NFL files grievance against NFLPA over team report cards, alleges CBA violation

In August, the NFL filed a complaint against the NFL Players Association regarding the annual team reports that the union produces. The league claimed the report cards violated the collective bargaining agreements. According to documents obtained by CBS Sports Jonathan Jones, NFL also claimed that the union’s annual team report cards violated the league’s bylaws and constitution, which prohibits players from publicly criticizing any club member or their management, employees, or coaches.The NFLPA conducts surveys every year to assess the working conditions of players and assign grades for each franchise. Teams are also ranked 1-32 and receive an overall rating. Categories on the report cards include team ownership, head coach, various facility-related subjects and treatment of families.That the NFLPA not only posts the results on its website but also conduct media interviews to amplify the findings, which goes against a CBA clause, the league said, that requires the union to “use reasonable efforts to curtail public comments by … players which express criticism of any club, its coach, or its operation and policy, or which tend to cast discredit upon a club … or any other person involved in the operation of a club.” ESPN reports that the NFLPA informed the players about the grievance and plans to conduct this year’s survey.In a letter to the players, the NFLPA stated that they had “responded to the grievance” with their intention to fight the action. They will also continue with what is clearly an effective tool in comparing workplace standards within the league.

The NFL owners have been opposed to report cards for years because they give low marks to underperforming teams. The NFLPA has an agreement with the NFL that allows it to conduct a survey every three years of all NFL Players to determine “adequacy in player care and related topics.” The NFL wants the NFLPA not to issue report cards anymore and to instead conduct the league-approved poll. This, it says, is a more scientifically valid method. Miami Dolphins scored the highest of all teams and received no grades below “A” for any of the 11 categories. Arizona Cardinals, however, were ranked 32nd with six grades “D+” and lower.

The Minnesota Vikings were ranked second, followed by the Atlanta Falcons. Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders completed the top five. New England Patriots are ranked at the bottom of the rankings, ahead of the Cardinals. The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Pittsburgh Steelers make up the bottom five.

2025-11-13 20:20:49