Feb 13, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during the Super Bowl 57 Winning Team Head Coach and MVP press conference at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

‘Excess Of $12 Million’: NFL Hits NFLPA For Legal Fees Amid ‘Collusion’ Leak

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 5:16 PM ET

Following the leak of an arbitration ruling between the NFL and NFLPA, the league is reportedly asking for the terms of their nondisclosure agreement.

And it’s not cheap.

In a leak that was published by the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” Podcast on June 24, System Arbitrator Christopher Droney found for the league regarding a collusion grievance by certain veteran players in the league about fully guaranteed contracts.

Per the report, Droney found that Commissioner Roger Goodell and general counsel Jeff Pash urged teams “by a clear preponderance of the evidence” to restrict guaranteed money for player contracts during the 2022 owners meeting in the wake of the deal the Cleveland Browns gave to quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The NFL had an unusual agreement with the players’ union

Per ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler, the league had an “unusual” confidentiality agreement with the NFLPA (players’ union) to hide the details of Droney’s decision.

Following the details of the published findings by Torre, multiple players have come forward who are upset with the findings, and the union has filed for an appeal to the decision.

The confidentiality agreement allowed the union to appeal the decision later than the CBA calls for and for the league to seek legal reimbursement for legal costs at a later date. Now that the leak has been made public, the league seeks legal fees and costs in excess of $12 million.

The league hits back in “NFL collusion” case

Apr 28, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talks before the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft at the NFL Draft Theater. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

“According to the CBA, appeals to arbitration decisions must be filed within 10 days,” The ESPN report reads. “Sources familiar with the matter said the confidentiality agreement contained language that allowed the union to exceed that deadline and also allowed the league additional time to seek reimbursement of its legal costs.

“On Wednesday, a source familiar with the league office said the NFL notified the union of its intention to seek legal fees and costs in excess of $12 million. The union elected (Lloyd) Howell as executive director in June 2023. He was paid $3.4 million last year. According to a source who heard Howell’s pitch to the executive committee, he ran on a platform of fresh ideas and transparency.”

The appeal won’t be cheap for the NFLPA either, and it’s unclear if an appeal is likely to go in their favor because there would have to be sufficient proof that teams acted on the advice of the league to restrict fully guaranteed deals.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the field before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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