For now, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has support from those who will determine if he keeps his job - the owners of the NFL's 32 teams.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones gave Goodell a ringing endorsement Sunday: "Roger has done an amazing job for the game and that's where I'm going with this."

One big reason is money. The Cowboys are estimated to be worth an NFL-high $3.2 billion, according to Forbes. That's up from $1.2 billion in 2006, when Goodell took over.

But Goodell's job isn't guaranteed. Many sports commentators have called for Goodell to resign, as has the National Organization For Women.

Members of Congress are calling for action, too. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said if it's confirmed that the NFL had a video of Ray Rice knocking out his girlfriend, "Commissioner Goodell must go, for the good of the NFL and its fans."

Blumenthal told CNN he may support legislation to strip away some of the advantages the NFL enjoys in antitrust law.

There have been more than 50 other NFL players charged with domestic abuse during Goodell's tenure, most of whom received no league discipline.

If public pressure forces Goodell to resign, sources in the industry tell CNNMoney it's unlikely the owners would turn to an outsider to take his place.

Goodell's predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, served as the league's outside counsel for nearly 20 years. Goodell has worked for the league since interning there right out of college.

So the names on the short list are not familiar to the public, or even most fans:

The guy behind the most owner-friendly labor contract: Jeff Pass

Jeff Pass, the league's executive vice president and general counsel, is the second highest paid NFL executive, earning $7.2 million. The league's chief negotiator with the players' union, he has repeatedly topped the union at the bargaining table, winning the most owner-friendly labor contract among the major pro sports.

The football guy: Mark Murphy, the Packers' CEO

Most team owners would have to give up a lot to become commissioner. But shares in the Green Bay Packers are publicly owned, so that's less of an issue for CEO Mark Murphy.

He had an 8-year career as an All Pro safety for the Redskins, served as athletic director at two colleges and also served with the players union. He has both a law degree and MBA.

This TV guy has meant big money for the owners: Steve Bornstein

Steve Bornstein was the CEO of the NFL Network and executive vice president of media for the league before retiring this year. He's also a former president of ESPN who was instrumental in getting the NFL its own network.

Nothing is more important to the league's owners than its broadcast deals. Since retiring from the NFL, Bornstein, 62, has been working as chairman of The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

The Disney Guy: Bob Iger

ESPN is the most valuable part of Walt Disney Co. (DIS), and Disney CEO Bob Iger is already due to retire from the company in 2016.

He was rumored to be under consideration as the next baseball commissioner before that sport went with its own insider. NFL commissioner is an even more attractive job.

The digital guy: Brian Rolapp

Brian Rolapp succeeded Steve Bornstein as the league's head of media. Before that, his duties included bringing all the league's digital websites together and the creation of NFL Now, the site that allows fans to access online highlights personalized to their favorite teams and players.

The Silicon Valley guy: Twitter's CFO, Anthony Noto

Anthony Noto was chief financial officer of the NFL for nearly three years from 2008 to 2010. After that, he was a managing director at Goldman Sachs, overseeing its technology, media and telecom group, before taking the Twitter job last month. While old media is what created the NFL's financial might, new media will play an increasingly important role in the future.

Not Condoleezza Rice

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reportedly once described NFL commissioner as her dream job. And perhaps a female commissioner could help repair damage with female fans - certainly more than all the "guys" on our short list.

Still, one source dismissed the speculation. "It's the most successful league in sports. Why turn to an outsider?"

And besides the question of an insider or outsider, it's tough to picture the ultimate boys club of U.S. business turning to a woman to run their game, no matter how much they may have angered the 45% of their fans who are women.