Arbitrator rules NFL union 'report cards' must stay private

The NFL notified clubs in a memo obtained by ESPN while the NFL Players Association revealed the decision in a statement.

"The arbitrator held that the publication of report cards disparaging NFL clubs and individuals violates the collective bargaining agreement and issued an order prohibiting the NFLPA from publishing or publicly disclosing the results of future player report cards," the NFL said in its memo.

The NFL report cards began in 2023 from player surveys about such areas as team owner, locker room, weight room or treatment of player families, with each team ranked 1-32 based on combined results.

The Miami Dolphins were ranked atop the league in report cards last year with the Arizona Cardinals last among the 32 clubs.

NFL owners claimed the selected data by the union was misleading.

"In essence, the record established that the report cards were designed by the union to advance its interests under the guise of a scientific exercise," the NFL said in the memo.

"These facts highlight the numerous and significant limitations in the methodology and accuracy of the team report card results that have been reported over the past three years."

The union, however, said the program is not going away even if results will be known only to clubs and players.

"The program is not going away," the NFLPA statement said. "The team report cards exist to serve players. That mission remains unchanged.

"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.

"Players will continue to receive the results, and teams will continue to hear directly from their locker rooms."

The NFLPA noted the arbitrator did not support league claims the results were unfair.

"The arbitrator rejected the NFL's characterization of the process, finding the team report cards to be fair, balanced, and increasingly positive over time," the union statement said. "Our methodology is sound."