The NFL Players Association is formally investigating its own role in how OneTeam—a lucrative joint licensing venture between several major athlete unions—is run, Front Office Sports has learned. The review follows a National Labor Relations Board charge from a MLBPA whistleblower alleging corruption in the baseball union’s dealings with OneTeam.
Last month, NFLPA employees received an unsigned “litigation hold” letter, correspondence typically sent to employees of a company, important individuals facing litigation, and persons or entities involved in a potential lawsuit, informing them to save documents related to prospective legal action.
The Dec. 19 letter, obtained by Front Office Sports, informed union employees of the NFLPA investigation into the OneTeam relationship.
“[The NFLPA] recently learned through a public report that a whistleblower has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board against NFLPA/PI’s JV (joint venture) partner, MLBPA and its leadership,” the letter reads. “The whistleblower made specific allegations regarding the conduct of the One Team Board.”
OneTeam is a joint venture between the players’ unions for the NFL, MLB, MLS, WNBA, U.S. women’s national soccer team, and several equity funds. It handles group licensing, sponsorships, marketing and advises athletes.
The letter asks the recipients to save all documents related to OneTeam and lists two NFLPA executives for contact: assistant general counsel Heather McGee and general counsel...
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