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CTV News
3 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
NFLPA head Lloyd Howell Jr. steps down amid reports he expensed trips to strip clubs
NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr., seen here in New Orleans on Feb 5, has stepped down from his role amid various controversies, including reports that he expensed the union for trips to strip clubs. (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Imagn Images/Reuters/File via CNN Newsource) NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr. has stepped down from his role amid various controversies, including reports on Friday that he expensed the union for trips to strip clubs. 'It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day,' Howell said in a statement late on Thursday night. 'For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.' When contacted by CNN, the NFLPA declined to comment. CNN has also reached out to Howell Jr., through the union. According to Reuters, which cited ESPN, receipts from a trip taken by Howell in November 2023 showed that the NFLPA was billed for a car service and other costs by Tootsie's Cabaret in Miami, which claims to be the largest strip club in the world. Citing ESPN, Reuters also reported that a second strip club bill was also reviewed by the NFLPA's lawyers, relating to a reported trip in February during the NFLPA summit and itemizing US$2,426 in charges, which included cash withdrawals from a club ATM ranging between $200 and $525. Howell reportedly earned between $3.5 million and $4 million in his role with the NFLPA. That was not the only controversy which Howell has become embroiled in during the last two weeks. Citing ESPN, Reuters reported that alongside his commitments to the NFLPA, Howell also held a part-time consultancy role with The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that the NFL reportedly approved to pursue minority ownership in NFL franchises. This has been viewed by many as a serious conflict of interest. On top of that, Reuters – citing ESPN – also reported that Howell had decided to keep NFL players in the dark over an arbitration ruling on suspected collusion between team owners. Amid concerns that owners were coming together to reduce the growth of quarterback contracts, arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled there was not sufficient evidence to support the claims, per Reuters. However, he added that 'by a clear preponderance of the evidence,' the NFL's general counsel, along with commissioner Roger Goodell, did encourage owners to restrict guaranteed money in player contracts, the agency reported. According to reports, Howell and the NFLPA had a confidentiality agreement with the NFL designed to stop the full report from leaking. Although Howell did brief players on the matter, he did not give them copies of the report, according to Reuters, which cited ESPN. 'I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish at the NFLPA over the past two years,' Howell added in his statement. 'I will be rooting for the players from the sidelines as loud as ever, and I know the NFLPA will continue to ensure that players remain firmly at the center of football's future.' By Jamie Barton, CNN
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
NFLPA head Lloyd Howell Jr. steps down amid reports he expensed trips to strip clubs
NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Executive Director Lloyd Howell Jr. has stepped down from his role amid various controversies, including reports on Friday that he expensed the union for trips to strip clubs. 'It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day,' Howell said in a statement late on Thursday night. 'For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season.' CNN has reached out the NFLPA and to Howell Jr., through the union, for comment. According to Reuters, which cited ESPN, receipts from a trip taken by Howell in Novemember 2023 showed that the NFLPA was billed for a car service and other costs by Tootsie's Cabaret in Miami, which claims to be the largest strip club in the world. Citing ESPN, Reuters also reported that a second strip club bill was also reviewed by the NFLPA's lawyers, relating to a reported trip in February during the NFLPA summit and itemizing $2,426 in charges, which included cash withdrawals from a club ATM ranging between $200 and $525. Howell reportedly earned between $3.5 million and $4 million in his role with the NFLPA. That was not the only controversy which Howell has become embroiled in during the last two weeks. Citing ESPN, Reuters reported that alongside his commitments to the NFLPA, Howell also held a part-time consultancy role with The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm that the NFL reportedly approved to pursue minority ownership in NFL franchises. This has been viewed by many as a serious conflict of interest. On top of that, Reuters – citing ESPN – also reported that Howell had decided to keep NFL players in the dark over an arbitration ruling on suspected collusion between team owners. Amid concerns that owners were coming together to reduce the growth of quarterback contracts, arbitrator Christopher Droney ruled there was not sufficient evidence to support the claims, per Reuters. However, he added that 'by a clear preponderance of the evidence,' the NFL's general counsel, along with commissioner Roger Goodell, did encourage owners to restrict guaranteed money in player contracts, the agency reported. According to reports, Howell and the NFLPA had a confidentiality agreement with the NFL designed to stop the full report from leaking. Although Howell did brief players on the matter, he did not give them copies of the report, according to Reuters, which cited ESPN. 'I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish at the NFLPA over the past two years,' Howell added in his statement. 'I will be rooting for the players from the sidelines as loud as ever, and I know the NFLPA will continue to ensure that players remain firmly at the center of football's future.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Disgraced former NFLPA boss reportedly used union funds for jaunts at strip clubs
In a hilarious new turn, it was revealed on Friday that disgraced former NFLPA head Lloyd Howell Jr. used union funds for excursions to strip clubs. In a new report from ESPN, the outlet revealed that an NFLPA-appointed investigator looking into Howell Jr.'s questionable decisions as leader of the union received some interesting expense reports and documents recently. The reports and receipts showed proof that Howell Jr. used money from the association to fund nights out at multiple strip clubs. An NFLPA-funded jaunt last year was discovered when a union finance worker noticed the nearly $800 bill he charged for a car service. The cost wasn't for a long drive. It was for the driver to wait eight hours at an address in Miami Gardens. The worker then looked up the location and discovered it was Tootsie's Cabaret in Miami Gardens, FL. A 76,000-square-foot strip club that bills itself as the world's largest gentleman's club that is 'full nude and No. 1 rated.' A year later, expense reports showed he and two NFLPA employees used union funds for a trip to an Atlanta strip club, Magic City. The visit that occurred during the union's summit in February saw the trio allegedly charge over $2,000 on NFLPA accounts. 'According to the expense report, the purpose of the strip club outing: 'Player Engagement Event to support & grow our Union,'' ESPN reported. The employees reviewing the report flagged the reports and receipts to the travel department for further review. The head of the department then forwarded the documents union lawyers for a deeper look at, according to sources the outlet spoke with. Howell Jr. abruptly resigned from his post this week following weeks of criticism over his leadership, as well as a serious conflict of interest. The former attorney was working as a part-time consultant for the Carlyle Group, an NFL-approved private equity firm seeking minority ownership in NFL franchises. Also Read:: Highest paid NFL players 2025: Highest paid NFL quarterbacks, highest paid players by position Related Headlines '1 Percent Chance': Pirates Reporter Shares Bleak Take on Paul Skenes Extension Prospects Yankees Expected 'To Get After It' Before Trade Deadline: 6 Blockbuster Trade Targets, Including Chris Sale Top MLB reporter: Teams Will 'Laugh At' Luis Robert Jr. If He Makes This Demand Did Kyle Schwarber's All-Star Game Heroics Drive Up His Price With Free Agency Looming?
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Report: Lloyd Howell charged NFLPA for strip club visits
The enhanced scrutiny focused on Lloyd Howell Jr.'s tenure as the NFL Players Association's executive director isn't going away, even after he resigned from the position. ESPN reported Friday afternoon that an union-hired outside investigation into Howell found he submitted expense reports charging the union for two visits to strip clubs. One report from November 2023 showed a charge of more than $700 for a car service that took Howell from Fort Lauderdale Airport to Tootsie's Cabaret – "the world's largest strip club spanning over 76,000 square feet," according to its website – in Miami Gardens around 10:30 p.m. Howell reportedly hired the driver to "wait seven hours outside" before taking Howell back home to Sunny Isles Beach at 6 a.m., according to a receipt, as reported by ESPN. NFL, NFLPA EXPLAINER: What to know about grievances, Lloyd Howell, next steps Earlier this year, Howell again traveled to a strip club on the union's dime, ESPN reported. This time, he and two employees visited Magic City in Atlanta as part of what the expense report called a "Player Engagement Event." He and the employees spent a reported $2,426 that night "including cash withdrawals, ranging from $200 to $525, from a club ATM," according to ESPN. One expense report requested a reimbursement of $736 for charges for "secluded sections for our Player Members" – ESPN noted that the NFLPA visitors used two "VIP rooms" at Magic City – as well as food and alcoholic beverages. The names of the "Player Members" were kept off the report. A former union employee reportedly told ESPN that strip clubs or other venues are not explicitly excluded from reimbursements. "But I don't think anyone in their right mind would think that is an optically good scenario," the employee went on to say. LLOYD HOWELL: NFLPA executive director resigns after multiple controversies Howell's strip club activities – and tendency to charge the company card for it – are reportedly not a new phenomenon. ESPN also reported that Howell had been investigated for a similar incident while at his prior employer, technology consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, in 2015. The sports media company wrote that Howell attended a strip club in New York City that year with a senior vice president of the company. When the senior VP submitted an expense report seeking reimbursement for the "thousands of dollars" the two had spent at the club, Booz Allen fired the VP and reprimanded Howell. The company promoted Howell to its chief financial officer position the following year. Howell resigned from his position as the executive director of the NFLPA Wednesday night after just over two years serving in the role. He said in a statement, "It's clear that my leadership has become a distraction to the important work the NFLPA advances every day. For this reason, I have informed the NFLPA Executive Committee that I am stepping down as Executive Director of the NFLPA and Chairman of the Board of NFL Players effective immediately. "I hope this will allow the NFLPA to maintain its focus on its player members ahead of the upcoming season." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lloyd Howell charged strip club visits to union expense report
