AROUND THENFL
NFL owners approve measures to improve diversity among coaches and front offices ... Thomas, Parker spar over Instagram poll ... League prepping for probable positive cases
In a better world, the most qualified person would always get the job, regardless of race, creed, colour or sex.
The NFL took a step toward becoming a better world Tuesday.
On a conference call of team owners, seven new measures were approved to increase employment opportunities and advancement for minorities and women.
Among them were changes to the “Rooney Rule,” which now requires teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for head coaching opportunities and at least one minority candidate for any coordinator job.
As it was, the rule required teams to interview only one minority candidate for head coach and none for a coordinator’s job.
“We believe these new policies demonstrate the NFL owners’ commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the NFL,” Steelers owner Art Rooney II, who is also the chairman of the league’s workplace diversity committee, said in a release.
“The development of young coaches and young executives is key to our future. These steps will assure coaching and football personnel are afforded a fair and equitable opportunity to advance throughout our football operations. We have taken important steps to ensure that our front offices, which represent our clubs in so many different ways, come to reflect the true diversity of our fans and our country.”
Teams now must interview one external minority candidate for senior football ops and GM jobs, while the league office must also interview minorities and/or female applicants for senior level positions, including team president jobs.
According to Jim Trotter of NFL Media, owners will vote next week on a resolution that would improve a team’s draft position if it hires a person of colour as head coach or GM.
Currently, the league has just four of the former and two of the latter.
“We’re not satisfied with where we are, we know we can and should do better,” NFL commissioner Roger
Goodell said on the call, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. “That’s why this package of seven initiatives is very significant. Our work here is not done.”
But a step has been taken in the right direction.
MANNING UP
The Washington Redskins website says Dexter Manley, the team’s all-time sacks leader and a former Ottawa Rough Rider, is improving in his battle with COVID-19. “He is doing much better,” former Washington great
John Riggins said on his podcast. “I’m not sure he was ever really that ill, but his oxygen levels were a little low. They put him on oxygen. He has never been on a ventilator. All of this stuff is improving as we speak. He’s still got a little ways to go.” Manley, 61, underwent 15 hours of brain surgery in 2006 to treat a Colloid cyst and is said to experience minor isolated memory loss. “He hopes to be back talking smack real soon,” said Larry Michael, the voice of the Redskins. “And that’s directly from (Manley’s wife) Lydia.”
WAR OF WORDS
The competitive juices are starting to boil, if an Instagram poll and the ensuing verbal slugfest between two receivers is any indication. The question: Which is tougher? A. Make a catch while guarded by Stephon Gilmore or B. Break up a pass while guarding Michael Thomas. A vote for ‘A’ was cast by DeVante Parker, who’s coming off a breakout season with the Dolphins.
Getting his nose out of joint with that was Thomas, the Saints superstar.
“For you, yes. Go run some numbers up. Then you can talk. I lapped you and you been in the league longer than me, first rounder.”
Parker replied: “Got some hard feeling there, brotha?? Let me get targeted 300 times a game.”
Thomas shot back: “In other words, you weak. They don’t even put your name in the same sentence as me. Remember that! You still not going to do nothing. It took you six years and 17 weeks to have a good game. GTFOH. Blame your parents, not no QB.”
Back to Parker: “Quite crying bra,” he wrote with several laughing emojis.
After a few more rounds, Thomas told Parker: “You can’t even get a seat at the table.”
From where we sit, the decision goes to Thomas.
THIRD AND GOAL
The NFL knows there’s no dodging the inevitable: Positive coronavirus cases will arise. The trick in getting through the season is in dealing with them. “Because we think that this disease will remain endemic in society, it shouldn’t be a surprise that new positive cases arise,” said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, per ESPN. com. “Our challenge is to identify them as quickly as possible and prevent spread to any other participants.
We’re working very diligently on that, and we’ll have some detailed plans at a later time.” ... Photos of Tom Brady throwing passes in an orange practice jersey and Bucs helmet at a local high school on Tuesday morning were published by the Tampa Bay
Times. It’s all good. Such informal workouts are allowed as long as they follow recommendations and guidelines of state and local authorities and medical experts, as well as those of the NFLPA.
SIDELINE TO SIDELINE
Finally, Steelers QB Ben
Roethlisberger has cleaned up, getting himself a haircut and shaving off the beard he has grown since a season-ending elbowing injury in Week 2. And the timing couldn’t be any worse, says Pennsylvania Gov. Tom
Wolf. “Anybody who puts himself or herself into harm’s way is something that I think we have to try to avoid,” he said during his daily briefing on Tuesday. “When you go to something like a barbershop and you’re not protected, I don’t care who you are, the chances of that virus actually wreaking havoc on your life increases. I don’t personally think any Pennsylvanian ought to take that chance. I certainly don’t want to take that chance myself.” About now, Ben has to be thinking the beard didn’t look that bad ... Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver will continue to participate in the team’s virtual off-season after being arrested Saturday night for driving intoxicated and unlawfully carrying a weapon. Oliver, the ninth-overall pick in 2019 who had 43 tackles and five sacks as a rookie, had an open beer between his legs when pulled over, and failed a field sobriety test. A pistol was discovered in his trunk.