NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has no plans to scrap Rooney Rule
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell smiles before answering a question during a news conference at the NFL annual meetings Tuesday in Phoenix. ©Ross D. Franklin PHOENIX — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he has no plans to end the league’s Rooney Rule despite recent objections from Florida’s attorney general, who wrote that the league’s minority hiring guidelines violate Florida state law.
Goodell — speaking on Tuesday at the end of the NFL league meetings — acknowledged the changing political landscape for diversity initiatives in the U. S. , but added that he didn’t believe there should be any legal issues with the league’s policy.
“The Rooney Rule has been around a long time,” Goodell said. “We’ve evolved it, changed it. We’ll continue to do that.
” Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier sent a letter to Goodell last week saying the league’s 23-year-old Rooney Rule amounts to “blatant race and sex discrimination. ” The Rooney Rule requires teams to interview at least two minority candidates for head coach, general manager and coordinator positions. At least one minority candidate must be interviewed for the quarterbacks coach position.
Goodell noted that similar diversity guidelines were used in other industries. “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.