The 2023 NFL Season Thread

[damientheomen3]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

That was fast, I am guessing they had this lined up in case he left.
I am also going to guess he is well liked in the locker room and Bill gave his input as to who in the coaching staff should be named.

Apparently New England signed Mayo to a long term extension the previous offseason (a supposed rarity for assistant coaches) that included some kind of stipulation that would allow him to become the next head coach without the team needing to fully adhere to the Rooney Rule. The article that I read detailing that also said Belichick didn't like that Mayo was being treated as a near-future successor but that part kind of felt like drama-baiting.

One factor that could play a large hand in Bill's potential next landing spot: he had full personnel control in NE and would probably want to maintain that wherever he goes next. He was one of the worst GMs in the league once he couldn't do things like steal Randy Moss away from the Raiders, and any team like the Seahawks or the Eagles (now that I live in Philly my experience is EVERYBODY here wants Sirianni gone no matter the result and Belichick replacing him) that have a strong personnel department probably won't want to cede control/final say to him.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by damientheomen3

some kind of stipulation that would allow him to become the next head coach without the team needing to fully adhere to the Rooney Rule

I'm surprised the league would allow that. It sets a dangerous precedent.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by pilight

I'm surprised the league would allow that. It sets a dangerous precedent.

From somewhere on the world wide web:

The rapid promotion of Mayo, arriving less than 24 hours after Belichick’s departure, results from a clause within the Rooney Rule that allows teams to bypass that minority interview requirement with a written succession plan. If a team has such a contractual plan in place prior to the season in which the vacancy occurs, hires and promotions can be made immediately.

Mayo was the center of the Patriots’ succession plan when he received a contract extension a year ago. Other examples of NFL succession plans permitted within the Rooney Rule:

- The Baltimore Ravens transitioned from GM Ozzie Newsome to Eric DeCosta in 2019.
- The Indianapolis Colts moved from coach Tony Dungy to Jim Caldwell in 2009.
- The Seattle Seahawks turned from coach Mike Holmgren to Jim Mora in 2009.


Even if there was no succession plan but - like many instances over the years - a team knows who it wants, I don't see why they'd need to proceed with the charade of the Rooney Rule if the candidate they are targeting is a poc. I mean, that's the idea, right? When there's no doubt about who a team wants and that guy (or gal) is a poc, that's a win for the overall goal. I'd think.

[thehef]

Re a team hiring Belichick despite no head coach winning a Super Bowl title with one team and then moving to another team and winning a SB...

Originally Posted by Ragnar

They're not really going against anything. It's just happenstance that it hasn't already happened.

Agree. That's why I was saying it's worthy a try, that it will happen someday. It's just a freak statistic that indicates how hard it is to win a Super Bowl... It's kinda like a stat that Phil Jackson used to have: Something like he never lost a playoff series if he wins the first game. It's not like he became a better coach after winning the first game. It was just a statistical semi-oddity that happens when you coach good teams that win a lot of series'. But that stat was something you could take to the bank... until he lost a series where he won the first game

[pilight]

Originally Posted by thehef

From somewhere on the world wide web:

The rapid promotion of Mayo, arriving less than 24 hours after Belichick’s departure, results from a clause within the Rooney Rule that allows teams to bypass that minority interview requirement with a written succession plan. If a team has such a contractual plan in place prior to the season in which the vacancy occurs, hires and promotions can be made immediately.

Mayo was the center of the Patriots’ succession plan when he received a contract extension a year ago. Other examples of NFL succession plans permitted within the Rooney Rule:

- The Baltimore Ravens transitioned from GM Ozzie Newsome to Eric DeCosta in 2019.
- The Indianapolis Colts moved from coach Tony Dungy to Jim Caldwell in 2009.
- The Seattle Seahawks turned from coach Mike Holmgren to Jim Mora in 2009.


Even if there was no succession plan but - like many instances over the years - a team knows who it wants, I don't see why they'd need to proceed with the charade of the Rooney Rule if the candidate they are targeting is a poc. I mean, that's the idea, right? When there's no doubt about who a team wants and that guy (or gal) is a poc, that's a win for the overall goal. I'd think.

Yeah, but your examples demonstrate that most of the hires under the exception are not minorities.

[rudel.dietrich]

Mayo is himself black, so wouldn't they be adhering to it by hiring a minority coach?

I do not know the rule that well.

It would be weird to bring in other coaches and have them play out the interview process when you already have a black coach lined up.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Mayo is himself black, so wouldn't they be adhering to it by hiring a minority coach?

Currently the rule mandates interviewing two external minority candidates

[thehef]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Mayo is himself black, so wouldn't they be adhering to it by hiring a minority coach?

I do not know the rule that well.

It would be weird to bring in other coaches and have them play out the interview process when you already have a black coach lined up.

Ya, that's seem strange that if they would have to go through the charade if they already are targeting a black coach. Let's say the Patriots didn't have the succession plan in place, and that forced them to adhere to the Rooney Rule. So, in order to both comply and make it look like the two poc interviewees aren't part of a charade, they also interview two non-poc's. And then one of those non-poc's so impresses that they change gears and hire him...

Much like the succession plan exemption, seems like there ought to be one for when a team has already identified a poc as your only target for the job.

[Cobra Mgr]

If you're getting paid, how does that make you a volunteer?

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

If you're getting paid, how does that make you a volunteer?

I'm sure it's a tax dodge or possibly a liability issue

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by pilight

Currently the rule mandates interviewing two external minority candidates

A rule is a rule. But if you're a minority coach, are you going to waste your time in an interview when Belichick is also interviewing? Forget minority coach, any coach. Belichick is getting the job, don't waste your time.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

A rule is a rule. But if you're a minority coach, are you going to waste your time in an interview when Belichick is also interviewing? Forget minority coach, any coach. Belichick is getting the job, don't waste your time.

They might remember you interviewing well in two years when Belichick retires. Or they could say good things about you to other owners looking for coaches. Networking isn't always about immediate gain.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by pilight

They might remember you interviewing well in two years when Belichick retires. Or they could say good things about you to other owners looking for coaches. Networking isn't always about immediate gain.

I've heard this before, but has that benefit ever been realized? You're still going to have to interview again.

It's my opinion, like in many workplaces, the owner either already knows, or has a pretty good idea of who they want before the job posting hits the cork board.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

I've heard this before, but has that benefit ever been realized? You're still going to have to interview again.

It's my opinion, like in many workplaces, the owner either already knows, or has a pretty good idea of who they want before the job posting hits the cork board.

One of the many facets of the Rooney Rule was to give potential minority candidates experience in interviewing for coaching jobs. Another was to put minority candidates in the "spotlight" that may have not been thought of before. That is how Mike Tomlin got "discovered".

One of the problems of the Rooney Rule is the expectation that minorities will be hired off of it. That might be true if NFL interviews served the same purposes like most interviews are handled in job searches. Teams don't want the embarrassment of being rejected. And candidates don't want the embarrassment of not being chosen. So the interview isn't a weeding out process any longer for a lot of these openings. This is one of the reasons why the Rooney Rule doesn't have the intended effect.

Another reason is that prejudice is often subconscious and therefore execs don't recognize that color colors their decisions.

[pilight]

The Rooney Rule has had an effect. Minorities are far more likely to get head coaching jobs than they were before it was enacted.

Part of the reason it exists is to force execs to be more conscious of how race affects their decisions.

[Cobra Mgr]

Steelers v Bills delayed to Monday @ 430pm because of snow storm.

[Cobra Mgr]

NFL in talks to buy into ESPN.

SMH.

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by pilight

The Rooney Rule has had an effect. Minorities are far more likely to get head coaching jobs than they were before it was enacted.

Part of the reason it exists is to force execs to be more conscious of how race affects their decisions.

And also it’s just a fact that getting your foot in the door, however anyone may think you got the entrance because you were a minority status or not, potentially gets you extra job opportunities, if not with this exact interview then when people think back to it in the future.

Speaking of minority hires, in the aftermath of the Carroll firing Michael Sean Dugar of The Athletic had a podcast where he said he’d heard around the league that Eric Bienemy isn’t considered a top tier candidate. Anyone know why? This is what I see:

- dude coordinated one of the greatest offensive attacks of all time. Yeah, Mahomes, but he was an architect

- the moment he leaves to be an OC elsewhere, that offensive attack, Mahomes included, becomes merely average

- his new team has… I wouldn’t call it a great offense but it was way more plucky than it had any right to be, especially with Sam “poor man’s Russell Wilson” Howell at QB

He is #1 on my personal list of guys I’d like to see replace Carroll, although of course I am neither Jody Allen nor John Schneider. What is the rap on him? Guys with a lot less experience and a lot smaller set of accomplishments have been hired on as head coaches.

[pilight]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

NFL in talks to buy into ESPN.

SMH.

We might get fewer games on Peacock that way

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by pilight

We might get fewer games on Peacock that way

I think it is an unholy alliance. ESPN already sacrifices their integrity by trying to appease to the leagues. Deepening the relationship only makes it worse. And how fairly will ESPN's other assets be treated if decisions have to be made that conflict w/the NFL's?