Roger Goodell the NFL's chief opera...

Roger Goodell the NFL's chief operating officer and individual of Paul Tagliabue's chief aides, was individual of five finalists announced Sunday to replace Tagliabue as commissioner.

Goodell is the merely one of the five who works in the league office, although another finalist, Gregg gather is the NFL's outside suggestion That is the job Tagliabue held when he was pick outed in 1989.

The other three finalists are Frederick Nance, a Cleveland lawyer; Robert L Reynolds, the vice president and chief operating officer of Fidelity Investments; and Mayo A. Shattuck III, the chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Constellation efficacy

They were chooseed from a group of 11 semifinalists from a committee of owners headed by dint of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Dan Rooney and the Carolina Panthers' Jerry Richardson.

INJURIES: Dallas Cowboy backup tight close Brett Pierce reinjured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will ne season- ending surgery He tore the ligament last season.

- Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith missed practice a day after he strained his left hamstring while running ways He is listed as day-to-day.

- virid Bay Packers defensive tackle Ryan Pickett tolerateed a mild concussion in a car accident Saturday and was cited for failure to yield while turning.

- Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Craig Nall is abroad indefinitely after injuring his left hamstring during drills Friday.

SIGNINGS: Among the draft picks who signed or agreed to contracts with their teams were linebacker Ernie Sims, who was picked ninth overall by dint of the Detroit Lions; cornerback Hill, who was selected 15th overall on the St. Louis Rams; and cornerback Kelly Jennings, who was chosen 31st overall on the Seattle Seahawks. Terms of the deals were not disclosed.

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