NFL Says No To Haslett’s Win-Based Contract
27/10/2008 02:42
ST. LOUIS - The NFL denied the St. Louis Rams' attempt to rework a contract with coach Jim Haslett that would ensure him a job beyond this season if he won six games because of a requirement that minority candidates be interviewed for head coaching vacancies.
Team president John Shaw said Saturday in a telephone interview with The AP that the league office cited the Rooney Rule when informing the Rams earlier this week, "either Tuesday or Wednesday." The story was first reported by ESPN.
"We gave them the language with the incentive bonus and they said the contract wouldn't qualify," Shaw said. "We were looking for a provision that would ensure him an extension if he won a certain amount of games."
Language in Haslett's contract refers to him as the head coach, not the interim coach. But Haslett's agent said his client has no problem going through the interview process and wanted to make it clear there was no intent to sneak a deal past the NFL.
"We are 100 per cent behind the Rooney Rule, the intent, the goal and the application of it," Peter Schaffer told The AP. "We will do nothing to try to circumvent that rule.
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SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
You know, it’s nonsense like the “Rooney Rule” that makes me absolutely livid, folks. The NFL has to interview “minority” candidates for head coaching position vacancies? This sounds like the Canadian federal public service to me. Whatever happened to the most qualified candidate getting the job?