Question: Regarding the team picked for expansion and the impact it could have on the league.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: Obviously, we'd like to be in both places. How we get there is what we need to decide in the next several months. Until we make a decision on a city, I don't want to speculate about what other decisions have to be made.

Question: How concerned are you about the current state of the Chicago Bears declining fan interest and the inability to cut a stadium deal?

PT: In the months ahead we'll be working with Mayor Daley and with the Bears to address the city's needs as well as the Bears' needs. It's a priority, but I'm confident that we can work cooperatively with the Mayor and get something done.

Question: Regarding the criticism from the cable industry of extending the exclusives to Direct TV.

PT: I think our position has been clear that we want the overwhelming number of our games on broadcast television. We want to have a strong game of the week on cable and we feel that Sunday Ticket is a niche service. It is not only consistent with federal telecommunications policy, but it's very, very consistent with the best interest of our fans.

Question: The Bears are being called the laughing stock of the league with regard to the Dave McGinnis situation. Can you comment on that?

PT: I will not comment on that.

Question: Are there any problems with the Milstein-Snyder bid from what you saw yesterday and is there any concern over the financial condition of either of the applicants?

PT: Like I said before, those are matters that we didn't address yesterday. We'll talk about them later.

Question: Do you have any idea how long this process will take?

PT: It's going to take us at least until our league meeting on February 16.

Question: What replay challenges do you face?

PT: George and I have been talking a lot about this. I'm inclined to think that where we'll end up with the coaches is that if we can come up with something that's limited and keep them out of the loop, they would prefer that. There really is quite a difference of opinion among the coaches right now. If you had asked me that four or five months ago, based on the sentiment we heard at the league meeting last March, they seemed to be moving away from the coaches challenge. Now, we've done some postseason surveys and had discussions and there still seems to be considerable interest in the coaches challenge and the belief that it leaves the important decision at the sidelines. As much as coaches don't like to make important decisions, they do it all the time.

Question: Isn't the biggest problem the fact that you can't agree on something that eight people aren't going to kill?

PT: I think we're beyond that. If we can get a strong consensus in the Competition Committee, which I think we could, and if we can get a strong consensus among a majority, I think there's enough people who would want to get something done. We could see more flexibility among what has been the intractable eight.

Question: You said that George is actually cooperating with you in this?

PT: Yes.

Question: Regarding the black coaching talent in the league.

PT: There are people now who are becoming part of the process, Willie Shaw and others, Greg Blache. Greg was hired this morning as the defensive coordinator of the Bears. That's what I was told earlier today. Those are among the people that two years ago, three years ago really felt disenfranchised. They didn't know how to get into the hiring loop. How do you become upwardly mobile? We've done some important things. For instance, we had meetings that Greg and Willie Shaw have been part of, the seminar that we had in Florida last May, the videotape program and the directives that we sent to the clubs to emphasize the importance of diversity as an element in the hiring process. I think those things have enabled people to be in the loop and to get some serious consideration and to get jobs.

Question: How does a Mike Riley or an Andy Reid pop up ahead of an Art Shell?

PT: How does a Chris Palmer jump ahead of Jim Haslett. I don't know. People are making decisions on their merits. There are white coaches who are expected to be head coaches who aren't there either.

Question: There are no black coaches that have ever jumped that line.

PT: I'm not going to argue and debate. All I'm going to say is that we're not satisfied, but we're making progress, and I think we are making process. I can't stand here and argue. I'm not involved in those hiring decisions. I know there are white coaches who are frustrated. Brian Billick was one of them. A year ago he thought he was never going to become a head coach. I talked to him, and he was very frustrated. He thought our rules were slanted against coordinators on playoff teams. Now he's a head coach. I hope that continues to happen. I believe that it will with an increase in a diverse group of coaches, including a broader number of African-American coaches. I think we've made some real progress assisting people to get in the loop. Ultimately, that will lead to hiring.

Question: Regarding the hiring process of black coaches.

PT: It's just the opposite. It's the recognition that we're well beyond the double standard and we have, like a said before, a process that is color blind and proactive in getting people of color and a diverse group of candidates into the hiring group.

Question: Did you ever talk to the Bears about what happened with their hiring of the head coach?