The NFL Players Association’s legal issues don’t appear to be going away anytime soon.

Less than a month after Lloyd Howell Jr. stepped down as executive director, the NFLPA on Tuesday placed one of its top attorneys on paid administrative leave, ESPN reported on Thursday.

According to the report, Heather McPhee, associate general counsel for the NFLPA, was put on leave after multiple union employees filed complaints with the human resources department.

The complaints, according to five sources who spoke with ESPN, included allegations of failing to follow supervisors’ directions, bullying coworkers and disrupting the work environment within the union.

ESPN reported that the union retained an outside firm “months ago” to investigate the claims against McPhee, and that those allegations were officially outlined in a letter signed by interim executive director David White on Tuesday.

McPhee, who has held her role since 2009, reportedly wrote several memos warning the NFLPA of potential legal troubles with OneTeam Partners, a $2 billion licensing company owned in part by the NFLPA and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Among McPhee’s reported claims were that OneTeam board members allocated equity shares to themselves as part of a bonus plan. Unrelated allegations of wrongdoing reportedly were made by an MLBPA whistleblower against that union’s head, Tony Clark.

Howell was also accused of a conflict of interest as he served as a consultant for The Carlyle Group, one of a small handful of private equity firms that the NFL has approved to pursue minority ownership in franchises, as well as potential collusion with the league to stem the increasing value of quarterback contracts.

ESPN’s reporting last month also included a former lead outside counsel for the NFLPA, Jim Quinn, calling it “an outrageous conflict for the head of a labor union to have an interest in a third party that is aligned with the NFL.”

Howell ultimately resigned after ESPN reported that receipts from a November 2023 trip taken by Howell showed car service and other costs billed to the NFLPA from Tootsie’s Cabaret, which promotes itself as the world’s largest strip club.

–Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins will not face any formal charges following his arrest for misdemeanor battery/domestic violence on July 12 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Assistant State Attorney Barbara M. Driscoll issued a memorandum on Thursday declining to charge Judkins.

Judkins, 21, was arrested after the alleged victim came forward on July 12 after alleging that her boyfriend, Judkins, committed battery late on July 7 and early on July 8 during a ride in a rental car from Fort Lauderdale International Airport to their hotel.

“This incident was not captured on any video surveillance,” the decline memorandum said. “There are no independent witnesses to the incident. Although the victim had photos showing injuries sustained, there were also videos in that same time frame where no injuries were observed to the victim. Additionally, the victim’s injuries depicted in the photos could be explained by either account of the incident.

“Finally, there was a delayed report of the incident. The delay is problematic as the victim was alone on numerous occasions without the Defendant, had the ability and resources to make the report without his knowledge, but chose not to do so.

“For the reasons set forth above, there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction and this case is being declined.”

Cleveland selected Judkins in the second round (36th overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is the last player unsigned from the draft.

“We have been following developments in the matter which remains under review,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said to media outlets.

Judkins had 194 carries for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 161 yards and two TDs in 16 games last season as Ohio State won the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Ohio State defeated Notre Dame 34-23 in the title game as Judkins rushed 11 times for 100 yards and two TDs and caught a 6-yard TD pass.

In three seasons at Ole Miss (2022-23) and Ohio State, Judkins totaled 739 carries for 3,785 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and 45 TDs, and had 59 receptions for 442 yards and five scores.

–Field Level Media

Matthew Stafford is not ready to practice but head coach Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams anticipate their starting quarterback testing the health of his balky back on Saturday.

Stafford has not participated in training camp because of the back issue. He missed a targeted return-to-practice date on Monday after he tried to throw Saturday and experienced discomfort.

He received an epidural injection and earlier this week was filmed by reporters entering a hyperbaric recovery trailer parked at the team practice facility.

McVay said it’s a “little bit of both” pain tolerance and function Stafford must overcome.

“We’re trying to get our hands around this as well, so I don’t really have much more information other than think we’re trying some different things that are hopefully going to be in alignment with getting him back out on the field,” McVay said Thursday.

McVay said the goal remains having Stafford in the lineup when the Houston Texans visit Los Angeles for Week 1 of the regular season on Sept. 7. That gives the organization three weeks to find answers.

Backup Stetson Bennett IV completed 16 of 24 passes for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception last week in a 32-21 preseason home win over the Dallas Cowboys. Jimmy Garoppolo won’t play in the preseason, McVay stated, and is the likely choice if the Rams need an emergency spot starter for Stafford.

The Rams downplayed rumors the team would be interested in acquiring quarterback Kirk Cousins from the Falcons. Cousins and McVay have a history from their days together in Washington, and former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is Cousins’ current coach in Atlanta, where Michael Penix Jr. is now the starter.

Stafford, 37, was the first overall pick by the Detroit Lions in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Cousins turns 37 next week. He entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2012.

–Field Level Media

Former All-Pro guard Brandon Scherff, who played the last three of his 10 NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, apparently has retired.

An article this month about Scherff’s induction into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame on the Hawkeyes’ website referred to him as “having retired from playing this summer.”

The Iowa native became a free agent in March but had not signed with a team.

“It’s been something I could never dream of,” Scherff said in the article about playing professional football. “Sometimes I would tell my wife that she has to pinch me, because I’m playing a kid’s game, and being able to do it as a job is pretty amazing. Now, having kids and being able to see them after games is absolutely wonderful. So I would say it’s a dream come true. And I will be forever grateful to have had that chance.”

Washington selected Scherff with the fifth overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Scherff started all 140 regular-season games that he played for Washington (2015-21) and Jacksonville (2022-24), as well as four total playoff games.

Scherff was selected first-team All-Pro in 2020, as well as to five Pro Bowls (2016-17, 2019-21) and to the 2015 NFL All-Rookie team.

In his final season at Iowa in 2014, Scherff was the Outland Trophy winner, a first-team All-American and the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year.

–Field Level Media

Aaron Rodgers is out for the Steelers this week, all according to the plan in Pittsburgh, with Mason Rudolph slated to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday.

Rodgers, wide receiver DK Metcalf, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and defensive end Cam Heyward are among the first-team stars who’ll be in street clothes for the Steelers’ second game of the preseason.

Rudolph rejoined the Steelers after one season with the Tennessee Titans and spent most of the offseason operating the starting offense.

Rodgers, who was released by the New York Jets, said he was willing to play if the coaches prefer. But head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier in camp he was not planning to use Rodgers because of his “21 years (experience) and cumulative snap total” in his career.

“If (Tomlin) wants me to play, I’ll play. If not, then I won’t,” Rodgers said. “Preseason football is not necessarily real football, because defenses don’t really do a lot.”

Rodgers, 41, did not play last preseason with the Jets. He completed 5 of 8 passes in his first preseason in New York (2023), his only preseason action since he completed 2 of 4 passes with one TD for the Packers in the 2018 exhibition stretch.

The Steelers beat Jacksonville 31-25 in their preseason opener last week and used Skylar Thompson in relief of Rudolph with Rodgers sporting a jacket and headset on the sideline.

Thompson threw three touchdown passes and completed 20 of 28 attempts for 233 yards.

–Field Level Media

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love was back on the practice field Thursday, casually wearing a red jersey draped over his head and a cast around his surgically repaired left thumb.

Sure, Love didn’t participate in the joint practice with the Colts in Indianapolis, but his presence served as a positive for head coach Matt LaFleur and the rest of the Packers.

“Surgery went well,” LaFleur said. “He’s in great spirits and he’s here with us. So, now it’s just about putting in the work to get the thumb rehabbed.”

LaFleur added that Love is expected to start throwing very soon.

“I wouldn’t say right away, but we anticipate there will be some sort of participation next week,” LaFleur said.

Love hit his hand on a helmet when he was sacked by Jay Tufele in the Packers’ 30-10 loss in their preseason opener against the New York Jets on Saturday.

Malik Willis will be under center in the interim for the Packers, who open their regular season on Sept. 7 at home against NFC North rival Detroit.

Love, 26, passed for 3,389 yards and 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 15 games (all starts) last season.

He has completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 8,154 yards with 60 touchdowns and 25 picks in 42 career games (33 starts) since being selected by the Packers with the 26th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Love is 18-15 as a starter in his career.

–Field Level Media

Cowboys backup quarterback Joe Milton III will start for the second consecutive week when Dallas plays the Baltimore Ravens in Saturday’s preseason matchup.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer made the announcement on Thursday, ending speculation the Cowboys were leaning toward using fellow backup Will Grier before splitting reps next week.

Milton was 17-of-29 for 143 yards in the preseason opener against the Ravens with one TD pass and one interception. Acquired from the New England Patriots and praised for his arm strength and size at 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, Milton is pushing to be the primary backup to Dak Prescott this season.

Owner Jerry Jones on Wednesday did not rule out adding a veteran at quarterback or any other position as roster cuts are made over the next two weeks.

Dallas is trialing available options to replace longtime No. 2 quarterback Cooper Rush, who signed with the Ravens in free agency.

As the Cowboys broke training camp and packed up to leave Oxnard, Calif., for the summer on Thursday, Schottenheimer did not commit to playing Grier in this week’s game.

“You never know, he’ll always have a cigarette in hand,” Schottenheimer said.

Dallas does expect rookie first-round pick Tyler Booker to play after missing last week’s game. Schottenheimer said the Cowboys would need more time to determine whether rookie running back Jaydon Blue and free agent addition Miles Sanders would be able to play against the Ravens.

Milton, 25, was a sixth-round draft pick by New England in 2024. The Cowboys acquired Milton and a 2025 seventh-round pick (No. 217) from the Patriots for a 2025 fifth-round pick in April.

He completed 22 of 29 passes for 241 yards with a touchdown and ran for a score in the only game he played with the Patriots.

–Field Level Media