A powerful NFL executive group, with commissioner Roger Goodell's approval, encouraged teams to collude in the name of decreasing guaranteed dollars in veteran contracts, according to a report made by an independent arbitrator andunveiled Tuesday by "Pablo Torre Finds Out." The arbitrator, Christopher Droney, dismissed the arbitration of the NFL Players' Association "in its entirety" earlier this year. But Droney noted that the NFL Management Council – which negotiates with the players' union and other entities on behalf of the 32 owners – "encouraged 32 member Clubs of the NFL to reduce guarantees in future contracts with players at the March 2022 annual meeting." The clubs, however, did not engage in collusive conduct, the report found. Both the NFL and NFLPA declined to comment when reached Tuesday by USA TODAY Sports. The ruling had been kept a secret until Torre published his findings on June 24. The March 2022 meeting at the center of the arbitration claim took place not long after theCleveland Brownstraded for and signed quarterbackDeshaun Watsonto a fully guaranteed contract worth $230 million over five years. According to the report, eight owners, Goodell, high-profile player agents,Russell WilsonandLamar Jacksontestified at a hearing held by Droney over 10 days in New York last summer. The NFLPA initially brought the case under former executive director DeMaurice Smith, who was replaced by Lloyd Howell in 2023. The union alleged a high-ranking league executive askedNew England Patriotsowner Robert Kraft to tell fellow owners to not negotiate with large, fully guaranteed contracts. Both Goodell and Kraft denied this at the hearings, and Droney agreed Goodell did not make the request. In March 2022, per the ruling, the management council presented to the league about the salary cap and a 42% increase in salary guarantees. Kyler Murray (five years, $230.5 million with $160 million guaranteed), Wilson (five years, $245 million with $165 million guaranteed) and Jackson (five years, $260 million with $185 million guaranteed) all signed extensions within the next calendar year. Jackson, who does not have an agent and represents himself, had a contentious negotiation with the Ravens and general manager Eric DeCosta. No team reached out directly to Jackson after the team placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on him. Jackson apparently did not supply a list of teams he'd be interested in playing for because of phone issues. Ranking all 32 NFL teams from most to least entertaining: Who will be most fun in 2025? "Only a couple of teams expressed interest to DeCosta in signing him prior to the Ravens' decision to franchise him," the report said. The document also unveiled text communication between two owners, theCardinals' Michael Bidwill and theLos Angeles Chargers' Dean Spanos. "Your deal helps us for our QB next year," Spanos wrote. "I think many teams will be happy with it once they have a chance to review," Bidwill wrote back. "Cleveland really screwed things up, but I was resolved to keep the guaranteed relatively 'low.'" Droney's role in the arbitration is set by the collective bargaining agreement between the league and union. The same CBA lays out severe penalties for collusion between teams, including the union's right to terminate the CBA in the event of widespread collusion. Proving collusion also requires more than a preponderance of evidence. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Evidence in secret arbitration shows NFL encouraged collusion
