NFLPA Fires Arbitrator Who Ruled Against JC Tretter Injury Comments

In 2023, former NFLPA president J.C. Tretter made remarks suggesting running backs might exaggerate injuries to gain leverage in contract negotiations, which led the NFL to file a grievance against the union. An arbitrator, Sidney Moreland, ruled in February 2025 that Tretter's comments violated the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) by encouraging players to fake injuries, issuing a cease-and-desist order to the NFLPA, though no evidence was found that any players actually feigned injury. The NFL informed team executives of this ruling, but the decision was not publicly disclosed until journalists obtained it in July 2025. Shortly after the ruling became public, the NFLPA exercised its right to discharge Moreland during the July 10-20 period allowed by the CBA, a move that sources say was not related to the leak but possibly connected to the ruling itself. The dispute highlights tensions between the NFL and NFLPA over player conduct and negotiation tactics, with the union denying any wrongdoing despite the ruling. Both sides have refrained from extensive public comment, and the situation underscores ongoing challenges in labor relations within professional football.