Report: Upshaw had evidence against Vincent

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The man that Troy Vincent is hoping to succeed as executive director of the NFL Players Association had evidence of improper conduct by Vincent, according to a published report.

SI.com reported that the late Gene Upshaw had proof that Vincent had revealed confidential information about player agents.

Citing sources, SI.com reported that Upshaw, the former executive director who died in August of pancreatic cancer, had collected numerous e-mails from Vincent and was prepared to confront him about using such privileged information.

The union on Tuesday retained a lawyer to determine whether Vincent - one of three candidates in contention to succeed Upshaw as executive director - improperly revealed information about player agents. Yablonski has worked with the NFLPA as an outside counsel in the past.

"We have retained outside legal counsel to look into this matter and we will be taking the appropriate steps, including written notification to any agent who may be affected," the union said in a statement.

"Counsel is also investigating, what, if anything, was done with any personal information that may have been transmitted."

Vincent, a former cornerback for the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, is a finalist along with former NFLPA president and current agent Trace Armstrong and Washington-based lawyer DeMaurice Smith.

The union's new leader will be selected by vote at the NFLPA's annual general meeting in Hawaii next month.