Figuring out life after Tags, the T.O.-Parcells marriage

	Readers were split down the middle on whether Terrell Owens would be able to adjust to life under Bill Parcells in Dallas. Al Tielemans/SI
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Ten days ago, I talked to a weary-sounding Paul Tagliabue, who, despite sounding like he needed a very long nap after the the contentious negotiations that resulted in a new collective bargaining agreement, said his wife, Chan, was waiting for him to finish the phone call so they could go jogging.

Unlike many rich, retired CEO types who a generation ago wanted to go to Sanibel Island for the rest of their lives, Tagliabue wants to live. He wants to do more with his life, like contribute in a more hands-on way to a passion of his, being founding chairman of the board of directors of the Neil D. Levin Graduate Institute of International Relations and Commerce, part of the State University of New York. The institute feeds a couple of his other passions -- education and studying international affairs. He's sort of the anti-jock commissioner, even though he played college basketball at Georgetown. Education is king with him. Football was a challenge, but he ran it for 17 years. Time to move on. I admire that in him. His life didn't begin and end on Sunday afternoons.

Look for a similarly brainy successor. Two of the three most likely candidates are Princeton grads -- Atlanta GM Rich McKay, 46, who doubles as the co-chair of the league's rules-making Competition Committee, and Baltimore Ravens president Dick Cass, 60, who, as I wrote in Sports Illustrated this week, fits the modern-day mold of a sports commissioner. Law degree from Yale. Partner in a D.C. firm. Brokered the sale of the Redskins to Dan Snyder in 1999, then helped engineer the purchase of the Ravens by owner Steve Bisciotti in 2000.

But the leader in the clubhouse, most likely, is NFL executive vice president Roger Goodell, who oversees much of the league's business operations. At 46, Goodell can play politician and deal-maker equally well.

The league owners' meeting in Orlando next week will begin the winnowing process. It'll be interesting to see the horse race begin. I think Goodell and Cass will be the early leaders.

Now onto your questions.

COULDN'T T.O. HAVE DONE AS WELL FINANCIALLY IN PHILLY? From Ted Carney of Grand Lake, Colo.: "Terrell Owens would have made roughly $20 million in Philly over the next three years. Instead he forfeits $4 million previously earned from Philly and signs for $24 million in Dallas. How does this fulfill his desire to be paid more than his original contract in Philly? How much does his signing improve Dallas? If the Cowboys had kept Keyshawn Johnson, I would think quite a bit. But by cutting Johnson, they have basically traded Johnson for Owens. If you compare 2004 Owens to 2005 Johnson, Owens had six or so more catches, 400 more yards and a few more touchdowns.''

Eagles Cowboys 2006 $8.27 million $10 million 2007 $5.5 million $8 million 2008 $6.5 million $7 million

Are you seriously saying if you're a defensive coordinator, you approach a football game with Owens and Johnson on the other side of the field and say, "Gee, which one should we double-cover?" Ted, Keyshawn Johnson is a good possession receiver and an excellent blocker who makes tough catches all over the field. Owens is a do-it-all game-breaker. To me, there's no contest. And re: the salaries, check out the comparison of what Owens would have made in each of the next three years with the Eagles, had he stayed, and with the Cowboys, if he fulfills this contract:

It's not a gold mine, relatively speaking. But it is more money.