A contentious campaign to succeed the late Gene Upshaw came to an end last weekend when DeMaurice F. Smith was elected the new executive director of the NFL Players Association in Maui, Hawaii. Smith reportedly won the position on the first ballot, according to sources, despite having no significant ties to the NFL. Smith campaigned on promises to maintain the success of the union under his predecessor, while at the same time trying to do more to help retired NFL players. Former player Troy Vincent reportedly finished second in the voting .
See "NFL Players Elect Smith", Mark Maske, The Washington Post, March 16, 2009