The Patriots followed the NFL's Rooney Rule when searching for Jerod Mayo's successor, but one former front office executive isn't happy with how the process went.
“[The organization made] It's a mockery of the process,” said Rod Graves, now executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting diversity and equality within the league. TMZ Sports interview.
Graves, who previously served as GM of the Cardinals and senior director of football administration for the Jets, said the Patriots did not properly consider two minority candidates who interviewed with the team, Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich. I talked about what I believe. Head coaching vacancy before Mike Vrabel was hired.
“There is certainly room for debate as to whether or not. [the Patriots] “We went through a fair 'Rooney Rule process' in hiring Mike Vrabel,” Graves told TMZ, adding that the team has made at least two outside minority hires to fill key positions such as head coach and general manager. He cited a league-wide obligation to interview partisan candidates.
Graves argued that the Patriots were following the rules, but that owner Robert Kraft and others were simply handing the reins to Vrabel, a former linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion with New England.
As reported by multiple media outlets during the recruiting process, Vrabel was considered the top candidate the moment Mayo was canned, and Aaron Glenn, one of this cycle's top prospects, declined to interview with the Patriots. It is reported that.
Even the selection of Hamilton and Leftwich seemed poignant and deliberate. Both are former NFL offensive coordinators, but neither currently plays for a professional team.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer previously said New England's coaching search is a coaching search. “Fake” and “complete garbage”.
To no one's surprise, Vrabel, who took his first professional head coaching job with the Titans and held the job for six seasons, was sworn in Monday in Foxboro.
“I, [Rooney Rule] I was on the hiring and working side of the league, so that can sometimes be a challenge. especially, [an owner knows who they want to hire and have already made a decision]” Graves continued. “[But when] Teams choose to skip the serious interview process…which goes against the spirit of the rules. ”
Graves said the spirit of the rule is similar to the mission of the Fritz Pollard Alliance. ”[Create] Fair opportunities for everyone, not just minorities… [foster] It is an open process that gives fair consideration to everyone who deserves consideration. ”
