Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hopes to avoid Rooney Rule
According to a report filed by ESPNDallas.com on Friday 19 November, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones has confirmed that he will ask the league to waive the Rooney Rule should he decide to bring interim head coach Jason Garrett on full-time.
According to the Rooney Rule, each team must interview at least one minority candidate for any available head coaching or front-office positions before filling said vacancy. However, Jones is apparently attempting to circumvent the league’s policies, citing
the uniqueness of this particular situation.
“There are some extenuating circumstances that are involved here,” Jones said during his weekly appearance on KRLD-FM when asked about the rule. “On my decision and how we make it, I’ll have the opportunity to present that to the league, so we’ll see how that
goes. But I really can’t give you any type of answer there because I’m not so sure I’m through working the process.”
According to the league’s current policies, an organization must comply with the Rooney Rule even if a coaching change is made during the season. Jones relieved former head coach, Wade Phillips, of his duties earlier this month, replacing him with the interim
Garrett.
Still, the NFL maintains that a team must abide by the Rooney Rule unless that organization had some previous contractual agreement to promote a member of the coaching staff to the head coaching position under such circumstances. Although he had previously
been serving as the team’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, Garrett has no such stipulation in his contract.
According to league policy, “Once the season is concluded, the head coaching position must be considered open and the club must fill the position in accordance with the interviewing guidelines. No club may make a commitment to a coach retained during the season
that extends beyond the end of the club’s playing season. Any contract that seeks to make such a commitment will not be approved. This in no way prevents a club from ultimately hiring the interim coach on a full-time basis after fulfilling the interview process
requirements.”
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