Never been a fan of the Rooney rule but I expect it to get worse, not better. Basically like this increasingly PC world we live in. I fully expect in next few years we hear gripes from women's groups that the misogynistic NFL won't consider them for jobs other than interns.
I just think if you pay a few hundred million or into the billions for a team you should get to interview whoever you please, after all with that much at stake you would think they don't need a rule to get them to hire who they think is the best person for the job.
no one is forcing or even asking them to hire anyone other than who they think is the best person for the job. The rule hurts absolutely no one. And helps a lot of
minorities
I know the rule and what it does require people to do and don't think it's necessary nor do I buy the premise it's been helfpull to anyone.
These are coaches that said that they thought it was helpful to them
I'm not so sure.
I find it very difficult to believe the conversation when hiring a coach goes this way.
GM to staff: find us a minority candidate to interview so I can get that out of the way. Don't want any holdups when we get our guy.
Staff: who are you interested in?
GM: I have no legitimate interest in any of them, I'm just trying to satisfy a rule. Just find me one that meets the rule and looks plausible so we can check that box.
Interview occurs. GM meets with staff/ownership group/possible search committe after meeting:
GM: well damn, that guy was impressive. He fired me up, knew what he was talking about.
Owner: Yes, I thought this interview was a formality but he nailed it. We had no interest in this guy to be the face of my billion dollar franchise until this interview but let's put him at the top of our list.
If you believe conversations similar to this occur when hiring a coach then the Rooney rule is fantastic. If like me you don't think teams actually hire a candidate they had no or limited interest in because he nailed the interview you would view the Rooney rule like I do. Not bad, not terrible, nothing that hurts anyone, but at the same time it feels seems unnecessary and gives off an air of tokenism.