ATLANTA — The debate and infighting among NFL owners had lasted four months in 1989. Wellington Mara of the New York Giants and Art Modell of the Cleveland Browns were trying to anoint Jim Finks as the next commissioner, replacing the retired Pete Rozelle.
The old guard liked Finks’ years of team-building experience as the general manager in Minnesota, Chicago and New Orleans. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen had another idea: Paul Tagliabue.
“They were in the process of electing Jim Finks and I can picture Pat saying, ‘Just a second here,’ ” current Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis said recently.