In searching for a successor to Jerrod Mayo, the Patriots adhered to the NFL's Rooney Rule — but one former front office executive wasn't happy with the way the process went.
“[The organization made] It's a mockery of the process, Rod Graves, who now serves as executive director of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting diversity and equality within the league, said in an interview with TMZ Sports.
Graves, who was previously the Cardinals' general manager and senior director of football management with the Jets, discussed how he believes the Patriots did not give proper consideration to the two minority candidates — Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich — who were interviewed for the team's selection. The head coaching position is vacant prior to the hiring of Mike Vrabel.
“It can certainly be debated whether or not that is the case [the Patriots] “I went through a fair Rooney Rule process in hiring Mike Vrabel,” Graves told TMZ, referring to the league-wide mandate that teams interview at least two outside minority candidates for vacancies in high-profile positions like head coach and general manager.
While the Patriots obeyed the rule, Graves claims owner Robert Kraft and his company only intended to hand the reins over to Vrabel, a former linebacker and three-time Super Bowl champion with New England.
As several media outlets reported during the recruiting process, Vrabel was viewed as the front-runner the moment May was canned, and Aaron Glenn, one of the top prospects this cycle, reportedly declined an interview with the Patriots.
Even the selection of Hamilton and Leftwich seemed poignant and intentional, as both are former offensive coordinators in the NFL, but neither is currently associated with any professional teams.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer previously said the coaching search in New England was a “sham” and “complete garbage.”
To the surprise of no one, Vrabel — who earned his first professional coaching job with the Titans, a job he held for six seasons — was sworn in in Foxboro on Monday.
“I realize that [Rooney Rule] It is a challenge from time to time, as I have been in favor of recruiting and working in the league, especially when there are situations when [an owner knows who they want to hire and have already made a decision]Graves continued. “[But when] Teams are choosing to forego the serious interview process…which goes against the spirit of the rule.
The spirit of Al Qaeda, as Graves sees it, is very similar to the mission of the Fritz Pollard Alliance: “[Create] Fair opportunities for all, not just minorities… [foster] An open process that fairly considers everyone who deserves consideration.
