An NFLPA exec resigned during a scandal. Now, he'll lead the organization.

TheNFL Players Association(NFLPA) has found its new leader.

On March 17, theNFLPAannounced that its board of player representatives electedJC Tretterto be its next executive director.

Tretter is a former NFL offensive lineman, playing eight seasons across stints with theGreen Bay PackersandCleveland Browns. He also previously served as the NFLPA's player president from 2020 to 2024 and its Chief Strategy Officer starting in 2024, following his retirement from the NFL.

"I'm grateful for the trust my fellow players have placed in me," Tretter said in a statement, "and I'm going to reward that trust with my fullest commitment to these players and chart a new course for our union."

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OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

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OT Tytus Howard:Traded to Cleveland Browns(previous team: Houston Texans)

Tretter is the permanent replacement for former NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell.

Howell resigned last Julyafter multiple scandals, including an ESPN report revealing his involvement as a paid, part-time consultant for The Carlyle Group – a private equity group seeking minority ownership in NFL franchises – which represented a conflict of interest for his job as the players union's top executive.

Days after Howell's resignation, Tretter – then serving as the NFLPA's Chief Strategy Officer – also resigned amid the scandals, which included a confidentiality agreement the NFLPA made with the NFL toconceal grievance findings, and removed himself from consideration to replace Howell.

Tretter told CBS Sports after he resigned from his previous executive position: "I have no interest in being (executive director). I have no interest in being considered; I've let the executive committee know that. I'm also going to leave the NFLPA in the coming days because I don't have anything left to give the organization."

LLOYD HOWELL:Former NFLPA exec charged union for strip club visits

David White, formerly the national executive director of SAG-AFTRA,replaced Howell as interim executive directorof the NFLPA in August after Howell's and Tretter's resignations.

Tretter beat out White and another finalist – American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti – for the permanent executive director job in the NFLPA's most recent election.

"We are proud to welcome JC Tretter as our new executive director and confident in the leadership that he will bring to our union," the board of player representatives wrote in a statement March 17. "We conducted a thorough, deliberate search to identify the right long-term leader to deliver sustained, meaningful progress for our members.

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"JC earned the trust of our Board and demonstrated a clear commitment to serving this membership."

NFLPA CONTROVERSIES:What to know about Lloyd Howell, JC Tretter resignations

JC Tretter involved in scandals in previous NFLPA role

In September 2023, the NFL filed a grievance against the NFLPA stemming from comments Tretter made months prior, when he alluded that faking injuries was a way for a player to avoid fines in contract negotiation holdouts.

Said Tretter at the time: "I think we've seen issues — now, I don't think anybody would say they were fake injuries, but we've seen players who didn't want to be where they currently are, have injuries that made them unable to practice and play, but you're not able to get fined, and you're not able to be punished for not reporting. So there are issues like that. I don't think I'm allowed to ever recommend that, at least publicly, but I think each player needs to find a way to build up leverage to try to get a fair deal. And that's really what all these guys are looking for, is to be compensated fairly."

3. Arizona Cardinals – David Bailey, OLB/DE, Texas Tech

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 4. Tennessee Titans – Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. New York Giants – Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Cleveland Browns – Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Washington Commanders – Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. New Orleans Saints – Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Cincinnati Bengals – Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Miami Dolphins – Francis Mauigoa, OT/G, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 12. Dallas Cowboys – Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 14. Las Vegas Raiders (from Baltimore Ravens) – Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Keldric Faulk, DE, Auburn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 17. Detroit Lions – Spencer Fano, OT/G, Utah

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Carolina Panthers – Kadyn Proctor, OT/G, Alabama

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Los Angeles Chargers – Caleb Banks, DT, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 23. Philadelphia Eagles – Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 25. Chicago Bears – Peter Woods, DT, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 26. Buffalo Bills – T.J. Parker, DE/OLB, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 28. Houston Texans – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams) – Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 31. New England Patriots – Cashius Howell, OLB, Texas A&M

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 32. Seattle Seahawks – Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

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The NFL won the case, which was decided by a non-injury grievance arbitrator, according to reporting from Pablo Torre of "Pablo Torre Finds Out" and Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.

In a statement to Pro Football Talk, the league wrote, "The Arbitrator upheld the Management Council's grievance in its entirety and found that Mr. Tretter's statements violated the CBA by improperly encouraging players to fake injury."

The statement went on to clarify that the NFL did not allege any specific player faked an injury – that the league's issue was with Tretter and the union potentially encouraging the behavior.

FAKE INJURY GRIEVANCE:NFL, NFLPA covered up grievance ruling

Tretter was also in an executive position with the NFLPA when the union, according to ESPN reporting, made a confidentiality agreement with the NFL tokeep private the findings of a grievancefiled by the players union.

The NFLPA's grievance, filed in 2022, alleged that team owners were colluding to keep player salaries down. Last year, arbitrator Christopher Droney concluded that there was no evidence of collusion, though he did find evidence the league encouraged its owners toengage in collusion.

The details of Droney's ruling did not emerge until six months later, when "Pablo Torre Finds Out" published the 61-page document from the arbitrator.

After his resignation last July, Tretter denied knowing about the findings of the NFLPA's grievance case in an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show." He also stated that he had no discussions about the case in the time between its filing in 2022 and the arbitrator's report from 2025.

"Just not part of my job," Tretter said at the time.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:JC Tretter elected NFLPA executive director months after resigning

byNeo

in

March 17, 2026

An NFLPA exec resigned during a scandal. Now, he'll lead the organization.

TheNFL Players Association(NFLPA) has found its new leader. On March 17, theNFLPAannounced that its board of p...

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Thunder's Alex Caruso receives technical foul for using shoe to block shot in win over Magic

After going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2016, Alex Caruso spent the early part of his pro career doing everything he could to carve out a role for himself in the NBA.

Eventually, he became one of the league's most tenacious defenders. Now a two-time NBA All-Defensive Team honoree, Caruso has proven he'll do whatever it takes on that end of the floor.

The 32-year-old wing took that sentence to another level Tuesday, and it humorously cost him.

When Caruso's left sneaker came off in the second quarter of a113-108 road winover the Orlando Magic, he picked it up and got creative on defense.

[Enter Yahoo Fantasy Bracket Mayhem now for your shot at $50K]

Playing help defense in the paint, Caruso swiped his lost shoe at the left hand of Magic forward Tristan da Silva, who was going up for a layup.

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Caruso made contact with the ball, and it came loose, ricocheting off da Silva's arm and flying out of bounds.

Except, rather than resulting in an Orlando turnover, the play wound up with Caruso receiving a technical foul and the Magic being awarded the two points da Silva could have scored otherwise, plus the subsequent free throw due to Caruso being T'd up.

That sequence assisted Orlando's comeback effort. The Magic drew within one point of the Thunder by halftime. Then they pulled in front early in the third quarter.

But the Thunder stormed back andsecured their spot in this year's playoffs. Oklahoma City is the first team during the 2025-26 campaign to punch its ticket to the postseason.

Mark Daigneault's team has won nine games in a row and is now 54-15. The Thunder are gunning for their second straight NBA title.

Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander paced the Thunder with 40 points Tuesday. As for Caruso, he finished with just two points but also eight rebounds and two steals — and one innovative technical foul that raised eyebrows in Orlando and everywhere online.

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March 17, 2026

Thunder's Alex Caruso receives technical foul for using shoe to block shot in win over Magic

After going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2016, Alex Caruso spent the early part of his pro career doing everything h...

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Aden Holloway, Alabama's No. 2 scorer, had 2.1 pounds of marijuana when arrested, authorities say

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway's apartment when they arrested him Monday, according to court records released Tuesday — just below the 2.2-pound threshold for a drug trafficking charge.

Holloway, the No. 2 scorer for the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide, has been suspended indefinitely and is away from the team as it prepares to play Hofstra on Friday in the NCAA Tournament. Among the charges is a count of first-degree marijuana possession, not for personal use, which is a Class C felony and carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000.

Holloway's attorney, Jason Neff, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. But he told ESPN that there is no proof his client was selling the drugs.

Neff told the outlet that it could take 18 months for the case to make its way through the Alabama courts, a process that would jeopardize Holloway's college and possible NBA career.

"He has no criminal history," Neff said. "If he were to plead out or even go to trial, the judge could give him probation. It is a felony. For a 21-year-old man trying to get through college and get to the NBA, a felony issue could be a major issue long term."

Agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force said they knocked on the door of an apartment in Tuscaloosa and were met by Holloway, according to a statement by the arresting officer. After entering the residence, they found "loose marijuana" and a vacuum-sealed bag of the drug in the living room, the statement said.

In Holloway's bedroom, agents say they found more marijuana in a backpack in the closet and also in a suitcase, and a rolling tray with marijuana on it under in the bed. In a spare bedroom, they found a box of marijuana in the closet, according to the court records.

"Holloway stated that he wanted to remain silent, but then stated that he only smokes," according to the officer's statement.

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The total weight of marijuana found in the apartment was 964 grams, "which is approximately 2.1 pounds," it states. More than 2.2 pounds can result in a drug trafficking charge under Alabama law.

Holloway was also charged with failure to affix a tax stamp and was released from jail on a $5,000 bond shortly after his arrest. The university said in a statement that he was "removed from campus pending further investigation by the UA Office of Student Conduct."

Coach Nate Oats said Monday during his weekly radio show that the Crimson Tide were preparing to play without Holloway in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday in Tampa, Florida. Alabama is the No. 4 seed in the Midwest Region.

"We've got standards in our program and ways we've held our guys accountable," Oats said.

"We're certainly disappointed in his behavior," the coach added "That being said, we still love him. He's still our guy and we're helping him get the help that he needs and we're going to help him in any way that we can."

Holloway is in his second season at Alabama. He is averaging 16.8 points per game and leads the Crimson Tide in 3-point shooting, hitting 43.1% from behind the arc. Holloway has started 27 of 28 games that he's played this season. Without him, Alabama (23-9) will be down to nine scholarship players in the NCAA Tournament, where it is a No. 4 seed.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphereandhere(AP News mobile app). AP college basketball:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

byNeo

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March 17, 2026

Aden Holloway, Alabama's No. 2 scorer, had 2.1 pounds of marijuana when arrested, authorities say

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Authorities found 2.1 pounds of marijuana in Alabama basketball star Aden Holloway's apartmen...

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A new U.S. trade deal with Indonesia secures fossil fuels and access to critical minerals

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Anew trade pactbetween Indonesia and the United States has recast their economic ties, binding Jakarta's resource wealth and energy future more closely to Washington's strategic needs.

Indonesia-US Trade Deal-Energy

Indonesia agreed to widen access for U.S. investors in critical minerals, boost its purchases of U.S. crude and liquefied petroleum gas, back the development of an American coal export corridor and cooperate on small modular nuclear reactors.

In turn, the U.S. trimmed a threatened 32% tariff on Indonesian goods to 19% and granted broader access to the American market, including a zero-tariff entry policy for major products such as palm oil, coffee, cocoa, spices and rubber.

Though the U.S. Supreme Court'sruling againstPresident Donald Trump's tariffs may impact how it is implemented. The deal fits with longer term U.S. efforts tosecure critical mineral supply chains, beef up its oil and gas exports andreduce dependence on China.

Meanwhile other export-reliant Southeast Asian economies negotiating with the United States, including Vietnam, are closely watching the Indonesia–U. S. trade deal for clues about the tariff levels and concessions Washington may demand across the region.

Indonesia, theworld's largest nickel producer, has vast mineral reserves needed for electric vehicles and clean energy systems. It'scaught betweenthe conflicting aims of the U.S. and China, a key source of foreign investment and market for Indonesian coal and nickel, analysts say.

China is concentrating on electrification,renewablesand dominance of battery supply chains, while the U.S. is pairing its push for mineral access withmore fossil fuel exports.

Haryo Limanseto of Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, said the deal's energy provisions "balance foreign trade and meet domestic energy needs."

"The leadership of Indonesia is trying to tread a fine line between the West and China," said Putra Adhiguna of the Jakarta-based Energy Shift Institute, adding that Chinese influence is "inescapable" since it is Indonesia's largest trading partner.

US gains a new foothold to Indonesia's minerals

Indonesia has pledged to promote U.S. investment across its mineral industry, from exploration and mining to refining, transport and export. In some cases, American investors will receive treatment "no less favorable" than domestic firms.

Restrictions onexports of critical mineralsto the U.S. will be relaxed to expedite development of Indonesia's rare earths and critical minerals sector with U.S. partners, promising "greater certainty" for companies involved in extraction to help boost production, the agreement says.

Major policy shiftshave altered Indonesia's mining sector in the past six months and the trade deal's new restrictions on existing foreign-owned entities in Indonesia will curb excess output from processing plants. Foreign businesses must follow the same tax, environmental, labor and quota rules as other companies.

Indonesia's critical mineral processing sector is currently dominated by China, which has firms operating or financing multiple nickel smelters and industrial parks.

"Indonesia is absolutely central to this competition because it combines resource endowment with political ambition," said Kevin Zongzhe Li, with the Center for China Analysis within the Asia Society Policy Institute, a New York-based think tank.

Competition over critical minerals is heating up and the agreement "opens the door for U.S. firms to have a real shot" at "modestly leveling a sector where Chinese industries established first mover advantage," he said.

Indonesia to purchase more US energy

Indonesia has agreed to cut red tape so that its companies can more easily purchase U.S. energy products.

It plans to buy $15 billion worth of American energy commodities over an unspecified period, mainly fossil fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas, crude oil and gasoline.

Trump's efforts to persuadeAsian countries to buy more American LNGhas gained momentum during trade talks, withenergy purchasesemerging as a way to narrow trade gaps. It's unclear if the turmoil in oil trading due to the war with Iran might impact that effort.

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Indonesia, one of theworld's top coal exporters, will also invest in developing an export corridor from the U.S. West Coast to help make American coal more competitive in global markets, the agreement says.

Indonesia also pledged to work with the U.S. and Japan to deploy small modular nuclear reactors, starting with a potential project in West Kalimantan.

Shift in energy transition policies

The deal reflects changed U.S. energy priorities under the Trump administration, away from cooperation on reducing Indonesia'sclimate change-causing emissions.

In 2022, Indonesiajoined the Just Energy Transition Partnership, a multi-billion deal where the U.S. and other wealthy nations pledged support for reducing coal use and expanding clean energy. Theprogram was falteringeven beforeTrump withdrewfrom it last year.

Despite the U.S. withdrawal, Indonesian officials said the $21.4 billion partnership will continue. As of January, at least $3.4 billion, around 15%, of the funds had been received, according to Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesia's minister for economic affairs.

Adhiguna said the deal's biggest impact may be political, with Jakarta emulating the U.S. emphasis on fossil fuel use.

"There is the risk that the political leadership of Indonesia is going to fall back into that hole," Adhiguna said.

That will mean still slower progress in areas like solar energy.

Over the past five years, tropical, sunny Indonesia has installed less than 1 gigawatt of solar energy — compared with roughly2 GW in Vietnamand nearly60 GW in India. The International Energy Agency found that fossil fuels, like coal, oil and natural gas, made up nearly 78% of Indonesia's energy mix in 2023.

Indonesia should prioritize building 100 GW of solar and storage capacity and expand interconnection grids to enable renewable energy sharing, said Dinita Setyawati, with the United Kingdom-registered energy think tank Ember.

Tariff strike down creates confusion

The deal's future has been clouded by the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling against Trump'ssweeping global tariffs, just after the agreement was reached —casting doubton the durability of his trade strategy. The agreement requires ratification by Indonesia's parliament before it can take effect.

That adds another "layer of uncertainty," said Meha Sitepu, with the Washington-based strategic advisory firm The Asia Group.

Some provisions of the agreement are drawing criticism, including those that are seen as diluting Indonesia's halal certification requirements in the mostly Muslim country of nearly 288 million, Southeast Asia's most populous nation.

"Parliamentary approval could be an uphill battle and added uncertainty from the U.S. side may complicate things further," Sitepu said.

Delgado reported from Bangkok, Thailand. Associated Press writerEdna Tariganin Jakarta contributed to this report.

The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP'sstandardsfor working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas atAP.org.

byNeo

in

March 17, 2026

A new U.S. trade deal with Indonesia secures fossil fuels and access to critical minerals

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Anew trade pactbetween Indonesia and the United States has recast their economic ties, binding Jaka...

Read More