January 03, 2011

Frazier Hire Delayed by Rooney Rule: Because of the Rooney rule, the Minnesota Vikings can't hire interim coach Leslie Frazier as the permanent coach without conducting an interview process that includes at least one minority applicant -- but Frazier can be that applicant. "I'm hoping for the best and just believing I'll be back," said Frazier, who is the team's first choice to become its eighth coach, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

posted by rcade to football at 02:57 PM - 9 comments

Never let progress get in the way of process.

posted by TheQatarian at 04:43 PM on January 03, 2011

I wondered about that when they first announced his permanent appointment.

Your move, Dallas Cowboys.

I wonder if this makes Mike Singletary something of a valued token for teams who want to go through the motions before hiring their guy?

posted by geekyguy at 08:45 PM on January 03, 2011

I wonder if this makes Mike Singletary something of a valued token for teams who want to go through the motions before hiring their guy?

So he'll take over Denny Green's old role in the process?

For Frazier's interview, he should just say, "I ended the Brett Favre charade while salvaging a modicum of dignity."

posted by Bonkers at 08:31 AM on January 04, 2011

Dallas will "interview" one of its own assistant coaches to "comply" with the Rooney Rule. Why is there not more outrage about the "token black" aspect of this rule?

posted by graymatters at 11:37 AM on January 04, 2011

Because there were six black head coaches this season, only one down from the all-time high of seven the year previous. The Rooney Rule is working. Any requirement like the rule is going to be viewed as tokenism by some when a team has a favorite candidate.

posted by rcade at 12:27 PM on January 04, 2011

Shouldn't matter how many black coaches there were this past season, token interviews are just that tokens. Companies do them all the time, not always race related, and I find them degrading. I've been on both sides of the desk for them, and I have always found the experience to be unsettling at best.

For some black assistant to be called into Jone's office for an interview that EVERYONE knows is completely bogus is a sham, and a shame.

posted by dviking at 11:55 AM on January 05, 2011

I think the main factor in the Frazier hire is that the process needs to be followed simply because they don't want any precedent set for not doing it.

posted by billsaysthis at 12:07 PM on January 05, 2011

For some black assistant to be called into Jone's office for an interview that EVERYONE knows is completely bogus is a sham, and a shame.

The black assistant who feels this way can decline. I think it is an opportunity to get the owner's ear for an hour or more to show them what you have. It won't matter now, but maybe down the line it will. I would definitely not pass up on such an opportunity.

posted by bperk at 12:49 PM on January 05, 2011

Dviking: Would you turn down an interview for your dream job because you thought it was tokenism? There are only 32 NFL head coaching jobs. Ray Sherman would have been foolish not to seize the opportunity.

posted by rcade at 01:12 PM on January 05, 2011

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