Latest news with #DeMauriceSmith
New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Timeline of Lloyd Howell's tenure as NFLPA executive director from election to resignation
Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned from his post as executive director of the NFL Players Association late Thursday night amid rising criticisms at the NFLPA and concerns about Howell's potential conflicts of interest. As executive director, Howell, 59, was tasked with protecting and advancing the interests of active NFL players. He was elected in 2023 to replace DeMaurice Smith, who had held the role since 2009. Advertisement A graduate of Harvard Business School, Howell spent the bulk of his career climbing the ranks at Booz Allen Hamilton, a D.C.-based defense contractor and consulting firm with expertise in cybersecurity, engineering and espionage. He spent time there as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Like his predecessor Smith, Howell took the executive director role with no previous connection to the NFL. At the time, that background generated excitement within the NFLPA about Howell's potential to bridge the varied interests of membership in an uphill battle against ownership and the commissioner. Two years later, controversies led to Howell's abrupt departure before he was able to negotiate his first collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA expires in March 2031. Here is a timeline of Howell's tenure as executive director from his election to his resignation. June 28, 2023: The NFLPA elected Howell as executive director following a 16-month search that was criticized for its lack of transparency. At least three former NFL players were considered for the role, as reported by The Athletic — Matt Schaub, Domonique Foxworth and Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. — but Howell's hiring proved that on-field NFL experience was neither a requirement nor an emphasis. Howard became the NFLPA's fourth leader since the league's merger in 1970. June 22, 2025: The Athletic reported that an official inside the NFLPA raised concerns that union officials, including Howell, could potentially enrich themselves via OneTeam Partners, a company that licenses athletes' name, image and likeness rights. Federal authorities are involved in an ongoing investigation into OneTeam Partners and union officials, as first reported by ESPN on May 30. June 24: The 'Pablo Torre Finds Out' podcast and Pro Football Talk published the findings of a 61-page arbitration ruling that investigated collusion by the NFL concerning guaranteed player contracts. In the decision, arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled there wasn't sufficient evidence of collusion, but details of the report included findings that league executives had urged team owners to reduce guaranteed player compensation. Advertisement July 9: ESPN reported that the NFLPA had a confidentiality agreement with the NFL that hid information in the aforementioned arbitration decision. Some players told the outlet they were surprised by the details of the ruling and unsure why the union kept it from them. An NFLPA source confirmed that Howell and the union plan to appeal the arbitration ruling. July 10: Reports surfaced that Howell is also a paid, part-time consultant for The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that the NFL approved to pursue minority ownership stakes in franchises. Howell joined The Carlyle Group in March 2023, three months before his election as NFLPA executive director. Two sources with knowledge of the NFLPA's selection and hiring process told The Athletic that NFLPA leadership knew about Howell's work with the firm and the union's legal team and an independent search firm vetted Howell to ensure there were no conflicts of interest. In August 2024, one year into Howell's tenure, the NFL approved private equity minority investors. Four sources with knowledge of the situation said that when it became apparent The Carlyle Group would have an opportunity to invest in the NFL, discussions took place about Howell's position with the firm. Legal teams for both the NFLPA and The Carlyle Group determined Howell's work with aerospace and defense was far enough removed from the side of the business that would work with the NFL that he wasn't at risk of a conflict of interest. July 13: The NFLPA executive committee sent a message in support of Howell to members and rejected reports that Howell had been asked to step down. July 17: A second arbitration ruling came to light, this one involving a grievance won by the NFL against the NFLPA over fake injuries. The original grievance, filed in 2023, stemmed from a comment made by former union president and current NFLPA chief strategy officer JC Tretter in which he suggested players could fake injuries as a contract-negotiation tactic. A decision was reached on Feb. 20 in which arbitrator Sidney Moreland determined Tretter's comments violated the CBA. Advertisement Additionally, ESPN reported inconsistencies over players' knowledge of a sexual discrimination and retaliation lawsuit made against Howell while he was a senior executive at Booz Allen in 2011. Two player representatives who voted for Howell told ESPN they were surprised to learn about the lawsuit, while two other players who sat on the union's executive committee that vetted and chose Howell as a finalist said the existence of the lawsuit was shared with all player reps at the 2023 election meeting. The lawsuit was settled in July 2015 for an undisclosed sum, per ESPN. Late in the evening, Howell announced his resignation via a statement from the NFLPA. 'It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day,' Howell wrote. '… I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.' A source briefed on the procedure told The Athletic that the NFLPA executive board plans to meet in the coming days to discuss next steps and name an interim executive director, though the interim executive director is not expected to get the full-time job.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
De Smith's upcoming book takes shots at Roger Goodell, Jerry Jones, Jeff Pash
Turf Wars, the upcoming book from former NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, contains several blunt characterizations regarding some of the management folks with whom he did battle during his years on the job. Via Daniel Kaplan of the book has choice words for three of the folks he dealt with. Advertisement Smith describes Commissioner Roger Goodell as a "cold, dark void." As to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Smith says this: 'If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he'd stop and pick it up.' Then there's former NFL general counsel Jeff Pash. Smith calls Pash "definitely the most unscrupulous." "In a corporation filled with ruthless people, Pash has everyone else beat," Smith said. Ruthless or not, Pash gave life to the collusion grievance that was resolved earlier this year via a 61-page ruling by putting in writing things he should have discussed with Goodell verbally. The paper trail of emails from Pash to Goodell and Goodell to Pash made it clear that the NFL and the Management Council wanted the teams to collude when it comes to limiting guarantees in player contracts. Advertisement Turf Wars will be released on August 5. If/when we get an advance copy, we'll likely have plenty more to say about the contents of a book that seems to be far closer to scorched earth than smooched ass.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Aaron Rodgers was 'isolated and dismissive' during tense labor talks, ex-union chief writes in scathing memoir
Aaron Rodgers was 'isolated and dismissive' in union meetings and made a dramatic departure from one after expelling a loud groan, according to former NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith. As reported by Awful Announcing, Smith's upcoming book Turf Wars centers on his time as head of the NFLPA from 2009 until 2023, when Rodgers was winning four MVP awards and a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers publicly disagreed with the 2020 collective bargaining agreement that allowed for the expanded 17-game season. He also showed his displeasure during NFLPA meetings with his behavior, according to Smith. 'The god of Cheesehead Nation was isolated and dismissive,' Smith wrote. 'He sat in the back row of the meeting room, issuing loud sighs before standing for a dramatic exit,' Smith continued. 'An incredible quarterback, to be sure, but an even more impressive antagonist.' Smith, a strong proponent of the adopted 17-game regular season, clearly found Rodgers difficult to work with. 'In August 2021, my phone chirped with a text from Aaron Rodgers,' Smith wrote. 'Can you call me?' it read. Could I not run into traffic instead?' Rodgers is now embarking on his first and likely only season with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a disastrous two-year stint with the New York Jets. He wasn't the only quarterback criticized in Smith's book. Smith also quoted then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins on the topic of players kneeling during the national anthem in protest of racist police brutality. 'I just think we all need to understand,' Cousins said, according to Smith, 'that kneeling may be hurting the game and having an effect on revenue.' Smith remembers Cousins as the only white player in the room later getting an earful from union official Don Davis, who is African American. 'Kirk,' Davis began, according to Smith, 'do you know what the Black players hear when you say that? That the n*****s need to shut up.'' Smith saved some of his greatest jabs for NFL owners (a 'cabal of greedy billionaires') and commissioner Roger Goodell, whom he says 'was in the employ of madmen.' 'If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground,' Smith wrote of the Dallas Cowboys owner, 'I truly believe he'd stop and pick it up.' He writes of league general counsel Jeff Pash, 'definitely the most unscrupulous. In a corporation filled with ruthless people, Pash has everyone else beat.' A former litigator, Smith was brought into the union in 2009 following the sudden death of executive director and Oakland Raiders legend Gene Upshaw. Smith has faced criticism over a stagnant salary cap over the earlier part of his tenure, but players have enjoyed a far greater share of league profits in recent years. He also takes credit in his book for limiting practices and installing a salary floor to thwart cheapskate owners.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aaron Rodgers Slammed By Ex-NFLPA Head For Being 'Dismissive' And 'Isolated'
Former NFL Players Association (NFLPA) executive director DeMaurice Smith has taken a swipe at Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers, describing him as "isolated and dismissive." Smith's comments come over a month after the controversial quarterback was accused by his ex-girlfriend, Danica Patrick, of being "emotionally abusive." Advertisement Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers finally signed with a new NFL team after being fired by the New York Jets following a two-year run. DeMaurice Smith Criticizes Aaron Rodgers As 'Isolated And Dismissive' Tammie Arroyo / / MEGA Former NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has slammed Aaron Rodgers in his upcoming book Turf Wars," describing the quarterback as "isolated and dismissive." Smith ran the association from 2009 to 2023 but faced difficulties as Rodgers increasingly became a vocal critic of the 2020 collective bargaining agreement, voting against it with dissent over the 17-game season. "The god of Cheesehead Nation was isolated and dismissive," Smith wrote about Rodgers in his upcoming book. Advertisement "He sat in the back row of the meeting room, issuing loud sighs before standing for a dramatic exit," Smith continued, per Awful Announcing. "An incredible quarterback, to be sure, but an even more impressive antagonist." The Quarterback Was Called 'Emotionally Abusive' RCF / MEGA Describing how off-putting he found the star's character, DeMaurice Smith wrote in his book: "In August 2021, my phone chirped with a text from Aaron Rodgers. 'Can you call me?' it read. Could I not run into traffic instead?" Rodgers isn't the only one Smith criticized in his book, as he also described league commissioner Roger Goodell as a "cold, dark void." Advertisement He fired shots at polarizing Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, writing, "If Jerry Jones saw a dollar bill on the ground, I truly believe he'd stop and pick it up." Smith's critical remark about Rodgers in particular doesn't come as a surprise, as the four-time NFL MVP has long been known for his controversial and outspoken nature on various topics, both on and off the field. The 41-year-old quarterback's character was called into question recently when his ex-girlfriend, Danica Patrick, labeled him "emotionally abusive" and said the relationship with the footballer "wore [her] down to nothing." Aaron Rodgers Recently Signed With The Pittsburgh Steelers MEGA Smith's comments about Rodgers in his upcoming book come almost a month after the quarterback finally signed with a new NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, after a two-year run with the New York Jets. Advertisement NFL Network insider, Ian Rapoport, confirmed the signing back on June 5 in an X post, writing, "Aaron Rodgers plans to sign with the #Steelers, per The Insiders. It'll be a 1-year deal. At long last, the four-time MVP lands in his best spot." On June 7, Rodgers made it official, as he signed his contract, reportedly worth $13.65 million, with $10 million already guaranteed, at the Steelers' facility. Why The Quarterback Took Time Making His NFL Decision MEGA During a chat on "The Pat McAfee Show" in April, the quarterback, who recently got married to his wife, Brittani, shared why he was holding off on making a decision regarding his future in the NFL. Advertisement Rodgers noted at the time that he was focusing on helping people in his inner circle navigate some "difficult stuff." Knowing his remarks could be misconstrued, Roders clarified that he wasn't trying to "string anybody along" or "hold anybody hostage" by delaying his decision. "I've had constraints in my life right now that warrant my attention," the footballer doubled down, per the New York Post. Aaron Rodgers Gets Brutally Honest About Being Axed From The New York Jets MEGA During his chat with McAfee, Rodgers also broke his silence about his departure from the Jets, stating that he was surprised about how the matter was handled. Advertisement He recalled flying out to meet with the team's showrunners to discuss his future, but the meeting was brief and ended with him being let go. "The confusing thing to me is I went out there, I meet with the coach [Aaron Glenn] we start talking… he runs out of the room. I'm like 'that's strange,'" Rodgers recalled. "Then he comes back with the GM, and I'm like, 'all right.' So we sit down and I think we're going to have this long conversation, and 20 seconds in and he [Glenn] goes: 'You sure you wanna play football?' And I said 'yes' and he said 'we're going in another direction at quarterback.'" MEGA Reflecting further on the incident, Rodgers said he was "shocked" by how things unfolded, as he had made an effort to fly out for the meeting. Advertisement "I was shocked because.. I flew halfway across the country, and you could have told me this on the phone," he noted. "They said, 'We just want to know how you want it released,' 'I said, 'I don't give a sh-t about the message,'" Rodgers added.
NBC Sports
03-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Former NFLPA executive director Smith writes book
Mike Florio talks about former NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith releasing a new book titled "Turf Wars," explaining why "there's a lot of questions to be answered and nobody's trying to get the answers."
