Minorities who are still too little present among coaches, the investigation into allegations of sexual harassment in Washington and the prosecution of Brian Flores which reports potential cases of racism and lack of integrity… The hot issues are are accumulated during the traditional press conference of the commissioner Roger Goodell on the sidelines of the Super Bowl.
If you think Gary Bettman is under pressure because he gets booed every time he goes to an NHL arena, that’s small beer compared to the increasingly embarrassing questions thrown at Goodell during of his rare media appearances.
While his message is commendable, it offers very little concreteness. It’s easy to see that even though Goodell manages a football league and not a hockey league, he’s very skilled in the art of skating.
“We believe in diversity. We must continue to observe and ask questions to find ways to do better. We are not doing our job well enough, ”said the big boss.
Low proportion
Of the nine head coaches hired since the end of the season, two are from minorities, namely Mike McDaniel (Dolphins) and Lovie Smith (Texans). They therefore join Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Robert Saleh (Jets) and Ron Rivera (Commanders).
The proportion remains very low on 32 teams. To this end, the commissioner does not rule out a complete overhaul of the “Rooney rule”, which obliges teams to organize at least two interviews with minority candidates.
“How will we change this rule? We will work tirelessly until we find solutions to truly become an inclusive league,” said Goodell.
The Flores case
Precisely, in the last few weeks, Brian Flores was dismissed from his duties in Miami. He fought back with a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging he was involved in biased interview processes.
He also believes he was the victim of racist treatment and assures that the integrity of the NFL is at stake since the owner of the Dolphins Stephen Ross would have offered him $ 100,000 per loss to ensure he gets the first pick in the draft, in 2019.
“These allegations are very disturbing. We will study everything very seriously and if there have been violations, they will not be tolerated,” insisted Goodell. The situation of the Washington Commanders, where dozens of ex-employees claim to have experienced situations of sexual harassment, will be reassessed as part of a new investigation by the league. Goodell certainly would have preferred to talk about the festivities, which he partly did. But with each of his annual exercises, the tension continues to mount.
A former Alouettes with angels
Andrew Hawkins has always been wholeheartedly with the Bengals. After getting his first shot at professional football in Montreal, the receiver spent three seasons with them, but the ultimate goal of the Super Bowl always eluded him. Today, he is living the dream vicariously.
It was in the summer heat, on the terrace of a chic hotel in downtown Los Angeles, that the meeting with Hawkins took place. The sun, despite his best efforts, could never have been as bright as the smile of the man who caught 86 passes for 995 yards and four touchdowns in 35 games with the Bengals, from 2011 to 2013.
“I remember growing up just praying for the Bengals to have a winning season. Here they are at the Super Bowl, it’s crazy! Before the season, there were 0% of people who would have predicted such a scenario, even the biggest Bengals fans in the world. I was very emotional when they beat the Chiefs, ”said the one who is now an analyst at NFL Network.
His brother Artrell had been a cornerback for the Bengals from 1998 to 2003, which explains the partisanship that developed.
A handful of recruiters
For having lived inside the organization, Andrew Hawkins has always understood that the Bengals were a band apart in their small market.
Across the NFL, no team has fewer scouts than the six employed by the Bengals, including director of player personnel Duke Tobin. By comparison, the Rams, their Super Bowl opponents, have 26 scouts. Aside from the Bengals, no team employs less than 15 scouts.
“The Bengals, for most of the past few years, have been solid at spotting talent. I still remember my tryout in front of Duke Tobin and he saw something in me, even though I was 5’7″ and playing in Canada. It’s a microcosm of how they evaluate players. They got the best out of me, as they did with others,” he said.
“I myself have worked a bit in the recruiting world and the most important thing is to believe in his reviews. You can’t afford to be swayed and I believe the Bengals stand by their beliefs more than any other team.”
Love for Montreal
Just because his Bengals are in the Super Bowl and he lives comfortably in Los Angeles doesn’t mean Hawkins has forgotten the good times he had in Montreal, where he helped win two Gray Cups in 2009 and 2010.
“It would definitely be my favorite city in North America…if the winters weren’t so long! I would live there year round if it wasn’t for that. I loved my years in Montreal and I think the Canadian League is clearly not getting the credit it deserves.
“At my first practice in Cincinnati, my position coach asked me where I had played before. I told him that I had played in Montreal. He saw right away that I wasn’t out of college. My game was polished and I understood the game when I arrived in Cincinnati. I was a man.”
A man, yes, but who kept his child’s heart as the Super Bowl approached.
“You have to be stupid to think the Bengals don’t stand a chance. I know I’m biased, but there’s a family spirit when you play in Cincinnati. It is one of the smallest markets in the NFL, which operates on small resources. Even when you’ve played for other teams, when it’s all over, you still feel part of the Bengals.”
