Tagliabue Says He'll "Disappear" After Sept. 1 Changeover

NEW YORK--Outgoing NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said here today that he plans "to disappear" from league operations after being succeeded by Roger Goodell on Sept. 1.

Tagliabue, who's winding up a nearly 17-year reign as commissioner, is to remain a senior adviser to the league under the terms of his contract. But he said in a meeting with reporters this morning in a board room at the NFL's Park Avenue offices that he intends to stay out of Goodell's way.

"I think generally the best way to run an organization is for the person who is running it to be in charge and for the people who had been running it previously to disappear," Tagliabue said.

Tagliabue called Goodell, the league's chief operating officer was elected Tagliabue's successor by the NFL's team owners 13 days ago, highly qualified. He said he will be available to consult with Goodell on Goodell's terms.

He said his final day as commissioner will be Aug. 31, and Goodell officially will take charge at 6 a.m. on Sept. 1.

By Mark Maske |  August 21, 2006; 1:19 PM ET  | Category:  Commissioner
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