Haslett's not the HC: The Rooney Rule
Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 8:46 pm
I just saw this on ESPN.com, RealGM is reporting it too..
The Rams tried to stipulate in Haslett's contract that if he wins 6 games, he'll be the HC for next season with a 7 figure salary.
The NFL put the kabosh on that by saying that violated the Rooney Rule - that at least one (I think thats the rule) minority candidate be considered for a permanent HC job. The rule does not apply to interim HC's appointed during the season.
I'm sure this was gone over in 2003 when the rule was implemented, but I think thats just crap... I'm Italian, so I'm sure I dont understand the experience, but how would it feel for the minority canidate coming up to STL after Haslett won 6 games, just knowing that you are there because of a policy?
As it stands, we have 6 minority coaches (Marvin Lewis, Romeo Crennel, Lovie Smith, Herm Edwards, Tony Dungy and Mike Tomlin) and one interim coach who's also a minority (Mike Singletary)... at some point, doesn't it get a bit insulting?
I think its about time to start putting the brakes on the race issue now... I remember how sick I was of hearing about how 2 black head coaches were going up against each other (CHI v IND) or how for the first time, a black ref was going to be the head ref of a Super Bowl... instead of it being two great coaches and a great ref...
I just can't forsee a scenario where the Rooney Rule actually gets an owner to change their mind...
The Rams tried to stipulate in Haslett's contract that if he wins 6 games, he'll be the HC for next season with a 7 figure salary.
The NFL put the kabosh on that by saying that violated the Rooney Rule - that at least one (I think thats the rule) minority candidate be considered for a permanent HC job. The rule does not apply to interim HC's appointed during the season.
I'm sure this was gone over in 2003 when the rule was implemented, but I think thats just crap... I'm Italian, so I'm sure I dont understand the experience, but how would it feel for the minority canidate coming up to STL after Haslett won 6 games, just knowing that you are there because of a policy?
As it stands, we have 6 minority coaches (Marvin Lewis, Romeo Crennel, Lovie Smith, Herm Edwards, Tony Dungy and Mike Tomlin) and one interim coach who's also a minority (Mike Singletary)... at some point, doesn't it get a bit insulting?
I think its about time to start putting the brakes on the race issue now... I remember how sick I was of hearing about how 2 black head coaches were going up against each other (CHI v IND) or how for the first time, a black ref was going to be the head ref of a Super Bowl... instead of it being two great coaches and a great ref...
I just can't forsee a scenario where the Rooney Rule actually gets an owner to change their mind...
