The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is under investigation for alleged financial misconduct. The probe also involves potential illegal enrichment by its leadership, according to a confidential document obtained by ESPN.
The memorandum, titled “crisis management,” was drafted by an experienced union attorney and shared with the executive committee as well as player representatives.
The document, verified by multiple sources, states that the union is “now on notice of financial actions that may be criminal” and warns that it faces “immediate threats requiring prompt actions.”
This information emerged following the resignations of Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr. and Strategy Director JC Tretter. It outlines the crisis facing the 68 year old organization in a section titled “immediate threats,” citing possible labor meetings over “unfair labor practices” and a “lapse of fiduciary duty oversight practices during Howell tenure.”
The document does not specify which individuals are under investigation.
So far, no public statements have clarified the situation further. Tretter has denied being a subject of the probe.
A player who received the memo commented:
Some things people should think about.”… “There’s good advice about what we should think about moving forward.
In May, ESPN reported that the FBI was investigating financial operations tied to One Team Partners, a $2 billion grouplicensing firm cofounded in 2019 by the NFLPA and the Major League Baseball Players Association to monetize athletes’ name, image, and likeness.
Government is watching response [and] could quickly ramp up and expand scope of existing DOJ criminal investigation… Board [and] Officers need to show government [and] fellow union members that they are acting immediately to find out depth of problems at union [and] related entities.
The document reads.
It also notes that the memo is “marked” and carries the union’s logo on every page. The union is described as being in a “leadership vacuum,” urging player representatives to take “prudent and definitive actions” to avoid Justice Department oversight of the NFLPA.
Howell reportedly signed a confidentiality agreement with the league to keep details of the ruling from both the executive committee and player representatives. The document warns, “NLRB can order union to pay ‘direct or foreseeable pecuniary harms’ caused by unfair labor practices – meaning $$$.”
The memo lists five candidates for interim executive director, four of them former players. It also outlines potential lawsuits from players over alleged collusion dating back to January.
The 32 player representatives could choose a new executive director this weekend. The memo suggests it “may be prudent to ask a uniquely qualified outside person to serve as the union Triage Manager.”
Lastly, it clarifies that interim candidates should not be obligated to rule themselves out of running for the permanent presidency.
Read the full article here
