The NFLPA has "adopted a constitution that creates new leadership positions for players and appears to give them more power while putting checks on the executive director, its top executive," according to Liz Mullen of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. The new constitution "creates the player position of treasurer, which will oversee the finances of the union, and a selection committee to evaluate the executive director and, if necessary, find a new one." The executive director is "no longer the principal administrative officer of the union, but the principal administrative employee." It is "unclear from the document what effects the change might have." Changes to the union’s election process means that Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith "may not have to stand for re-election in March, as he would have had to under the old rules." The changes also mean that Smith or any future executive director will be "subject to what amounts to a vote of confidence from top player union leaders, as well as a formal job assessment process." Under the new constitution, the executive director must "report on goals and accomplishments in the current term no later than Sept. 15 of the year before his or her contract expires." Within two weeks, the executive director must "tell the committee whether he or she wishes to continue to serve after the expiration of the term." The NFLPA’s 11-member executive committee now must "negotiate an employment contract with the executive director with a term not less than three years but not longer than five years." Under the old constitution, there was "no specific term length specified for the position" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/4 issue).
