NFL commissioner Roger Goodell responds to Florida AG over Rooney Rule
Roger Goodell's response to Florida Attorney General's comments about Rooney Rule was among the highlights of his Tuesday press conference.
PHOENIX — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday responded to Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who had sent a letter to the commissioner threatening legal action if the NFL doesn’t abolish the Rooney Rule. Goodell said the NFL believes in the Rooney Rule and its goal to identify diverse candidates in the hiring process. “Well, one thing that doesn't change is our values.
We believe diversity has been a benefit to the National Football League. We are well aware of the laws,” Goodell said at the NFL owners meeting. “We think the Rooney Rule is consistent with those.
“We certainly will engage with the Florida AG or anybody else, as we have in the past, to talk about our policies and what they are. The Rooney Rule is not that hiring mandate. It's intended to try to help, and it's been used by industries far beyond football, far beyond the United States, to help identify candidates and a diverse set of candidates bringing better talent and give us an opportunity to hire the best talent, ultimately.
” Goodell’s response came after Uthmeier said, in a video posted on social media, that the Rooney Rule "violates Florida law by requiring race-based considerations in hiring. " The Rooney Rule was originally established in 2003 to increase diversity in coaching and management. The rule has come under fire in recent years by both proponents and detractors.
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