Goodell says Rooney Rule not going anywhere despite political threat
· Yahoo Sports
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear that, despite a threat by a Florida lawmaker about the Rooney Rule, it’s here to stay.
“The Rooney Rule has been around a long time,” Goodell said on the NFL Network. “We’ve evolved it, changed it. We’ll continue to do that.”
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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a letter saying that he wants the rule to be abolished because he thinks it’s racist and sexist.
The Rooney Rule requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates for head coach, general manager, and coordinator positions.
But this season, there are only four minority head coaches, four general managers, and still no black team owners.
“One thing that doesn’t change is our values, and we believe in diversity and its benefit to the National Football League,” Goodell said. “We are well aware of the laws and where the laws are changing and evolving. We think the Rooney Rule is consistent with those, and we certainly will engage with the Florida AG or anybody else as we have in the past to talk about our policies.”
The league has been pushing for more diversity, but some wonder if the rule is actually doing that, including Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II, whose father the rule is named after.
He thinks the rule may need to be reexamined and adjusted for the times. But at this point, it doesn’t seem like that will be done.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Goodell says Rooney Rule not going anywhere despite political threat