Lloyd Howell's resignation Thursday night as executive director of the NFL Players Association was not that much of a surprise. For weeks, ever since the secret documents from the NFL-NFLPA collusion grievance were leaked,

NFL players’ union executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. resigned in a statement late Thursday night after heavy scrutiny of the NFLPA’s recent activity revealed Howell to be unfit for

Lloyd Howell Jr. stepped down as executive director of the NFL Players Association on Thursday night following weeks of scrutiny for multiple blunders, including a reported conflict of interest, a decision to hide key parts of an arbitration ruling from the players and new revelations about expensing strip-club trips back to the union.

The NFLPA is void of an executive director as training camps get underway. What's next for the union after the resignation of Lloyd Howell?

NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell has announced that he is stepping down from his role. In recent weeks, Howell has been at the center of controversy, including for his work as a paid consultant for a private equity firm approved to invest in the NFL.

ESPN reported that Howell also works as a consultant with The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm seeking minority NFL ownership stakes.

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

Howell had been under intense scrutiny in a series of recent controversies and leaves the job after two years.