A week after rumors reached a fever pitch that Lloyd Howell would be replaced as the executive director of the NFL Players Association, Howell has stepped down. "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,

While the grievance decision had not been reported publicly before Thursday, the league says it informed teams at its March league meeting.