When it comes to the performative antics of Florida attorney general James Uthmeier, weâve urged the league to respond with three words: âBring it on.â
On Tuesday, Commissioner Roger Goodell essentially said just that during his press conference at the NFL annual meeting.
Asked whether the Rooney Rule, which Uthmeier has demanded the NFL ditch as to the three Florida-based teams, is going anywhere, Goodell was clear: âNo. No, the Rooney Rule has been around a long time. Weâve evolved it, changed it. Weâll continue to do that as circumstances warrant.â
The league may be changing the Rooney Rule, but it wonât be changing it to create less diversity in the selection of candidates for key jobs.
âWell, the one thing that doesnât change is our values,â Goodell said. âWe believe that diversity has been a benefit to the National Football League. We are well aware of the laws, where the laws are changing or evolving. We think the Rooney Rule is consistent with those. We certainly will engage with the Florida [attorney general] or anybody else, as we have in the past, to talk about the policies and what they are.
âAs you know, the Rooney Rule is not a hiring mandate. Itâs intended to try to help and has been used by industries far beyond football, far beyond the United States, to help identify candidates â a diverse set of candidates â bring in better talent, and gives us an opportunity to hire the best talent. Ultimately, clubs make those decisions individually and those are, I think, principles of how we try to get better â bring in the best talent.â
Uthmeier believes otherwise, obviously. And he has given the NFL a deadline of May 1 to scrap the Rooney Rule as to the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Buccaneers, or risk potential enforcement action.
Call his bluff. Let him do it. Stick to your principles.
It sounds like thatâs what the NFL plans to do.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Roger Goodell essentially said just that during his press conference at the NFL annual meeting.
Asked whether the Rooney Rule, which Uthmeier has demanded the NFL ditch as to the three Florida-based teams, is going anywhere, Goodell was clear: âNo. No, the Rooney Rule has been around a long time. Weâve evolved it, changed it. Weâll continue to do that as circumstances warrant.â
The league may be changing the Rooney Rule, but it wonât be changing it to create less diversity in the selection of candidates for key jobs.
âWell, the one thing that doesnât change is our values,â Goodell said. âWe believe that diversity has been a benefit to the National Football League. We are well aware of the laws, where the laws are changing or evolving. We think the Rooney Rule is consistent with those. We certainly will engage with the Florida [attorney general] or anybody else, as we have in the past, to talk about the policies and what they are.
âAs you know, the Rooney Rule is not a hiring mandate. Itâs intended to try to help and has been used by industries far beyond football, far beyond the United States, to help identify candidates â a diverse set of candidates â bring in better talent, and gives us an opportunity to hire the best talent. Ultimately, clubs make those decisions individually and those are, I think, principles of how we try to get better â bring in the best talent.â
Uthmeier believes otherwise, obviously. And he has given the NFL a deadline of May 1 to scrap the Rooney Rule as to the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Buccaneers, or risk potential enforcement action.
Call his bluff. Let him do it. Stick to your principles.
It sounds like thatâs what the NFL plans to do.
