Report: NFL players union appealing ruling in collusion case

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Report: NFL players union appealing ruling in collusion case

Associated Press | Wednesday, July 9, 2025 6:00 p.m.

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is carted off the field after getting injured in the first half against the Bengals last season.

The NFL Players Association is appealing an arbitrator’s ruling regarding collusion by owners over quarterback salaries, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

The appeal was filed Tuesday and the union has been having ongoing discussions with its executive council about the matter, AP reported. There’s no timeline for a decision that’ll be made by a standing appeals panel made up of three people.

On Jan. 14, arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled there wasn’t sufficient evidence of collusion by owners in contract negotiations with quarterbacks after the Cleveland Browns gave QB Deshaun Watson a record $230 million fully guaranteed contract.

Any attempt to collude to keep salaries down violates the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the union.

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