SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
Like a binary star, the NFL has dual centers of energy: Roger Goodell's league office and DeMaurice Smith's players association. All else—owners, agents, media, fans—revolves around that mutually reactive core. Now, though, the looming labor dispute threatens to tear the system apart, unless the powers that be can harness the force of this friction to bind themselves together even more strongly. Herewith a sky map of the most powerful elements in the universe of pro football.
Ed Roski, 72
Southern California real estate mogul has land, stadium plan for L.A. franchise—but no team
LEAGUE OFFICE
ROGER GOODELL, 51, NFL commissioner
His four years in office have been marked by emphasis on player discipline; now faces biggest challenge in looming labor conflict
Jeffrey Pash, 54, NFL executive VP of labor and general counsel, Tagliabue protégé and onetime commissioner candidate is lead negotiator for owners
Bob Batterman, 68
Management-side labor lawyer who represented NHL in 2004--05 lockout is advising Goodell, Pash
PLAYERS ASSOCIATION
DeMaurice Smith, 46, NFLPA executive director
Former D.C. prosecutor and trial lawyer won election as dark horse in 2009; not nearly as chummy with league office as predecessor, Gene Upshaw
Jeffrey Kessler, 56, NFLPA counsel
Veteran labor-side lawyer—he litigated McNeil v. NFL, which led to establishment of free agency—is Pash's chief adversary
Kevin Mawae, 39, NFLPA president
Former NFL lineman is strong voice on financial and health-care issues, though influence in negotiations remains to be seen
PLAYERS
Peyton Manning, 34
Colts quarterback is face of the league and its most marketable player
Brett Favre, 41
Vikings quarterback dominates media attention, for better and worse
Drew Brees, 31
Saints quarterback helped turn New Orleans into America's New Team
OWNERS
Dan Snyder, Redskins, 44
Lightning-rod owner whose relationship with DeMaurice Smith could help in negotiating CBA
Dan Rooney, Steelers, 78
Team's emeritus chairman, now U.S. ambassador to Ireland, remains close adviser to Goodell
Bob Kraft, Patriots, 69
Only owner who's on the broadcast, labor and finance committees
Bob McNair, Texans, 73
Billionaire who made his fortune in energy business has the ear of fellow owners
Steve Bisciotti, Ravens, 50
Among young owners, league office most admires him and K.C.'s Hunt
Jerry Richardson, Panthers, 74
Former Colts receiver cochairs labor committee; hard-liner
Jerry Jones, Cowboys, 68
High-profile face of America's most valuable sports franchise
Jeffrey Lurie, Eagles, 59
Former Hollywood producer chairs L.A. stadium committee; arbiter of NFL's return to second-largest market
Tom Benson, Saints, 83
Granddaughter Rita has strong say in team issues; Tom chairs NFL finance committee
Woody Johnson, Jets, 63
Has pushed his franchise to forefront in nation's biggest, rowdiest market
Clark Hunt, Chiefs, 45
Rising star settling into role as influential dad Lamar's heir
COACHES/EXECUTIVES
Art Rooney II, 58
Steelers president carries the gravitas of Art, his grandfather, and Dan, his dad
Bill Belichick, 58
Pats coach and three-time Super Bowl winner is admired by all, emulated by some
Bill Polian, 67
Colts president is architect of league's steadiest franchise; key member of competition committee
Ozzie Newsome, 54
Only Indy's Polian has had a better run of team-building than Ravens' general manager
AGENTS
Tom Condon, 57, and Ben Dogra, 45
Coheads of Creative Artists Agency's football division have 100 top players, including Peyton and Eli Manning, Adrian Peterson
John Wooten, 73
Former player chairs Fritz Pollard Alliance, which promotes hiring of minority coaches and front-office staffers
Bob LaMonte, 65
Most prominent coaches' agent; client list includes Andy Reid, Brad Childress, Mike Singletary
Drew Rosenhaus, 43
First superstar agent is as controversial as ever, but with client list of 120 (including T.O. and Ochocinco) and growing, impossible to ignore
MEDIA
George Bodenheimer, 52
ESPN/ABC Sports president pays league $1.1 billion a year for MNF
Dick Ebersol, 63
NBC Universal Sports & Olympics chairman has Goodell's ear
David Hill, 64
FOX Sports chair has been behind major innovations in NFL broadcasts
Sean McManus, 55
President of CBS News, Sports doesn't wield influence of other network bosses
Steve Bornstein, 58
NFL Network czar and exec VP of NFL media renegotiated deals with CBS, Fox and NBC in 2009, even with lockout looming
Steve Sabol, 68
As president of NFL Films, has had a major hand in league myth-making
Chris Berman, 55
Host of ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown isn't giant of 10 years ago, but everyone takes his calls
Adam Schefter, 43
Onetime Broncos beat writer now leads ESPN's large stable of tapped-in newshounds
Tony Dungy, 55
Retired coach and NBC analyst has become revered resource for Goodell and scores of players
Mike Florio, 45
Onetime outsider has turned profootballtalk.com into a must-read for news and rumor
Peter King, 53
SI senior writer pens Monday Morning Quarterback on SI.com, Internet's most widely read NFL column
Alan Schwarz, 42
New York Times scribe's reporting on brain injury has helped put concussion issue on front burner
Dan Patrick, 54
Interviewer extraordinaire and SI writer cohosts Football Night in America on NBC; league's biggest names frequent his morning radio-television show
Dr. James Andrews, 68
Preeminent orthopedic surgeon and pioneer in treatment of ligament damage has saved dozens of NFL careers, from Troy Aikman's to Drew Brees's
ILLUSTRATION
Illustration By BRYAN CHRISTIE DESIGN