NFL Owners File Grievance Against NFLPA Over Annual Report Cards
Of all the hills to die on, this is the one the NFL has chosen. In a move that screams “we can’t handle the truth,” the league has officially filed a grievance against the NFL Players Association (NFLPA). Their beef? Those annual team report cards that have become the talk of the town. You know, the ones where players get to anonymously sound off on everything from the quality of the cafeteria food to whether the owner is a stand-up guy or a cheapskate.
According to documents obtained by ESPN, the NFL is crying foul, claiming these report cards violate the collective bargaining agreement. They’re pointing to a dusty old clause that says both sides should try to “curtail public comments by club personnel or players which express criticism.”
The NFLPA, to its credit, is having none of it. They basically told the league to kick rocks and are moving forward with this year’s survey. In an email to players, the union framed it perfectly: this is “an effective tool for comparing workplace standards” and helps players make “informed career decisions.”
This whole drama is just dripping with irony. The NFL, a league that thrives on public scrutiny, brutal competition, and analyzing every single player’s performance under a microscope, suddenly gets squeamish when the lens is turned back on the front office.
Why the NFL Report Cards Rattle the League
So, what’s really going on here? The report cards have become one of the NFLPA’s most brilliant moves in years. For too long, the billionaire owners have been untouchable, shielded from any real accountability. Fans might complain, but they’ll still buy tickets and jerseys. The media can criticize, but it rarely impacts the bottom line.
These report cards, however, hit them where it hurts: their ego. It’s public shaming, pure and simple. When owners like Woody Johnson of the Jets, who received a grade that would get you grounded for life, call the survey “totally bogus,” it’s not because the data is wrong. It’s because he doesn’t like what it says.
As one anonymous owner astutely pointed out to ESPN, “the only owners who don’t care for [the report cards] are the ones who get the subpar grades.” You don’t say.
What’s Next In This Power Struggle?
The league is apparently pushing for an arbitrator to hear the case by December, hoping for a ruling by February 2026. They want to kill this thing, fast.
But the players see the results. The union highlighted that several teams have already made tangible improvements based on last year’s grades, upgrading family services and travel arrangements. It turns out, a little public embarrassment can be a powerful motivator for change.
Let’s hope the NFLPA stands its ground. This isn’t just about hurt feelings; it’s about holding the most powerful figures in the NFL accountable and improving conditions for the players who put their bodies on the line every Sunday. If the league doesn’t like the bad grades, there’s a simple solution: do better.
