The NFL owners have reportedly trimmed the list of candidates to replace Paul Tagliabue down to 11. They will reduce the field even more in the next week or so. The finalists are to be presented to the entire ownership group during a three-day meeting in Chicago scheduled to begin on Aug. 7. The election of a new commissioner requires at least 22 votes among the 32 teams. Two sources said that three executives from the NFL office, including Chief Operating Officer Roger Goodell, are among the 11 remaining candidates. The other two candidates from the NFL office are league counsel Jeff Pash and Eric Grubman, an executive vice president for finance and business transactions. Goodell is the early favorite.