The Rooney Rule is an NFL policy that requires teams to interview ethnic-minority candidates for head coaching and senior football operation jobs. The rule was created to help coaches who are minorities but ESPN’s Ryan Clark isn’t convinced it’s effective.

Plus, the Cowboys were on-brand in their handling of Mike McCarthy, and thoughts about future contracts for Sam Darnold and Brock Purdy.

People in New England reportedly “disapproved” of the team’s handling of the Rooney Rule in the head coach search

In searching for the successor to Jerod Mayo, the Patriots adhered to the NFL’s Rooney Rule — still, one former front office executive is less than satisfied with the mere checking of boxes. “[The organization made] a mockery of the process,

Former NFL GM Rod Graves criticized the Patriots' usage of the Rooney Rule by interviewing two black candidates before hiring Mike Vrabel.

Mike Vrabel is believed to be the frontrunner for the head coaching job in New England, and the team quickly cleared a path to hiring him by interviewing former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and former Houston Texans offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton on Tuesday.

Last week, multiple noteworthy members of the NFL community accused the New England Patriots of completing "sham" interviews with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich ...

The Patriots announced they completed interviews with Byron Leftwich and Pep Hamilton on Tuesday. That makes them the first team to comply with the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to conduct in-person interviews with at least two minority candidates.

The Patriots are searching for a new coach after firing Jerod Mayo on Sunday following a brutal first season at the helm.

Robert Kraft has already satisfied the Rooney Rule by interviewing Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich in person, meaning the Patriots are the first of the six teams with a head-coaching vacancy who can make a hire.

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will interview with every team that has a head-coaching vacancy. Except one. Per multiple reports, Glenn declined an invitation to interview with the Patriots.

The Patriots are scheduled to interview Mike Vrabel on Thursday and are also expected to virtually interview Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson later this week.