The recent episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out turned the heat up on the NFL Players Association. It uncovered a concealed arbitration ruling from a collusion case, leading to significant resignations, notably that of executive director Lloyd Howell and chief strategy officer JC Tretter.
“Let’s be real: it’s a mess,” stated Jordan Mailata, an Eagles player representative with the NFLPA, on Wednesday. “But I’m confident in our current leadership — at least for now — to keep the focus on the players and get things back on track. We’re moving in the right direction, and I’m pleased with the calls we’ve had recently.”
Recently, players discovered that leadership had made the dubious decision to suppress findings from the arbitration process regarding NFL owners allegedly colluding to reduce guaranteed money in contracts after Deshaun Watson’s fully guaranteed deal. The arbitrator ruled in favor of the NFL while also revealing that there was substantial evidence showing that commissioner Roger Goodell urged owners to minimize guaranteed contract money.
As tensions grew, additional issues emerged surrounding Howell. Reports surfaced alleging misuse of union funds for visits to strip clubs and links to allegations of sexual discrimination related to past controversies during his tenure at Booz Allen. Howell stepped down on Thursday amidst the fallout.
Tretter, who initially seemed to be the prime candidate for the director role, faced backlash from former players on social media. Notably, a Boston Globe report indicated that players were being urged to distance themselves from Tretter. He was at the helm of the secretive process that ultimately appointed Howell, which contributed to criticism surrounding his leadership style. Tretter also resigned shortly after Howell.
Eagles’ right tackle Lane Johnson wasn’t surprised by the disarray within the union. “It’s just a s—t show, I guess,” Johnson commented. “It’s always been that way. People are aware of it, I know I am. I hope it improves. Players need to feel heard, and I believe that would boost their engagement. Right now, we seem to have the weakest union in professional sports.”
Although the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) isn’t set to expire until 2031, the union’s executive committee — featuring former Eagle Oren Burks — has the urgent task of electing new leadership that can effectively negotiate future agreements.
Mailata emphasized the importance of communication from his position as a player representative. “I need to improve my efforts in educating the guys,” he shared. “Some may not be in tune with recent developments until they see them on the news. It’s my responsibility to keep them informed and ready.”
Training camp presents a critical opportunity for Mailata to strengthen awareness among players. Star running back Saquon Barkley expressed he hasn’t been closely following the situation, but aims to get more engaged now that he’s back with his teammates. “There’s always room for growth in the union,” Barkley added. “But unfortunately, I’ve let other responsibilities leave me less informed. Training camp should spark vital discussions at lunch about the union.”
© 2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
