After the NFL banned equity for players and other team employees last year, various sources spontaneously told PFT two surprising facts. One, quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanted a stake in Jets contract talks. Two, Caleb Williams's team had told prospective agents that equity would be a request if he departed USC for the draft. It was immaterial because the league has banned franchises from providing equity to players and non-players.
Since then, we've heard charges of "fan fiction" about Williams, claiming we were attempting to hurt him. We were trying to show that equity should be on the table, that numerous players have asked about it, and that the league may be violating federal antitrust laws by directing 32 independent enterprises not to do it.
That front saw two intriguing events this week. First, TheAthletic.com's Kalyn Kahler stated that "two sources told The Athletic that Williams’ camp did, in fact, discuss the topic with agents." We met Caleb Williams. For 10 minutes, Chris Simms and I sat down and talked on camera. We were already impressed by his play (Simms calls Williams the best quarterback in this draft class). Talking to him wowed us.
The man is mature. He understands. The man knows how to perfect his craft. He will fully dedicate to his new squad. He will naturally lead and keep players accountable with his words and deeds. With his ability, Caleb Williams may be an NFL superstar.
Why shouldn't a valuable employee want ownership? Williams was right to ask. If I were his father, uncle, agent, buddy, etc., I would have told him to do it. However, the oligarchs wanted to create a firewall to separate "us" from "them" and lock players out of the one thing that kept rising in value.
Williams should want it. Patrick Mahomes should have it. Allen should have it. Until then, teams want quarterbacks to be management extensions. They usually use the salary cap to prevent "selfish" players from obtaining their due. Last year, they filled the donut hole that could have better rewarded the finest football players.
I hope someone challenges the "no equity" regulation. Someone must speak out against a regulation that appears to be illegal, whether it's a player who requests it and is denied and files a collusion claim or a coach or other employee who requests it in talks and is denied.
In 2010, the landmark American Needle lawsuit confirmed 32 independent enterprises. The union's Collective Bargaining Agreement lets them commit many antitrust breaches. Equity compensation is allowed by the CBA. Because the league has decided to tell all 32 teams not to do it, it looks like collusion to NFLPA members and like an antitrust violation to everyone else on the payroll.
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