NFLPA player reps are scheduled to vote to either re-elect union Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith or replace him with one of eight challengers tonight in Maui. Voting is expected to begin at about 6:30pm Maui time. It takes at least 17 of 32 player rep votes to elect the exec dir. Prior to the voting, Smith and the eight challengers -- Michigan-based attorney Jim Acho, NFLPA Senior Dir of Player Services & Development Jason Belser, former NFLers Sean Gilbert and Robert Griffith, entrepreneur Rob London, former NFLPA counsel Arthur McAfee, former NFLer and Navy Admiral John Stufflebeem and attorney Andrew Smith -- will meet with player reps in breakout sessions.
About 15 to 20 reps were expected to meet with each of the candidates in the morning in breakout sessions to ask them any questions they want answered, as well as to interact with them in a smaller group setting. The candidates will have 15 minutes each to present closing statements this afternoon. NFLPA player reps and exec committee members yesterday worked from 7:00am until after 6:00pm listening to presentations from all of the candidates, including the incumbent Smith. Security firm Hillard Heintze yesterday gave player reps a report into the backgrounds of all the candidates.
