COULD YOU SEE...COMMISSIONER RICE...AND WE AIN'T TALKIN' ABOUT JERRY, EITHER!

With the news Monday that National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue plans to retire in July after 16 years at the helm of the world's most popular sports league, who will step in to keep relative peace between the equally greedy owners and the players union? Sounds like it would take one helluva diplomat to get that done, so why not America's chief diplomat?

It seems that Secretary of State Dr. Condoleeza Rice, known to be a "serious" football fan, has said in the past that being NFL commish was her dream job. So, with four months before Tagliabue steps aside, and the so-called legacy of the Bush Administration falling more into ruin every day, the timing seems great for the SecState.

Of course, Dr. Rice will not get serious consideration for the post, especially with a couple of well known and respected insiders already being touted (Atlanta Falcons General Manager Rich McKay, who spent a little time at One Buccaneer Place, is among those getting mention). But The Daily Nightly, blog for NBC Nightly News, mentions that it did generate some talk at Monday's State Department news briefing. The Secretary did release a statement later saying that if asked she would have to decline, as “She still has many things she wants to accomplish as secretary of state”.

It might be interesting if Dr. Rice did become commish. Can you see her having to deal with such personalities as Jerry Jones, Al Davis, and Tom Benson? I believe it just might be worth the owners' consideration. She will need a new job soon, anyway.

BTW: Condi's not mentioned, but you might want to check out this commentary from Michael Ventre at MSNBC.com.