As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced the hiring of Lovie Smith to be their new coach, the Detroit Free Press reported that one observer said the NFL diversity committee has the hiring process for coaches "going the right way."
In addition to Smith's move to Tampa Bay, the Houston Texans have hired Penn State coach Bill O'Brien. The Texans fulfilled the Rooney Rule by interviewing Smith last month. Also, former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell is scheduled to interview with the Detroit Lions and the Washington Redskins.
The Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching positions, was criticized with too many owners not following it. The issue of minority hiring was a subject at the Annual League Meeting last March.
Wooten's group has been outspoken about increasing the number of minorities in key positions in the NFL, which has seen those numbers drop in recent years. He met with NFL officials Dec. 13 to suggest a list of minority candidates for these jobs.
-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor
