On Friday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that he possibly will seek an exemption to the Rooney Rule, which would allow Jones to make interim coach Jason Garrett the permanent head coach without interviewing any minority candidates.
Don’t count on it happening.
As Charley Casserly of CBS reported during Sunday’s The NFL Today, and as we have confirmed, the NFL will not be acknowledging Jones’ self-described “extenuating circumstances.”
The relevant language of the Rooney Rule contemplates no exemptions when it comes to filling jobs held by interim coaches.
“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,” the rule states. “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.”
As we pointed out on Friday, Jones’ decision to muse publicly about a possible exemption will serve only to make it harder to persuade at least one minority candidate to interview for the job, since it could become obvious that Jones wants to hire Garrett.
