Well, I suppose Tony Dungy won't have time to coach the Gophers next season.

Besides his gig on NBC's Sunday Night Football, the former Gophers QB and Colts Super Bowl-winning coach was picked today to lead a new NFL Player Advisory Forum as Special Advisor to Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The program will conduct regular series of meetings around the NFL and include pro bowl veterans such as Brian Dawkins, Ray Lewis and Kurt Warner.

"Players continue to be an invaluable resource in providing direction and insight into a wide range of programs and policies," Goodell said in a statement. "Tony's experience and expertise in working with players make him an ideal leader of the Player Advisory Forum and we appreciate his willingness to take on this important role." According to a release by the league, the purpose of the Player Advisory Forum is to provide input to the commissioner's office on policies, programs, and issues that affect the lives of players on and off the field, including player health and safety, personal conduct, game rules and procedures, career transition, and player development. Dungy will organize the meetings, identify the player attendees, and develop a list of topics for discussion. Commissioner Goodell will attend the meetings and the NFL Players Association has been invited to send a representative. Dungy also will serve as a resource to the NFL Player Development staff and the team Player Development Directors. "Input from the players to the commissioner's office and vice versa is so important in helping our league and our players be the best they can be, on and off the field," Dungy said. "The commissioner asked me if I would lead this initiative and to me it is exciting to be in a position to help our players." Said Dawkins: "It's an honor and privilege to work with Coach Dungy. This will be a great new way for players working with Coach Dungy to be part of the process of improving the league for everybody." Added Lewis, "This is extremely important and Tony's involvement is a big factor for me because he stands for everything that is right about the NFL. This is an area where we need unity because it's about players and the league helping each other. I truly believe we can accomplish things that will carry on way beyond us." There is no other individual who is more respected throughout the league than Dungy. You simply never hear a bad word about the guy, even when people aren't speaking on the record.

Tony seems content in retirement from coaching. I'd like to see him get back into coaching (say, Cleveland in 2010), but it's good to see him contributing to the league in any capacity.