I would call it cautious optimism, as NFL teams begin to submit formal request slips to interview coach and GM candidates. And Rod Graves, head of Madden nfl 21 coins the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which operates with all the NFL in the pursuit of diversity in the coaching and management ranks.
"I think'cautious optimism' is the ideal way to frame it," Graves told me Sunday afternoon. "A great deal of credit goes to (Commissioner) Roger Goodell and (VP of football operations) Troy Vincent for its sense of urgency that has developed about this issue over the past 8-to-12 months."
There's nothing to champion before we see the final outcome of these searches, but it appears more than lip service is being paid to The Rooney Rule, and there's a sense within the groups doing the hiring which time for words is over -- that this league has to be more equitable in who gets to sit in places of power within the sport, and, ultimately, only the owners themselves can change this.
Experienced coaches such as Marvin Lewis and executives like Rick Smith seem really poised at this point to have a valid chance with numerous teams. There is expectation that 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will have better chance this time around.
The team has become more competitive, proactive and consistent with its messaging to teams about the need to alter how they've been doing business, and I have heard repeatedly from people doing the hiring, and people who represent lots of the top candidates, that the character of the cycle will in fact be different.
"I have never felt that a vibe similar to this earlier," said one prominent representative. "I think Goodell has put down the hammer and these teams are getting the message."
In the past Graves has broached the topic of pushing all hires back till after the Super Bowl to attempt to level the playing area to this in and beyond the game, giving the tampering rules that govern the sport. However, so many coaches and GMs being let go in-season this past year -- creating a stronger cycle of interviews while games were still being played is a dynamic that also could foster diversity.
I would call it cautious optimism, as NFL teams begin to submit formal request slips to interview coach and GM candidates. And Rod Graves, head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which operates with all the NFL in the pursuit of diversity in the coaching and management ranks.
"I think'cautious optimism' is the ideal way to frame it," Graves told me Sunday afternoon. "A great deal of credit goes to (Commissioner) Roger Goodell and (VP of football operations) Troy Vincent for its sense of urgency that has developed about this issue over the past 8-to-12 months."
There's nothing to champion before we see the final outcome of these searches, but it appears more than lip service is being paid to The Rooney Rule, and there's a sense within the groups doing the hiring which time for words is over -- that this league has to be more equitable in who gets to sit in places of power within the sport, and, ultimately, only the owners themselves can change this.
Experienced coaches such as Marvin Lewis and executives like Rick Smith seem really poised at this point to have a valid chance with numerous teams. There is expectation that 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will have better chance this time around.
The team has become more competitive, proactive and consistent with its messaging to teams about the need to alter how they've been doing business, and I have heard repeatedly from people doing the hiring, and people who represent lots of the top candidates, that the character of the cycle will in fact be different.
"I have never felt that a vibe similar to this earlier," said one prominent representative. "I think Goodell has put down the hammer and these teams are getting the message."
In the past Graves has broached the topic of pushing all hires back till after the Super Bowl to attempt to level the playing area to this in and beyond the game, giving the tampering rules that govern the sport. However, so many coaches and GMs being let go in-season this past year -- creating a stronger cycle of interviews while games were still being played is a dynamic that buy Mut 21 coins also could foster diversity.
