NFL Players Meet to Select Their Union's New Executive Director

NFL players, gathered in Hawaii, were scheduled to vote last night for a new executive director of the players' union to succeed the late Gene Upshaw.

The result of the vote was not available as of early last night.

The four finalists for the job, former NFL players Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong and attorneys DeMaurice F. Smith and David Cornwell, gave presentations to the players on Saturday at a Maui resort where the union is holding its annual meetings.

Each of the candidates was to meet with smaller groups of players before yesterday's vote by the players who serve as union representatives of the 32 teams.

Vincent was viewed by many players as the favorite throughout the search process. But his candidacy was plagued by accusations that he prompted an inquiry by several members of Congress into the union's search, and later that he improperly disclosed confidential information about agents to a business associate.

The union announced that it would investigate the allegation regarding the disclosure of private information about the agents, and a report about the union's investigation was given to the players Saturday. Several people connected to the process said yesterday it was possible the report would create an opening for Smith, a D.C.-based partner at the law firm Patton Boggs, or Armstrong to be elected.

The search process often was contentious and several sources said that tensions remained high in recent days in Hawaii as different factions of players debated procedure matters, including whether the vote would be conducted by secret ballot or roll call.

Upshaw died last August, only days after having pancreatic cancer diagnosed. His successor faces daunting tasks in trying to reunite the players after such a divisive search, and in readying the union for a possible labor confrontation with the NFL's franchise owners.

The owners voted last year to exercise a reopener clause in their labor agreement with the players, ending the deal two years early. The agreement now expires after the 2010 season, and the 2009 season is the final one in the deal with a salary cap. Upshaw predicted before his death that the owners would consider a lockout of the players in 2011.

Vincent and Armstrong are former union presidents. Cornwell was dropped as a candidate by the union's search committee but was reinstated after being nominated by at least three player representatives, as required by union rules.

No Progress in Denver

A meeting Saturday reportedly failed to resolve the differences between Broncos QB Jay Cutler and new coach Josh McDaniels. The Denver Post reported that Cutler and McDaniels exchanged words during the meeting, also attended by GM Brian Xanders and Cutler's agent, Bus Cook.

Cutler has expressed his unhappiness that the Broncos considered recent trade offers that would have put former Patriots QB Matt Cassel in Denver and sent Cutler elsewhere.

-- Mark Maske