Fritz Pollard Alliance Chair John Wooten on Friday said that his organization "will push for the NFL to revise the Rooney Rule" after no minorities were hired for the eight coaching and seven GM vacancies recently filled. Wooten: "We are extremely disappointed, but we're not discouraged. We will be talking with the league in terms of pushing forward." Wooten would "not elaborate on specific details." One issue that surfaced during the recent hiring cycle was "the lack of minorities in offensive play-calling roles" and it could "become a focal point in an effort to increase opportunities" (USATODAY.com, 1/18).
NFL Exec VP/Human Resources Robert Gulliver in a league-issued statement on Friday said while there has been "full compliance" with the Rooney Rule, the "hiring results this year have been unexpected and reflect a disappointing lack of diversity." Gulliver: "We have already started the process of developing a plan for additional steps that will better ensure more diversity and inclusion on a regular basis in our hiring results" (NFL).
