News Article

The Numbers Still Don't Add Up

Washington Post

Published: October 03, 2002

Washington Post; Page D01
Thursday, October 3, 2002

The only thing wrong with the proposed class-action discrimination lawsuit against the NFL is that it doesn't extend to the NCAA.

In speaking for a constituency that has no real voice, the Cochran/Mehri group even cited statistical evidence that proves the few black coaches who have had a chance have won more games per season and reached the playoffs more frequently than their white peers…Of course, the success and failure of those men should have absolutely nothing to do with the legitimate candidacy of, say, Marvin Lewis, who ought to rise and fall on his own performance. But sadly, the reality is that a few men are still carrying the race banner, as if this were 1947 and Larry Doby was praying every night Jackie Robinson wouldn't screw anything up so that he, too, would get a chance.

Cochran said at a news conference in Baltimore the other day that he would rather not file a class-action suit, that he'd rather find some way for the NFL to voluntarily change. But the NFL has had years and years to do something about this and hasn't…There's been too much patience, too much passing the buck, too much excuse-making and too little action.

If the NFL and its owners can't find it within themselves to interview, consider and hire the best candidates available starting right this minute, then it's time for Cochran and Mehri to…serve notice to the NFL… that this is no longer going to be left to their discretion.