HEADLINE

Report: NFLPA chief tells agents to collude on free-agent offers

Field Level Media

February 25, 2021 at 9:25 pm.

NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith told player agents they should collude on free-agent offers to keep teams honest on the reduced salary cap, ESPN reported.

Smith made the comments during an all-agent seminar on Thursday, ESPN reported, citing a person on the videoconference.

Smith expects the 2021 salary cap to be close to the $180 million floor negotiated by the league and the NFLPA, per the report. The cap was $198.2 million last year, prior to the coronavirus pandemic slashing team and league revenues.

Smith told the agents it’s OK to work together to get best possible terms for players, per the report.

While teams are not allowed to collude, there’s no law against players exchanging information, per the report.