A peculiar parking request linked to OJ Simpson has brought yet another layer to Lloyd Howell’s controversial time as the NFL Players Association executive director, which ended recently.
Howell resigned last week and reportedly instructed the facility division at the Washington, DC headquarters to “integrate two spaces in the parking garage” and made a similar request for the lot. ESPN shared this revelation on Wednesday.
In an unusual move, he designated space numbers 10 and 11 for removal, asking for them to be replaced with 32, honoring Simpson.
“I’m not quite sure why OJ,” commented an individual named Jones to ESPN. “I guess everyone has their likes.”
Another source indicated, “We’ve confirmed that Simpson was the inspiration.”
The Hall of Fame athlete, who died in April 2024, was infamously acquitted of charges related to the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman.
Later, in 2008, Simpson received a sentence of up to 33 years stemming from a 2007 armed robbery incident involving sports memorabilia in Las Vegas, but he got parole in 2017.
The troubles for Howell began about a month ago when Pablo Torre reported that there was insufficient evidence to establish a conspiracy. He suggested that the NFL Management Council was influenced by Commissioner Roger Goodell. This came on the heels of the annual owners meeting in March 2022, shortly after quarterback Deshaun Watson secured a guaranteed contract worth $230 million with the Browns.
Earlier this month, ESPN detailed that Howell and other leaders of the union had signed contracts with the NFL that concealed important verdict details.
A string of reports from ESPN resulted in escalating issues for Howell.
He has served as a consultant for Carlisle Group, one of several private equity firms approved by the NFL, and raised worries about profit disagreements. Howell mentioned his role to ESPN on Monday.
In another report, it was noted that Howell faced a lawsuit in 2011 for sexual discrimination and retaliation from an employee at Booz Allen, where he worked for 34 years as an executive. This lawsuit was reportedly settled in 2015.
Moreover, a third ESPN report revealed that investigators hired by the NFLPA found Howell had made two visits to strip clubs.
