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SPORTS Wednesday 19 February 2020
NFL putting stronger Rooney Rule front and center

By BARRY WILNER be the education of the
AP Pro Football Writer (executive) suite to bring
Pro football is discovering more familiarity and to
that the spirit of the Rooney foster trust."
Rule is being violated. Two of the people Goodell
NFL Commissioner Roger and Vincent are likely to
Goodell made that a point listen to are Hall of Fame
of emphasis in his state of coach Tony Dungy, and
the league speech during Steelers owner Art Rooney
Super Bowl week. So count II, whose father, Dan,
on Goodell finding ways to championed the Rooney
more strongly implement Rule.
the policy that requires Dungy might be the most
teams to interview minority influential coach in NFL
candidates for coaching history when it comes to
and executive positions. off-field issues. He's been
Those interviews still have an adviser to Goodell and
been taking place, but, others at the league for
to use a word that has years — even while still
taken on highly negative coaching the Colts. His
connotations but often is voice is an important one,
applied nowadays, are as is his view of the Rooney
they simply tokenism? Rule's application in recent
Goodell recognized that years.
could be true when he said "What I think has happened
in January: is people have said, 'Let
"Clearly, we are not where me interview a minority
we want to be on this level. candidate to satisfy the
We have a lot of work rule, and then I can get on In this Aug. 3, 2019, file photo, former NFL player Tony Dungy is introduced before the induction
that's gone into not only with this hiring process or ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
the Rooney Rule but our hire who I want to,' " Dungy Associated Press
policies overall. It's clear we says. "The whole point of
need to change and do the rule was to slow down "We also have to look be done in the short term, happening."
something different." the process, take your time, at, are there prohibitors but in terms of developing Vincent has a checklist of
Noting how few minorities get the best candidate in contracts where the pipeline further on items to be addressed as
are in coaching and and make a decision. But coaches being blocked coaching and executive soon as possible.
general manager jobs there's so much pressure due to language in their positions, that would take a "An intentional training,
right now — the only head now on all of them to do contracts? longer period of time. awareness, and
coaches are Ron Rivera, it quickly, get the 'No. 1 "It is very difficult for men "The first thing we are going communications plan
Anthony Lynn, Mike Tomlin candidate,' put together a of color to progress. They to do is talk to people who should be implemented,"
and Brian Flores, and the staff. Nobody wants to take are not even in the house, have been involved in the he says. "In addition,
GMs are Chris Grier and their time. That is the major in the pool, because of process and understand we must encourage
Andrew Berry — Goodell problem." barriers of mobility." what the thinking was. a safe nonjudgmental
said: Dungy and Vincent believe Art Rooney cautions that Talk to people who were educational environment
"There's no reason to such expedience ignores there aren't likely any interviewed, assess where that seeks to provide a
expect we're going to have that there is a deep pool of magical fixes that will we are and then start to clear understanding of the
a different outcome next accomplished candidates. immediately improve talk to people about ideas 'why' behind hiring biases.
year without those kinds Teams aren't diving into it. adherence to the spirit of on what we can do to These things coupled with
of changes and we've "I get a little perturbed the rule. He believes looking improve the situation. football and (executive)
already begun engaging in when people say we got at history and how the rule "There have been ideas suite personnel operating
those changes. Not just with to put more people in the has worked in the past can about attempting to have under the notion that
our diversity committee, pipeline, that there are not be a helpful tool. people slow down the diversity is good for business,
not just with the Fritz Pollard enough people of color," "I don't think we can fix process and just make will ultimately provide an
Alliance, but others. And Dungy says. "I just don't everything in one meeting certain people in the opportunity to build the
trying to figure out what see that. There are a lot of or even one year," Rooney pipeline are getting the business case for diversity in
steps we could take next good people." explains. "It's an ongoing attention they should be hiring.
that would lead to better Vincent echoes such process and I don't think getting. I would agree "We must truly examine
outcomes." thoughts, with several there is any silver bullet there are a lot of good short term, intermediate,
Adds Troy Vincent, caveats. that if we do one thing, candidates out there, and we've got to have
who oversees football "I just think awareness we are going to resolve people who should be some long-term goals
operations for the league of candidates," he says. the situation. There should getting interviews and for our business to thrive.
and is African American: "Immediately I go to be some things that can that doesn't seem to be Diversity is good business,
"Every club must have a barriers of mobility. There's
diversity action plan — at a double standard, which
the league and across the sometimes is not discussed.
clubs, it must be an industry We are examining now
standard. Development the coaching legacy
of the talent pool, which and number of coaches
we continue to do that at who now coaching with
the commissioner's office. sons and sons-in-law and
There is a strong pipeline brothers/siblings. Those
there. And there must become barriers to entry.