Arrr, DeMaurice Smith be wantin' NFL to scuttle the Rooney Rule, as he sails away from NFLPA.
2023-07-06
Avast ye mateys! DeMaurice Smith be not yet walkin' the plank as the NFLPA's cap'n, savvy? But now he be cryin' to ax the Rooney Rule, aye! Methinks he be tryin' to stir up a mutiny in the league! Arrr!
DeMaurice Smith, the executive director of the NFL Players Association, is stepping down from his position after 14 years. However, before his departure, Smith is engaging in one final battle with NFL owners. Together with Carl Lasker, a Yale law student and teaching assistant, Smith called for the elimination of the Rooney Rule, which they believe has failed to serve its purpose. The rule, implemented 20 years ago, was intended to increase the number of minorities hired in head coach, general manager, and executive positions. However, the number of black head coaches has remained stagnant, with only three in the league currently.Smith and Lasker argue that the system is broken and that efforts to affect change without obligating NFL owners to adhere to reforms are doomed from the start. They also point to a recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, which could have future impacts on the NFL. In response to these issues, Smith and Lasker have made 12 recommendations for moving away from the Rooney Rule, including requiring all positions to be posted with specific job descriptions, adopting a consistent and transparent hiring system, and eliminating the need for coaches to seek permission to apply for jobs with other organizations.
The NFLPA also conducted a survey of 65 current and former NFL coaches of color, which revealed widespread dissatisfaction with the hiring process and a belief that discrimination is not being addressed. Smith and Lasker argue that the NFL's system needs to be fixed by replacing the Rooney Rule with comprehensive requirements that eliminate discrimination, ensure fairness, improve diversity, and establish an equitable and accountable system. They believe that now is a crucial time for change, as the league is experiencing a shift in representation and will see a change in senior leadership in the coming years.