Haslett's Contract Voided
The NFL reportedly has voided the contract of St. Louis Rams Coach Jim Haslett. The contract reportedly contained a clause guaranteeing Haslett of retaining the job next season or receiving a sizable payment if the team won six games under him this season.
According to several reports, first by CBS Sports on its website, the league informed the Rams that the contract violates the rule requiring each team with a head coaching vacancy to interview at least one minority candidate.
That's consistent with what was reported here earlier this week. Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the chairman of the NFL's workplace diversity committee, said in a telephone interview Tuesday that the clause would have to be studied because, in Rooney's view, it skirted the minority interviewing rule, which is widely known as the Rooney rule. An NFL source said that day the Rams would be expected to interview at least one minority candidate. A Rams official said the club would comply with NFL hiring policies.
The Rams did not publicly acknowledge the existence of the clause in Haslett's contract.
The Rams are 2-0 since hiring Haslett to replace Scott Linehan, who was fired after an 0-4 start.
Haslett still is eligible to get the job. But the Rams must interview at least one minority candidate.
Rams President John Shaw told the Associated Press that the league informed the team of the decision Tuesday or Wednesday.
"We gave them the language with the incentive bonus and they said the contract wouldn't qualify," Shaw told the AP. "We were looking for a provision that would ensure him an extension if he won a certain amount of games."
Haslett's agent, Peter Schaffer, told the AP: "We are 100 percent behind the Rooney Rule, the intent, the goal and the application of it. We will do nothing to try to circumvent that rule.
"Jim wants to do everything in his power to further the goals of the Rooney Rule, and even if it works against him that's fine."
By
Mark Maske
|
October 25, 2008; 6:25 PM ET
| Category:
Diversity
,
League
,
Rams
Share This: Email | 
Technorati
| Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Previous: Winslow Accused of Verbal Abuse |
Next: Boldin Could Return Sunday
Posted by: Mark Maske | October 25, 2008 7:25 PM
I don't understand why it's voided if there's a alternative to being hired, specifically "or receiving a sizable payment". Can you explain that for us?
Posted by: WorstSeat | October 25, 2008 7:15 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I would guess in the league's view, the contract containing a significant financial obligation to Haslett if someone else is hired is unfair to other candidates.