After the Baltimore Ravens designated Lamar Jackson with a non-exclusive franchise tag Tuesday, a strange series of events unfolded.
The decision to tag Jackson would allow teams to negotiate with Jackson and, by trade, the Ravens as well.
NFL reporters began reporting that one team after another either had no interest in the star quarterback or had decided not to pursue him. Those reports claimed the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Commanders had no interest in the former NFL MVP.
Jackson, of course, has been seeking a contract comparable to the guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal the Cleveland Browns gave quarterback Deshaun Watson last year.
As the afternoon went on, some NFL observers pointed out that the flurry of reports about teams not interested in Jackson raised an ugly specter: Collusion. NFL insider Trey Wingo noted the NFLPA had been “keeping a very close eye on the Lamar situation for that very reason. Regarding the C word, ‘there’s constant concern about that.'”
Regarding this: spoke with sources at NFLPA and they’re keeping a very close eye on the Lamar situation for that very reason. Regarding the C word “there’s constant concern about that” https://t.co/KrEe1te6BM
— trey wingo (@wingoz) March 7, 2023
So what is collusion, as it relates to the NFL? According to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (Article 17.1.a}:
“No Club, its employees or agents shall enter into any agreement, express or implied, with the NFL or any other Club, its employees or agents to restrict or limit individual Club decision-making.”
Proving such cases is difficult, and they’re relatively rare in the NFL. Notably, the NFL reached a collusion grievance settlement of less than $10 million in 2019 with Colin Kaepernick and his former teammate, Eric Reid. The players had contended that teams colluded against them signing to play in the league because of their protests during the national anthem.
So collusion does happen. Yet, many observers feel there is another explanation just as fair for why a former NFL MVP in Jackson can’t land a mega contract similar to Watson’s deal. The Browns were widely ridiculed for Watson’s contract at the time, and it looks no better almost a year later.
The Watson deal totally reshuffled the quarterback pay scale. And the persistent thought among those who believe it had to do with that contract was: Just because the Browns made a terrible decision doesn’t necessarily mean that other teams must follow in their footsteps. Even if your quarterback is Lamar Jackson.
NFL Twitter heatedly debated the issue Tuesday.
This is pure @NFL collusion. The owners are PISSED that the @Browns gave @deshaunwatson a fully guaranteed contract. So they have decided they will not pay @Lj_era8 Lamar Jackson. https://t.co/1NYMUSPkBY
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) March 7, 2023
Lamar Jackson after the collusion lawsuit pic.twitter.com/l2S7zMO5PS
— The Ravens Realm (@RealmRavens) March 7, 2023
The owners are making it a point to not allow another D. Watson type of contract.
— Bryant McFadden (@BMac_SportsTalk) March 7, 2023
I do not believe it has anything to do with collusion, instead, it has everything to do with solid financial decision making. The Watson deal was absurd and bad business.
— Rick Curtis (@RCurtis117) March 7, 2023
If I’m Lamar Jackson I legit have the NFLPA lawyers ready to go against the Owners for CBA violation. This is blatant collusion
— Jonathan Baker (@Jayb_1411) March 7, 2023
The only collision is the media and Twitter overhype him. You are only worth so much in the open market.
— mdhustle (@Ajrocks45) March 7, 2023
Deshaun Watson’s contract was an outlier.
I expect Lamar’s eventual deal to reset the QB market.
It’ll be more than the $190 guaranteed that Kyler Murray is getting.
— Neil Cooper (@bigheadneil) March 7, 2023
Lamar is a good player, but nobody is going to pay a qb guaranteed money when he hasn’t been healthy the last 2 years, and he only feels comfortable throwing the football to the tight end.
— Will (@AnoAli20) March 7, 2023
