Amid scrutiny, Lloyd Howell out as NFLPA executive director - ESPN

Lloyd Howell Jr. has resigned as executive director of the NFL Players Association, citing distractions his leadership has caused in recent weeks.

«Two years ago, I accepted the role of Executive Director of the NFLPA because I believe deeply in the mission of this union and the power of collective action to drive positive change for the players of America's most popular sport,» Howell said in a statement released late Thursday night. «Our members deserve a union that will fight relentlessly for their health, safety, financial futures, and long-term well-being. My priority has been to lead that fight by serving this union with focus and dedication.

»It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day. For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season."

Howell has come under scrutiny since ESPN reported he has maintained a part-time consulting job with the Carlyle Group, one of a select group of league-approved private equity firms now seeking minority ownership in NFL franchises.

That followed the revelation that the NFLPA and the league had a confidentiality agreement to keep quiet an arbitrator's ruling about possible collusion by owners over quarterback salaries.

Earlier Thursday, ESPN reported that two player representatives who voted for Howell were not aware that he was sued in 2011 for sexual discrimination and retaliation while he was a senior executive at Booz Allen.

Howell brought his resignation to the NFLPA executive