years. Also, the NFLPA must remind its members that the results are not to be made public, although it’s expected that negative feedback on clubs and owners will eventually leak out.