July 18 (UPI) -- Lloyd Howell announced his resigned from his role as NFLPA executive director amid multiple controversies, which surfaced through reporting in recent months. Howell said it was clear that his "leadership has become a distraction to the important work" of the union. He informed the union's executive committee Thursday night that he was stepping down, effective immediately. "Two years ago, I accepted the role of executive director of the NFLPA because I believe deeply in the