PFR Glossary: Rooney Rule
This offseason, five NFL teams hired new head coaches. New Redskins head coach Ron Rivera was the only non-white coach to fill one of those vacancies, which drew criticism from some, including Steelers owner Art Rooney II.
“I think where we are right now, is not where we want to be, not where we need to be,” Rooney said recently. “We need to take a step back and look at what’s happening with our hiring processes.”
“As it appears right now, there just weren’t very many minorities in the process at all this year. And I’m not sure why that is,” Rooney continued. “It doesn’t need to be that way. We have about one-third of the coaches in the National Football League are from the minority communities. That’s really not a bad pipeline. And so, the question is, why aren’t more of those people getting interviews? Why aren’t more of those people advancing through the process?”
Established in 2003, the Rooney Rule stipulates that teams must interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching positions. Named after former Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the rule is in place to make sure that candidates of color have a fair shake at climbing the ranks.
When the Rooney Rule was introduced, there were historically very few non-white head coaches in the NFL. Fritz Pollard became the first black head coach in NFL history in the 1920s and the league did not see another minority head coach until 1979 when the Raiders hired Tom Flores.
Since the advent of the Rooney Rule, dozens of qualified minority candidates have been given opportunities to showcase themselves for head coaching positions. However, it’s difficult to say whether that has directly led to a greater number of minority hires. Teams have been accused of interviewing minority candidates simply to check the box.
This was a common complaint against the Raiders a couple of years ago when they reportedly agreed to hire Jon Gruden on Christmas Eve, before they interviewed Oakland tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin for the role in January. Ditto for some of this year’s searches, including the Cowboys. Some say the Cowboys weren’t giving serious consideration to former Bengals coach Marvin Lewis before they hired ex-Packers coach Mike McCarthy. The Fritz Pollard Alliance, which works with the NFL to monitor minority hiring practices, has vowed to push for changes to the rule.
In recent years, the rule has been extended to general manager vacancies. In December 2016, the NFL agreed to informally apply the rule to offensive and defensive coordinator positions, though there are no penalties for noncompliance. If a team is found to have broken the Rooney Rule in a head coaching search, the club may be faced with a substantial fine and/or a forfeiture of draft picks. In the coming months, the Rooney Rule could be expanded even further.
Browns Hire Andrew Berry As GM
It’s a done deal. On Monday, the Browns officially hired Eagles’ VP of Football Operations Andrew Berry to be their GM and EVP of Football Operations. The Browns will announce the news this afternoon with a full-blown press conference to come next week.
[RELATED: George Paton Out Of Browns’ GM Search]
Berry was ID’d as a top candidate for the job soon after the Browns parted ways with John Dorsey. Berry spent years as a part of the Browns’ braintrust before moving on to Philly and his relationship with owner Jimmy Haslam ultimately led to a deal.
Still, the Browns considered other candidates along the way. Vikings exec George Paton might have been the favorite for the job after the interview process. But, last week, he removed his name from consideration.
Paton was reportedly unsure about how the Browns would divvy up power. Berry, apparently, doesn’t share the same level of concern. He’ll report directly to owner Jimmy Haslam, along with new head coach Kevin Stefanski and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta. The Browns operated that way during the Sashi Brown–Hue Jackson years, so Berry is at least familiar with that arrangement.
Berry studied and played football at Harvard before moving on to scouting and front office positions with the Colts, Browns, and Eagles. Now, at the age of 32, he’ll get to run his own show.
Berry will inherit a talented roster, plus a projected $50MM in cap room for the upcoming offseason. He’ll also have the No. 10 overall pick to work with, thanks to the Browns’ disappointing 6-10 finish in 2019.
Poll: Will Le’Veon Bell Return To The Jets?
Last year, Jets GM Mike Maccagnan signed Le’Veon Bell to a four-year, $52.5MM deal. Weeks later, Maccagnan was fired in a long-expected, yet ill-timed, move. Apparently, new head coach Adam Gase and GM Joe Douglas were not wild about Maccagnan’s moves, including the major expenditure for Bell. 
Unfortunately for Gase and Douglas, escaping Bell’s deal won’t be easy. The running back is slated to count for a $15.5MM cap figure in 2020 with similar numbers in 2021 and 2022. Shedding Bell this offseason would leave the Jets with $19MM in dead money and zero cap savings. The Jets’ best opportunity to dump Bell would come before the 2021 season, when they could save $9.5MM against $4MM in dead money.
Meanwhile, Bell underperformed in 2019 and reportedly clashed with team brass. He averaged just 3.2 yards per carry and his 66 catches for 461 yards out of the backfield weren’t nearly enough to offset that lack of efficiency.
Bell claimed multiple teams inquired about him before the October trade deadline. Douglas hinted that he would listen on calls after the season, though he later walked those comments back, saying that Bell is a valued member of the team.
Releasing Bell outright would result in $19MM in dead money. A trade would be less damaging – the Jets would absorb just $6MM in dead money while freeing up $9.5MM in cap room. Then again, the team taking on Bell would have to commit to his guaranteed $13MM for 2020, and that’s a tough sell. To offset that, the Jets would likely have to convert a portion of his 2020 pay into a signing bonus, which would add to the dead money total.
With all of that in mind, do you expect Bell to be in a Jets uniform in 2020? Cast your vote below (link for app users) and back up your choice in the comments section.
Russell Okung To Run For NFLPA President
It’s official. Chargers left tackle Russell Okung will run for NFLPA president, as Ken Belson of the New York Times writes. If Okung wins, he could change the complexion of the ongoing labor talks and, potentially, steer the league towards a labor stoppage. 
[RELATED: NFL, NFLPA To Meet On Thursday]
The owners and players have been discussing a new deal based upon the framework of an expanded 17-game regular season. Okung has been vocal in his opposition of the proposal and says that a labor stoppage might be necessary to get the best possible deal for the union.
“Are we in an equitable agreement with management?” Okung said. “Right now, the answer is no. This will take as long as it needs to…I expect more, and I’m not willing to be bashful about saying that. I’ve made it really clear we need to exhaust every single opportunity we have in order to put our players in a better situation to take care of themselves, their families and to protect the future of this game.”
Okung is far from the only player who doesn’t want a 17-game season. A source familiar with the negotiations tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that an extended regular season, which will likely come with expanded playoffs, remains a very difficult sell for the league’s players. A reduced preseason isn’t much of a selling point for them, as fewer and fewer vets are playing in the preseason anyway. John Clayton of 710 ESPN Seattle confirms that there is not enough player support for a 17-game schedule (Twitter link).
It’s worth noting that Okung has been at odds with his own union in the past. An independent investigation found that Okung spread confidential information in violation of union rules as a member of the Executive Committee. Okung, for his part, denies any wrongdoing and says he’s the union’s best bet to push back against the rigors of an expanded season.
“We can’t neglect those issues in order to get more money,” Okung said. “Am I going to trade health and safety for a buck?”
The league will elect its next president in March. Eric Winston, the incumbent, is not eligible for another term because he is two years removed from playing.
Drew Brees: I’ll Only Play For The Saints
Drew Brees may consider retirement this offseason, but he says he won’t be changing teams. The future Hall of Famer tells NFL.com’s Jane Slater that he’d only suit up for the Saints. 
[RELATED: Tom Brady Unlikely To Re-Sign With Pats Before Free Agency]
“I have never been in the situation where I was mulling over the thought of [returning],” Brees said. “To me, each one of these contracts, I don’t know how many it’s been with the Saints, I’ve played with them 14 years, it’s not a matter of if it gets done, it’s when. At this stage of my career, it’s not a given that I’m coming back every year, but when that time comes, I’ll always be a Saint.”
It’s no surprise to hear that the 41-year-old isn’t interested in starting over somewhere new. He’s reached the pinnacle of the sport playing in New Orleans, where he’s found unbelievable success in Sean Payton‘s offense. And, even though things didn’t go according to plan in 2019, the QB says the team’s heartbreaking loss to the Vikings has only fueled his fire.
“You’ve got no other choice but to move on and get better as a result of it,” he said. “We learn something every time around. We’re not going to be discouraged. We’re not going to take the results of the last three playoffs — with some crazy things happening, obviously, kind of unprecedented things happening — and deter us from still striving to accomplish the ultimate goal. I feel like we have all the pieces in place. We have a great foundation. Great culture. We have all the makings of a championship team.”
If Brees walks away from the game, he’ll have ample opportunities to stay close to the game, including TV.
Browns Meet With Ben McAdoo
On Friday, the Browns met with former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo at their team headquarters (Twitter link via Jake Trotter of ESPN.com). It’s not immediately clear whether McAdoo is a candidate for the team’s offensive coordinator position, or whether the Browns will be hiring an OC at all. 
“I’m committed to adding the right people to our building,” new head coach Kevin Stefanski said recently. “That remains to be seen. We’re definitely looking at all avenues as we try to put a really good staff together.”
McAdoo’s run as the Giants’ head coach was a flop, but before all of that, he built a reputation as one of the league’s savvier offensive minds. McAdoo was a member of the Packers’ coaching staff in 2010, helping guide the team to a Super Bowl XLV victory. Then, as the Giants’ OC in 2014, he took the offense from No. 28 in scoring to No. 13. In 2015, they ranked sixth in the NFL in points, despite injuries to several key players.
Many say that McAdoo didn’t have the temperament to succeed as a head coach, but Stefanski & Co. may see him as an effective offensive coach that can aid in the team’s quest to turn things around. Despite all of their star power and hype, the Browns offense (and defense) fell short in 2019, posting a 6-10 record that led to the dismissal of first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens.
Packers’ Jimmy Graham Expected To Continue Playing
It sounds like Jimmy Graham will suit up in 2020. On Friday, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said it’s his understanding that the tight end wants to play next year (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky). 
Graham is under contract with the Packers in 2020 at a $11.6MM cap figure, the final season of his three-year deal. In theory, the Packers could save $8MM by releasing the veteran, with $3.6MM in dead money.
The 33-year-old played in all 16 games in 2019 – marking his fourth straight season with perfect attendance in the regular season – plus the Packers two-game postseason. Graham no longer features as a dominant red zone threat, but he was still productive last year with 38 grabs for 447 yards and three touchdowns. In the Packers’ pair of playoff contests, he caught seven passes for 108 yards, including a (controversial) game-sealing first down against his old friends in Seattle.
In ten seasons with the Saints, Seahawks, and Packers, Graham has earned five Pro Bowl trips, plus a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2013, when he tallied a league-leading 16 touchdown receptions.
Cowboys’ Amari Cooper On His Future
In 2019, Amari Cooper built off of his strong half-season in Dallas to turn his best full campaign yet. Cooper reeled in 79 catches en route to career-high marks in receiving yards (1,189) and touchdowns (8) and solidified himself as one of the game’s best wide receivers.
[RELATED: Cowboys Hire George Edwards]
Meanwhile, the Cowboys sagged on the whole – they went 8-8, missed the playoffs, and fired longtime head coach Jason Garrett after Week 17.
Despite his individual accomplishments, Cooper admits the team’s disheartening Week 16 loss to the Eagles sticks in his mind.
“That game was so important because it decided whether or not we’d go to the playoffs,” Cooper told Nick Shook of NFL.com. “Obviously, if you go to the playoffs you have an opportunity to go to the Super Bowl. We had our fate in our own hands and we blew it, so then we had to rely on other stuff to happen for us to get into the playoffs. You never want to put yourself in that position where you don’t control your own destiny.”
Now, the focus shifts to Cooper’s destiny. The former first round pick is scheduled to reach free agency in March and projects to be one of the most in-demand players on the open market. Still, he tells NFL.com’s Jane Slater (on Twitter) that he wants to be in Dallas for a long time.
Here’s a look at Cooper’s thoughts as the big date nears:
On the importance of money vs. other factors:
“I don’t think it’s all about money… If you’re a highly touted free agent, you’re going to get paid a lot of money no matter where you go. Is it worth it to go somewhere that you probably don’t want to go as far as, you might be a guy like me who’s from South Florida who’s never played a game in the snow?”
“Is it worth a million dollars more a year or two million dollars more a year, especially if you’re taking care of your money investment-wise, is it worth that two being in an environment that you don’t want to be in? Or would you like to stay somewhere in the south? It’s not all about money.”
On the importance of playing with a top-level quarterback:
“His success is part of how good I’m doing and my success is part of how good he’s doing. So I definitely, if I had to test the market I’d definitely be evaluating quarterbacks and stuff like that to see if I want to play with them or not.”
Cowboys Hire George Edwards
Former Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards has agreed to join the Cowboys’ coaching staff, as Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram tweets. Edwards will work with the Cowboys’ linebackers, but his role will encompass more than that. The team announced that Edwards’ title will be senior defensive assistant. 
[RELATED: Cowboys Were Close To Extension With Dak Prescott]
Although head coach Mike Zimmer retained his job as the Vikings head coach, the early offseason saw a significant overhaul of his coaching staff. After offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski left to take on the Browns’ HC position, the Vikings parted ways with Edwards, who had served as their defensive coordinator since 2014.
Edwards, 52, has been in the NFL in some capacity for every season since 1998. He was Washington’s defensive coordinator in 2003, and Buffalo’s from 2010-11. He’s also served as a positional coach with a handful of different stops.
In Dallas, he’ll work under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Given his experience, it seems likely that Edwards will have a higher title attached to his linebackers coach mantle.
In related news, the club officially named Joe Philbin its offensive line coach.
Latest On Antonio Brown
Antonio Brown has been granted bail by a Broward County judge following his arrest for burglary with battery. Brown’s bond was set at $100K for this particular charge and he also faced two other charges related to an incident at his residence earlier this week. 
[RELATED: Antonio Brown Surrenders To Police]
A moving truck driver accused Brown and trainer Glen Holt of striking him after they refused to pay for his services. Holt was also arrested on one count of burglary with battery. When police arrived at his home, Brown refused to speak with them and locked himself inside.
The judge also ordered Brown to undergo a mental health evaluation, once he’s released from custody. Those close to Brown have been concerned about his mental state over the past year, including longtime agent Drew Rosenhaus, who says that he will not work with Brown again unless he gets help.
Brown is on the commissioner’s exempt list while the NFL continues its investigation.