In 1998, Jerry Jones interviewed Packers offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis before he hired Chan Gailey to be the team's next head coach. There was some speculation that Jones interviewed Lewis mostly for appearances -- Lewis is an African-American, and at the time the league was under heavy criticism for a lack of diversity among head coaches. In 2003, Jones interviewed Dennis Green before he hired Bill Parcells to be the team's next head coach. Jones' interview with Green consisted of a brief phone conversation, and some questioned whether he had violated the Rooney Rule, which requires each team to interview at least one minority candidate. But while Jones was just arguably violating the spirit of the Rooney Rule, Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen was blatantly violating the letter of the Rooney Rule by hiring Steve Mariucci without interviewing a minority candidate, and not much attention was paid to Jones.
This year Jones interviewed Cowboys secondary coach Todd Bowles, an African-American, in what some are calling simply a cursory interview before talking to his favored candidates, Norv Turner and Wade Phillips. Pro Football Talk is speculating that the league could change the rule to force teams to interview at least one minority candidate from outside the organization.
Combine that with today's report in The Dallas Morning News that the Cowboys have no African-Americans in their front office hierarchy, and it's hard to avoid the feeling that this could become a significant problem for Jones. Of course, there's one way he could put any controversy to rest: Hire Bowles as the Cowboys' next head coach.
Comments (Page 1 of 7)
In other words hire someone based on race rather than qualifications. Sounds like race discrimination...........
So what??? People should hire the best candidate, PERIOD, no matter the color of their skin. It seems to me the people who are trying to force others to hire with regard to race are the racists!
Give it a rest! The NBA is overtaken by "minorities", where that in itself is a joke. You don't hear people complaining about that, though, because you'll get in trouble for your opinions.
So what jones did as he was told to do he talked to the black guys like jesse jackson and al sharpton wanted . those 2 are the biggest racist there is if they would spend as much time trying to get the blacks to straighten there image up instead of the gang image they have than maybe that would be alot better than saying the white man is holding us down they need to stop putting there nose in eveybodys elses business how many times has jackson been locked up for this at protest he should be put away on the 3 times loser law
Diversity? Racism? Anyone surprised? Remember you are talking about the state of TEXAS. This is good ol'boy country and there are drawn lines.
Jones is an idiot and that is why his America's team is going to always flounder.
Let Jones hire the best man for the job. Color should not matter. Look at the Colts and the Bears. Their coaches have taken them to the big game. Owners want coaches that will win. Players want coaches that will win. Fans want coaches that will win. Let the owners hire who they want.
While I don't know the whole story on the front office, I do know that most of Jerry's kids hold some kind of position with the Cowboys.
As far as the Coaches are concerned, why hasn't any other team hired Sherman Lewis? It's been widely acknowledged on the Sports Talk shows that Jerry would love to hire Lovie Smith, but he's under contract. The Cowboys did hire Garret, but he is seen by many in the know, as a future Coaching great. I think that Jerry will do what's best for the Dallas Cowboys, whatever color it comes in.
Jones has the right to hire anyone he desires, but it would be nice to see him comply with the spirit of the rule rather than a 15 minute chat with an assistant on the old staff that everyone knows won't get any genuine consideration for the job. But I'll be happy to see him hire Norv Turner or Wade Phillips. It's a guarantee that the Cowboys will suck again next season. Go Bears.
Let the OWNER hire whoever he wants! He OWNS the team, he PAYS the players and coaches, he needs to hire the BEST PEOPLE FOR THE JOB--NOT the most politically correct people for the job! Nothing SCREAMS racism more than AFFIRMATIVE ACTION!!
They have no African-Americans? Since you seem to be an expert in the diversity of their front office, please let me know how many other etnicities are too poorly represented for you. Maybe he doesn't have enough Polish-Americans. Maybe, then, he'll have to give ME a job. Oops. Sorry. The media only recognizes 'African Americans' and 'whites'. At least when it comes to football. It's a big world with a lot of other people in it. If Jones doesn't want to hire them-big deal. Maybe he should hire Snoop to coach. He's got his own (pee-wee)football league, right? Not the best man for the job. But who cares? He's black. That seems to be all you're looking for.
Yes, it does seem as if Mr. Jones has a problem with minorities unless they are catching and running the "damn ball". This sort of good old boy attitude permeates society as well. When a person achieves a position of authority they hire people who are like themselves instead of the best candidate. Minorities are not asking for special treatment, just equal treatment.
I Really think it's sad that the in the year 2007 the Black Leadership is once again trying to bring up the 40's and 50's just to make a profit .... I have some Very and Best Friends who are Black and even they can't believe the Jesse's and Al's in today's world .. (of Course the Media helps the Ol'e School Black Leaders ..just for the Story's and They want people to be divided )... I Really think it's up to the owner who he wants to hire and nobody else ???
Go Texans :O) AFC Rules ... Or is AFC and NFC gonna be in a Class of Colors ?????
My only question for the Rooney Rule is if there becomes a black owner in the NFL, will they be required to hire a white candidate? That would be the Jones Rule.
This is private enterprise, not the state or federal government where some moron judge(s) forces the issue to hire / promote minorities who, sometimes, are clearly not as qualified. When a business owner who uses his own EARNED money for that business is no longer entitled to hire whom he wants, then we may as well face the fact that we're no longer a Republic but a Socialist state.
ITS A DAM SHAME THESE PEOPLE WOULD EVEN CONSIDER HIRING A PERSON BECAUSE OF HIS COLOR.YOU DONT SEE JESSE OR AL SHARPTON TELLING MICHAEL DELL OR DONALD TRUMP WHO TO HIRE ,BECAUSE THEY WOULD PROBABLY TELL THEM TO STICK IT WERE THE SUN DOESNT SHINE.AND BY THE WAY,WHY DO THE BLACK PEOPLE NOT LINE UP FOR THE TOP JOBS IN HUMAN RESOURCES,THEN THAT WAY THEY CAN COMUNICATE WITH THEIR OWN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST LET JERRY JONES HIRE WHOEVER HE WANTS HE IS THE OWNER YOU KNOW.
I'm sure Jerry Jones would even hire a Chinese Head Coach...if he thinks that coach is a winner!! No one walks into Microsoft Corp. and tells them who they should interview!! Last time I checked the 'Boys roster, I noticed plenty of black employees...look at the players!!
Jerry Jones has earned the right to hire whomever he pleases. Race isn't a factor when it comes to getting the best candidate. Anyone can do the same after he buys a great NFL team. Nobody has the right to make the owners hire someone based on their race.
I am so tired of hearing racism, in my own experience when I look at a coach I don't see black or white I see a man. You don't hear me calling myself a caucasian american, I'm just an American not a color.
The NFL has less African-American coaches to choose from because there are less African-American coaches in colleges and even high schools. This is where the focus needs to begin.
I am a Cowboys fan and I would take Lovie Smith or Bill Cowers WHOEVER gives us the BEST chance to WIN. BLACK OR WHITE matters not to me any more than it matters to Jerry Jones.
I didn't read the article that called out Jerry Jones, but I don't see any substancial evidence. Usually it is an overzealous reporter lokking to stir up controvery just to sell a story. This is the wave of our irresponsible media!
If Jerry Jones has an issue with interviewing blacks for the head coach position, I think it behooves the black players on the Cowboys to boycott or request a trade. As the owner, Jerry Jones can do whatever the hell he wants and as an employee if I dont like what the owner is doing I can boycott or resign.
Sorry, as great as America is, she still has issues with race. Its the goal to judge people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. We are getting better. You will always fools and racists in this world. Jerry Jones maybe one of them.
i think sports is simply modern day slavery anyways. especially the nba.they should really come up with some other name for a person who does "own" a team. Black players calling a white man "owner" really sets us back.instead of saying "get out there and pick that cotton and make me some money" they say"get out there and win that game and make me some money". its all right here in our faces.