Howell resigned from his post late Thursday amid rising criticisms at the NFLPA and concerns about Howell's potential conflicts of interest.

Thursday night’s news that NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell has resigned isn’t necessarily the end. It’s possibly the beginning of a two-step process that will result in the NFLPA severing ties with the man most identified with the hiring of Howell in the first place.

The NFLPA fired arbitrator Sidney Moreland on Wednesday, just months after he ruled against the union in a grievance concerning comments made by former NFLPA president JC Tretter, according to Sportico. The news comes on the same day Moreland's ruling was obtained by journalists Mike Florio and Pablo Torre.