Back in 2023, the NFLPA came up with the idea of Report Cards. However, an arbitrator ruled in the league's favor, citing a violation of the NFL collective bargaining agreement.

The league has won the dispute against the Players Association, which restrains the NFLPA from publishing report cards, according to a memo distributed to all 32 teams.

“We are pleased with the decision from the arbitrator, upholding the parties’ collective bargaining agreement and prohibiting the NFLPA from disparaging our clubs and individuals through ‘report cards’ allegedly based on data and methodologies that it has steadfastly refused to disclose," the NFL said in the memo

The NFL filed the grievance because it felt that the NFLPA violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by publicly releasing its annual team report cards. The league argued the grades were public criticism of teams and owners, which the CBA says both sides should avoid.

They pointed out that the survey and publication weren’t jointly approved and that making the results public could harm team reputations. The issue wasn’t the survey itself; it was publishing it. And henceforth, the NFLPA is going to continue with it, but just not publish it.

“The ruling upholds our right to survey players and share the results with players and clubs. While we strongly disagree with the restriction on making those results public, that limitation does not stop the program or its impact," they said.

The NFL World stands Divided Over the NFLPA Ruling

At the March NFL meeting, Woody Johnson criticized the NFLPA survey as “totally bogus” and suggested it violated the CBA. He and several other owners, including Art Rooney II, Robert Kraft, Michael Bidwill, and David Tepper, had received ownership grades D or worse.

While those owners are likely happy with the ruling, former NFL defensive end J.J. Watt is not.

“NFL won't let actual players grade the workplace they attend every single day, but they'll allow a 3rd party 'grading' service to display their 'rankings' of players on national television every Sunday night…” he posted on X.

But San Francisco 49ers' star George Kittle replied to that post with, "Go off JJ." What do you think about the decision? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Reyansh Dubey