| | GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Wednesday that he has gotten personal assurances from Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf that he is committed to increasing the number of black coaches in the NFL.
Jackson, president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, said in a news
release that he had a "very amicable" telephone conversation with
Wolf on Tuesday to express concern about the team's firing of coach
Ray Rhodes after only one season.
Rhodes, one of only three black head coaches in the NFL last
season, was fired the day the Packers finished 8-8 and failed to
make the playoffs for the first time since 1992.
"He assured us of his commitment to racial inclusion and
expansion of black coaches' ranks," Jackson said. "He shared our
concern about the implications of his decision and vowed to work
with us in expanding the number of black coaches."
Jackson and Charles Farrell, his top aide on sports issues, sent
a letter to Wolf last week, inquiring whether Rhodes was "held to
a different standard" because of his race.
The letter also expressed the coalition's "grave concerns and
disappointment" over the firing of Rhodes' top assistants,
offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis and defensive coordinator
Emmitt Thomas.
Along with Rhodes, Lewis and Thomas headed the NFL's first
coaching staff with blacks in the top three positions.
"This sweep eliminated two others from head coaching
consideration," Jackson said Wednesday. "It took a heavy toll
beyond Ray Rhodes and that needs to be fully understood."
The civil rights advocate also said he wants to work with Wolf
and others in the NFL to "address the positive challenge of
developing new black coaches."
Farrell said Wolf shared some additional reasons why he made the
decision to fire Rhodes, but he refused to disclose details.
"Let's just say we have a much better idea of what went into
the decision," Farrell said, "and we know it was a difficult and
disappointing ordeal for Mr. Wolf and Coach Rhodes."
Packers spokesman Lee Remmel said Wolf declined comment on the
conversation. | |
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