Thursday night’s news that NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell has resigned isn’t necessarily the end. It’s possibly the beginning of a two-step process that will result in the NFLPA severing ties with the man most identified with the hiring of Howell in the first place.

With NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell abruptly resigning on Thursday night, the NFLPA needs a new executive director. Via Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, the NFLPA executive committee sent this message to players following Howell's announcement: "This evening,