ON THE SIDELINES : Rozelle Says Farewell to NFL

After 223 extra days on the job while owners feuded over a successor, Pete Rozelle said farewell as NFL commissioner today and prepared to head off into the California sunset where he will spend his retirement.

“I just want to say that after seven months of waiting, I feel like a combination of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Willie Shoemaker and Sarah Bernhardt,” Rozelle said in a national telephone conference call.

“I’ve had more farewell parties and farewell press conferences than I can remember.”

The 63-year-old Rozelle shocked the sports world when he announced his retirement last March 22. He has been living in a New York hotel since Aug. 1, when his wife, Carrie, left for their retirement home in Rancho Santa Fe.

Rozelle will remain in New York until just before Thanksgiving, although he will officially turn over his job to Paul Tagliabue at midnight Saturday after saying farewell to the office staff Friday.