Lloyd Howell 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, a private equity firm that holds league approval to seek 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.

The latest issue was an ESPN report Thursday that revealed 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.

TOP EDGE RUSHERS

Myles Garrett is a four-time All-Pro, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the only player to register 14 sacks in four straight seasons.

The Cleveland Browns’ star’s dominant stretch earned him the No. 1 edge rusher spot in a preseason survey by The Associated Press. A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at the position, basing selections on current status entering the 2025 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.

Garrett received five first-place votes, two seconds and one third. Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson got two first-place votes and Micah Parsons of Dallas received the other. Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt, who on Thursday became the game’s highest paid defensive player, finished second overall, one point ahead of Parsons. Hendrickson came in fourth and San Francisco’s Nick Bosa finished fifth.

Nik Bonitto (Denver), Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit), Kyle Van Noy (Baltimore) and Maxx Crosby (Raiders) also received votes.

TOP TACKLES

Lane Johnson didn’t allow a sack in 2024, anchoring one of the NFL’s best offensive line units and helping the Philadelphia Eagles win their second Super Bowl.

The six-time Pro Bowl pick and two-time All-Pro was selected the No. 1 offensive tackle in a preseason survey by The AP panel.

Johnson, who plays right tackle, received three first-place votes and four thirds. Teammate Jordan Mailata, who plays the left side, also got three first-place votes. Detroit’s Penei Sewell and San Francisco’s Trent Williams also received one first apiece.

Mailata finished second and Tristan Wirfs of Tampa Bay came in third, followed by Sewell and Williams.