Gunzlingr
05-27-2003, 08:21 AM
PHILADELPHIA—
At this week's NFL owners' meetings, the Detroit Lions didn't argue their case for escaping punishment by the league's committee on workplace diversity. But, then, they didn't have to.
Herman Edwards did it for them.
One of the league's most forceful and inspirational speakers, the New York Jets coach indirectly spoke out in defense of the Lions on Wednesday without referring to the team or its hiring of coach Steve Mariucci.
Mariucci, who is white, was hired in February without the Lions interviewing one African-American candidate — an apparent violation of the league's minority-hiring guidelines established in December.
The Lions said they were innocent, insisting they tried to interview at least five African-American assistants, including their own Sherman Lewis, but were rebuffed because the candidates believed Mariucci was a dead-bolt cinch for the job. That didn't fly with the league, which ordered an investigation by its committee on diversity hiring.
MORE (http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=1377856)
At this week's NFL owners' meetings, the Detroit Lions didn't argue their case for escaping punishment by the league's committee on workplace diversity. But, then, they didn't have to.
Herman Edwards did it for them.
One of the league's most forceful and inspirational speakers, the New York Jets coach indirectly spoke out in defense of the Lions on Wednesday without referring to the team or its hiring of coach Steve Mariucci.
Mariucci, who is white, was hired in February without the Lions interviewing one African-American candidate — an apparent violation of the league's minority-hiring guidelines established in December.
The Lions said they were innocent, insisting they tried to interview at least five African-American assistants, including their own Sherman Lewis, but were rebuffed because the candidates believed Mariucci was a dead-bolt cinch for the job. That didn't fly with the league, which ordered an investigation by its committee on diversity hiring.
MORE (http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=1377856)