ORLANDO -- Granted, spending a few days at a beautiful resort like the Grand Cypress Hyatt Regency is not a bad job for any sportswriter from Green Bay or Minnesota at this time of the year. But what the job demands is standing around a hotel lobby, waiting for meetings to break in order to pounce on an NFL owner or coach or executive for a few comments. The bad news, though, is that there rarely is any significant breaking news at your typical annual March owners' meetings and this one figures to be no exception.

This is stunning news, considering the 32 owners must find a replacement for NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. But there remains residual bickering from the recent collective bargaining talks, which ultimately led to continued labor peace, and it sounds like it may be impossible for Tagliabue to even select a search committee among the 32 teams this week. I mean, everyone figured it would be easy for Tags to name Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers as the chairman and pick five or six others and start the process.

The trouble is, one insider told me, is that virtually every team wants a voice on the replacement search, which is an impossibility.

"Owners want to make sure that their specific interests are taken care of," the executive said. "It's going to be hard to pick a consensus group."

Many believed a committee would be named today and that definitely isn't going to happen. There's a solid chance that these meetings could end on Wednesday without a committee in place.

 

Where's Bill?

It looks like Dallas coach Bill Parcells will remain in south Florida, watching exhibition baseball games rather than spending a day or two at these meetings.

The Cowboys will open the season at Jacksonville in the FOX national game on opening weekend. NBC's first Sunday night game will feature the Manning Brothers, as older brother Peyton visits the Meadowlands with the Indianapolis Colts against Eli and the Giants.

 

Commissioner Dungy?

Speaking of the Colts, one interesting name floating around the hotel lobby to replace Tagliabue is Indianapolis head coach Tony Dungy, one of the best men in the league. Dungy is a consensus builder, besides being a former player. As long as all the attorneys, like Jeff Pash and Eric Grubman, remain in the NFL front office, why does the commissioner have to be an attorney, too?

 

Harrington to 'Hawks?

Detroit's ex-quarterback Joey Harrington could be a possibility in Seattle. Harrington, who starred at Oregon, would like to play there and he may be receptive to a minimum-salary contract. Harrington, no matter where he ends up, won't be a threat to any teams' starting quarterback.