Report: NFLPA claims NFL colluding to avoid fully guaranteed deals

The NFLPA filed a grievance claiming the NFL and clubs are colluding against players seeking fully guaranteed deals, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The NFLPA alleges that at an August meeting, owners banded together and agreed not to give out more fully guaranteed pacts.

The NFLPA grievance comes after Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson received a $230-million fully guaranteed deal in March, which drew ire from some owners.

Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti previously questioned whether Watson should have been the first to land a fully guaranteed contract while also admitting it would make negotiations tougher with other players.

Negotiations between the Ravens and star signal-caller Lamar Jackson contributed to NFLPA talks about the grievance, Fowler notes. Contract talks were tabled between the two sides before the start of the season. Baltimore reportedly had no interest in satisfying the quarterback's demand for a fully guaranteed contract.

A third-party arbitrator is expected to hear the grievance, which was filed "in recent weeks," Fowler adds.