NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is going to retire in July after having finally finished brokering a new collective bargaining agreement.

“I believe that now is a positive time to make the transition to a new commissioner,” Tagliabue said in a statement. “We have a collective bargaining extension in place, long-term television contracts, and have undertaken many other strong elements in league and club operations […] I am honored to have been commissioner since late 1989 and to have been heavily involved with the league, its owners, clubs, coaches, players, fans and media since 1969.”

Paul Tagliabue has done a great job as the commissioner of the NFL for the last 16 years, as evidenced by the lack of labor unrest that preceded his tenure on the job and by the player/owner conflicts that have occurred in that span by other professional sports.

My bet is on Roger Goodell replacing him, although Rich McKay and Dick Cass are also in the running.