At least three candidates will be on the ballot to run against sitting NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith for the union’s top job in an election to be held later this month in Hawaii. Former Navy Admiral and former NFLer John Stufflebeem confirmed last night that he was notified by NFLPA President Eric Winston that he qualified as a candidate for the election. In order to be placed on the ballot, a candidate must receive written nominations from three of the 32 team NFLPA player reps. The other candidates who will face Smith are former NFLer Sean Gilbert and sports attorney Andrew Smith. Potential candidates have until Thursday to get the required three nominations to participate in the election, which will be held March 15. There is no limit on the number of candidates any single team player rep can nominate to run. A candidate must receive a majority, or at least 17 of the 32 votes, to win the election (Liz Mullen, Staff Writer). In Boston, Ben Volin noted Stufflebeem's platform "is different in tone" from some other candidates, as he is "not coming into this election armed with fiery rhetoric or a lawsuit or claims of collusion." Stufflebeem's main objective is to "improve the relationship" between the union and the league and to "gear up" for CBA negotiations in '21. He called repairing the relationship "priority No. 1." Stufflebeem said the successes the union had under late Exec Dir Gene Upshaw was "because of the relationship he had with the commissioners." Stufflebeem: "Since 2009 you can almost chart the chasm that is widening between the league and the PA." He added, "I'm convinced we're headed into a bad place for the long haul if we continue where we are" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/1).
