NFLPA Officials Seeking New Exec Dir By Early Next Year

NFLPA Aims To Appoint Upshaw Successor In '09

NFL players indicated that NFLPA officials are "discussing plans to launch a search for an executive director to replace the late Gene Upshaw early next year," according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. Players on the NFLPA's 10-member exec committee said that they "hope to speak via conference call in the coming days to discuss the possibility of beginning the search." Free agent WR Keenan McCardell, a member of the committee, said, "We're still grieving. But we know there's business at hand. We put [Interim Exec Dir] Richard Berthelsen in charge because he's so close to everything that's going on. But that process will start." One player said that it is "possible the choice could be made sooner, perhaps around Jan. 1, and ratified at the March vote" during the union's annual meetings. Several players have said that they "expect former NFL players Troy Vincent, Trace Armstrong and Robert Smith to be top candidates." An anonymous player said, "I would say it's Trace and Troy, and then we'll see if someone else emerges during the process" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/26).