ESPN: Redskins to Interview G. Williams Today

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Redskins_P

Hopefully everything goes well in the interview and GW gets the job.

I wonder what happens to Saunders if GW gets the job? Do you guys think he'll stick around?

I hope he does. We certainly seemed to be making progress under his offensive game plan. I wish there was someone on the offensive coaching staff who stood out as being able to step up to a more prominent role. On the defensive side if Williams were to leave or move up to HC, you know someone like Jerry Gray is capable of stepping into the DC (or Asst. Head Coach-Defense) role. But if the same happened with Saunders, is there someone on the staff that could step up? I don't know that there is? Byner? Hixon?

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Unfortunately, Williams' contract didn't have that language in it. But Caldwell isn't the only minority candidate out there. There are plenty of other qualified candidates out there (if they don't want to wait).

Greg Blache

[Redskins247]

Originally Posted by WillH

There is no reason for him not to. He probably isnt going to get any HC offers, and it would take another two years to teach a different team his system if he were to be OC elsewhere. If it is up to him I am sure he'll stay. So it is really up to the next HC, and if that is GW Id be surprised if he sent him packing.

I agree and HOPE that you are right in that...nothing would please me and at least 300,000 people more!

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

After looking into this rooney rule this might not apply to the Redskins or GW at all, depends on his contract language.
Rooney Rule - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

True.

"On the December 19-20 conference calls, the owners strongly agreed on the principle that any club seeking to hire a head coach will interview one or more minority applicants for the position. The one exception occurs when a club has made a prior contractual commitment to promote a member of its own staff and no additional interviewing takes place (e.g. Mike Martz and the St. Louis Rams in 2000)."

But I'm wondering exactly how Gregg Williams' contract is worded concerning this. If his contract would say something like, "If the head coach resigns or is fired, you will be promoted as the new Redskins head coach," then all this interviewing is nothing more than a smokescreen to work out details of Williams' head coaching contract. If, on the other hand, it states, "If the head coach resigns or is fired, you will be a candidate to replace the head coach" that might be taken differently. He would be a candidate for the job, but it isn't to say that he would be the next head coach. This would mean to me that the Rooney Rule would apply in this situation.

Speaking of Williams' contract, does he or does he not have a clause in his contract that states he receives a million dollars if he is not selected as the Redskins next head coach? I have heard he does and I have heard he doesn't.

[WillH]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Unfortunately, Williams' contract didn't have that language in it. But Caldwell isn't the only minority candidate out there. There are plenty of other qualified candidates out there (if they don't want to wait).

This all seems so hokey. I understand the need for the rule. In fact I'm a strong supporter of equal opportunity and all that, but this seems to have become very artificial if you ask me. Well, I guess it is working to some degree, Tomlin got his job because of it. It is frustrating as a Skins fan right now, but its worth it for the sake of overall equality.

I guess my point is, Id rather see the redskins take a serious look at the guy from the Colts if they think that is the best minority coach option then dick around with someone they have no intention of really even considering.

Not that that is what you were saying just ranting...

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Unfortunately, Williams' contract didn't have that language in it. But Caldwell isn't the only minority candidate out there. There are plenty of other qualified candidates out there (if they don't want to wait).

Ah...thanks for answering my question SmootSmack!

This is why I'm unsure if Dan, Vinny, and maybe even Gibbs feel that Gregg Williams is the best man for the job. Seems like if the job is Gregg's, they could just go ahead and interview Singletary and be done with the Rooney Rule.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Ah...thanks for answering my question SmootSmack!

This is why I'm unsure if Dan, Vinny, and maybe even Gibbs feel that Gregg Williams is the best man for the job. Seems like if the job is Gregg's, they could just go ahead and interview Singletary and be done with the Rooney Rule.

Might not be that easy to just interview Singletary (Especially when you know you don't want him)? But I would think it would be very easy to do an in-house interview of a minority.

Of real head coach material like Blache and meet the rule requirements.

[WillH]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

True.

"On the December 19-20 conference calls, the owners strongly agreed on the principle that any club seeking to hire a head coach will interview one or more minority applicants for the position. The one exception occurs when a club has made a prior contractual commitment to promote a member of its own staff and no additional interviewing takes place (e.g. Mike Martz and the St. Louis Rams in 2000)."

But I'm wondering exactly how Gregg Williams' contract is worded concerning this. If his contract would say something like, "If the head coach resigns or is fired, you will be promoted as the new Redskins head coach," then all this interviewing is nothing more than a smokescreen to work out details of Williams' head coaching contract. If, on the other hand, it states, "If the head coach resigns or is fired, you will be a candidate to replace the head coach" that might be taken differently. He would be a candidate for the job, but it isn't to say that he would be the next head coach. This would mean to me that the Rooney Rule would apply in this situation.

Speaking of Williams' contract, does he or does he not have a clause in his contract that states he receives a million dollars if he is not selected as the Redskins next head coach? I have heard he does and I have heard he doesn't.

Other interviews have taken place, requiring the Rooney Rule regardless of the wording of GW's contract, but I guess the fact that there have been other interviews suggests the second scenario you put forth, if there is anything in his contract about it at all.

[skinsguy]

Here is Jason La Canfora's latest blog concerning Gregg Williams, Russ Grimm, Greg Blache, and a possiblity of hiring a GM.

Redskins Insider

Greg Blache is not interested in the head coaching position nor is he interested in interviewing for it.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by WillH

This all seems so hokey. I understand the need for the rule. In fact I'm a strong supporter of equal opportunity and all that, but this seems to have become very artificial if you ask me. Well, I guess it is working to some degree, Tomlin got his job because of it. It is frustrating as a Skins fan right now, but its worth it for the sake of overall equality.

I guess my point is, Id rather see the redskins take a serious look at the guy from the Colts if they think that is the best minority coach option then dick around with someone they have no intention of really even considering.

Not that that is what you were saying just ranting...

Personally I think it's a bit unfair to say Tomlin got the job because of the Rooney Rule. He may have gotten the interview, but he earned the job through his previous work, and his interview. IMO.

[Redskins_P]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Here is Jason La Canfora's latest blog concerning Gregg Williams, Russ Grimm, Greg Blache, and a possiblity of hiring a GM.

Redskins Insider

Greg Blache is not interested in the head coaching position nor is he interested in interviewing for it.

Hiring a GM? Man, this place would go crazy if that happened.

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Redskins_P

Hiring a GM? Man, this place would go crazy if that happened.

Unfortunately, I reread that part, and I think it's a typo. Looks like Jason meant to say, "There would be no GM hired."

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by skinsguy

Here is Jason La Canfora's latest blog concerning Gregg Williams, Russ Grimm, Greg Blache, and a possiblity of hiring a GM.

Redskins Insider

Greg Blache is not interested in the head coaching position nor is he interested in interviewing for it.

Good stuff. I imagine he meant "no GM hired" not "on GM hired"

Changes made to the offensive side of the ball I imagine means to the coaching staff (guys like Burns, Breaux)

I keep hearing so many different things about Grimm that I'm not sure what's true anymore. I've heard they interviewed, they spoke but it wasn't an interview, they have gotten permission yet to interview, Grimm declined any interview request. So who knows.

Seems like Greg Blache is almost done with coaching altogether

[WillH]

I almost feel like Danny should just take the fine rather then do some B.S. interview. It may not be PC, but IMO it would be worse to have a fake interview for the sake of complying to the Rooney Rule. I wonder if the rest of the league would understand that, or if it would be considered a slap in the face of minorities in the league. I kind of feel like it is more degrading to string a man along if you have no intentions on hiring him.

Well, anyways, maybe that secret interview in Az (that apparently wasn't Russ Grimm now?) was with some minority coach, and this will all be squared away by the end of the weekend, if not by this evening.

[WillH]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Personally I think it's a bit unfair to say Tomlin got the job because of the Rooney Rule. He may have gotten the interview, but he earned the job through his previous work, and his interview. IMO.

Oh no doubt, I did not mean to imply he only got the job because he is a minority, only that he was given the opportunity. Apparently Russ Grimm was the heir apparent in that situation, but the Rooney Rule gave Tomlin the opportunity to present his case, and he obviously was the best candidate.