NFLPA Interviews DeMaurice Smith, Narrows Exec Dir Choices

DC Lawyer Smith A Finalist For NFLPA Exec Dir Job

DeMaurice Smith, a high-profile trial attorney and former assistant U.S. Attorney from DC, is the mystery ninth candidate who was interviewed earlier this week for the position of NFLPA Exec Dir, sources said, and he is still in the running. Although it is not clear exactly how many candidates remain, sources said that former players Troy Vincent, Trace Armstrong, Jim Covert and Ben Utt, as well as Smith, are still being considered for the post. Attempts to reach all of those former NFL player candidates for comment were unsuccessful. “We can’t comment on the NFL Players Association’s search for its next executive director,” said Rebecca Carr, Dir of Media Relations at Patton Boggs, a DC-based law firm where Smith is a partner. Smith appears to be one of three candidates who did not play in the NFL who was interviewed for the job. One of the other two, Entergy New Orleans President & CEO Rod West, told SportsBusiness Journal late last night that he was no longer in the running. “While I am no longer a candidate for the position, I was extremely honored to have been considered. I wish them success in the selection process,” West said in a statement he e-mailed to SportsBusiness Journal.

THE SEARCH CONTINUES: As previously reported, athlete attorney David Cornwell, the third candidate who did not play in the NFL, confirmed yesterday that he is no longer in the selection process. While other media outlets have reported that eight candidates were interviewed for the job Monday and Tuesday in Dallas, sources said that the number was actually nine and Smith’s name was being kept tightly under wraps. The list of candidates is expected to be cut again over the next few weeks, and three or four candidates are expected to give presentations to the 32 NFL player reps in Maui in March. The player reps will then vote on who will succeed the late Gene Upshaw (Kaplan & Mullen, SportsBusiness Journal).

NARROWING DOWN THE FIELD: Former NFLPA Player President Mike Kenn has been cut from the list of candidates. "I will confirm I am no longer a candidate," Kenn said in a brief telephone interview with SportsBusiness Journal. It is not clear if former NFLer John Spagnola is still in that mix (Mullen). In DC, Mark Maske cites sources as saying the committee has eliminated Spagnola as a candidate. Maske wrote Kenn’s “elimination comes as a bit of a surprise to some observers,” as he "was regarded by some people familiar with the search as a possible compromise choice if the players couldn’t settle on either Armstrong or Vincent” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/21).