What about Bob?

The most likely internal candidate to succeed Upshaw is NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen. Another potential candidate is outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler.

But don't discount the possibility of an outside candidate to become involved as a potential replacement. A segment of the NFLPA's executive committee lobbied for former Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent to become Upshaw's successor. A subsequent power play among the player reps ensued, and Vincent's name was put on the backburner.

Upshaw eventually named longtime NFLPA staffer Clark Gaines, the former Jets' running back, to become the union's assistant executive director after Doug Allen left the organization.

Union president Kevin Mawae, the former Jets' center who now plays in Tennessee, has been a long-time supporter of Upshaw, and was instrumental in beating back an internal uprising among several player reps who wanted to oust Upshaw.

Now that the union will need to find a replacement, there could be a renewed effort to bring in someone like Vincent, or possibly former NFLPA president Trace Armstrong.