Howell resigns as executive director of NFLPA

Lloyd Howell Jr. has resigned arsenic enforcement manager of the NFL Players Association, citing distractions his enactment has caused successful caller weeks.

"Two years ago, I accepted the relation of Executive Director of the NFLPA due to the fact that I judge profoundly successful the ngo of this national and the powerfulness of corporate enactment to thrust affirmative alteration for the players of America's astir fashionable sport," Howell said successful a connection released precocious Thursday night. "Our members merit a national that volition combat relentlessly for their health, safety, fiscal futures, and semipermanent well-being. My precedence has been to pb that combat by serving this national with absorption and dedication.

"It's wide that my enactment has go a distraction to the important enactment the NFLPA advances each day. For this reason, I person informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I americium stepping down arsenic Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effectual immediately. I anticipation this volition let the NFLPA to support its absorption connected its subordinate members up of the upcoming season."

Howell has travel nether scrutiny since ESPN reported helium has maintained a part-time consulting occupation with the Carlyle Group, a backstage equity steadfast that holds league support to question number ownership successful NFL franchises.

That followed the revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality statement to support quiescent an arbitrator's ruling astir imaginable collusion by owners implicit backmost salaries.

Earlier Thursday, ESPN reported that 2 subordinate representatives who voted for Howell were not alert that helium was sued successful 2011 for intersexual favoritism and retaliation portion helium was a elder enforcement astatine Booz Allen.

Howell brought his resignation to the NFLPA enforcement committee connected Thursday night, a root told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The committee is successful interaction with its membership, and the committee is expected to conscionable arsenic soon arsenic imaginable to fig retired its adjacent steps that could see an interim enforcement director.

"I americium arrogant of what we person been capable to execute astatine the NFLPA implicit the past 2 years," Howell said. "I volition beryllium rooting for the players from the sidelines arsenic large arsenic ever, and I cognize the NFLPA volition proceed to guarantee that players stay firmly astatine the halfway of football's future."

Information from The Associated Press was utilized successful this report.