Rooney Rule

Disclaimer:  This post is NOT about running or wine. 

I am not a fan of the NFL's Rooney Rule.  This rule states that a team, when in the process of hiring a head coach, must interview a minority candidate.  On the surface, this may make me out to be racially insensitive, but let's take a look at it from a different angle.  

Let's say that you are the owner of the Oakland Raiders.  You haven't had a winning season since you went to the super bowl in 2003.  All of a sudden Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots, becomes available.  Not only do you want him as your head coach, but he wants to coach the Raiders as well.  This dude has won 3 super bowls, so you KNOW he is qualified to be the head coach of an NFL team.  Instead of just offering him the job, you have to interview a minority candidate in order to fulfill the Rooney Rule.  I think this is degrading to the person in which you interview.  Do you keep an African-American coach on speed dial for these occasions?  I understand that there are very few African-American coaches in the NFL, however I do not think that instating a mandatory interview process will accomplish the goal that the owners think they will achieve.  I, maybe a bit naively, think that a team will hire THE BEST COACH POSSIBLE, whether he be black, white, green, or purple.  I know there is racism in the 21st century, but a team that does not hire the best head coach possible will have very little fan support.  Persons wishing to become head coaches in the NFL must pay their dues and progress at a rate that makes them stand out in the eyes of the owners.  (As a side note, I do believe there is a problem in the number of minority assistant coaches in the NFL.  I do think owners need to somehow think of solving that issue)  

Now to why I'm posting this.  The owners are about to expand the Rooney Rule to General Managers.  Thus, when hiring a new GM, teams must interview a minority candidate.  I think the same rule applies here.  I have no idea as to how many black (and let's face it, we are talking about African-Americans rather than any other minority group) GMs there are in the NFL, but I don't think a mandatory interview process is going to work.  I know there are qualified black candidates out there.  I mean if the Lions can go with Matt Millen forever, then they sure as hell can find a qualified minority candidate.  

I don't support the Rooney Rule, I don't support term limits, and I sure as hell don't support Tom Cable as the coach of the Raiders (At the powerhouse that is the University of Idaho, he obtained a record of 11-35, where he lost to Montana 4 times).  

I think there should be a Montana rule that states a team, when searching for a new QB, should have to try out at least one runner/wine drinker/rancher.

Sorry about this vent.