"A great deal of credit goes to (Commissioner) Roger Goodell and (VP of football operations) Troy Vincent for Madden nfl 21 coins the sense of urgency which has developed relating to this issue over the past 8-to-12 months."

There's not anything to winner until we see the final outcome of these searches, but it appears more than lip service is being paid to The Rooney Rule, and there's a sense within the classes doing the hiring that time for words is over -- that this league has to be more equitable in who gets to sit in places of power within the sport, and, ultimately, only the owners themselves can change this.

Knowledgeable coaches such as Marvin Lewis and executives such as Rick Smith seem very poised at this stage to have a valid opportunity with multiple teams.

The league has become more aggressive, proactive and consistent with its messaging to teams about the requirement to alter how they have been doing business, and I've heard repeatedly from those doing the hiring, and people who represent lots of the top candidates, that the nature of this cycle will in reality be different.

"I have never felt that a vibe like this earlier," said one prominent agent. "I think Goodell has put the hammer down and these groups are getting the message."

Before Graves has broached the topic of pushing all hires back until after the Super Bowl to try to level the playing field for this in and beyond the match, giving the rules that govern the game. However, numerous coaches and GMs being let go in-season this past year -- creating a more robust cycle of interviews while games were still being played -- is a lively that also could foster diversity.

"The early decisions being made by owners, in a bid to have a head start, may become more of a trend moving ahead," Graves explained.

Obviously, this is not about just one hiring cycle, or a single blip. It's about a path correction in the way owners think and operate. And Graves wants to enlarge the scope of the thinking into all facets below the NFL's umbrella: NFL Films, NFL Media, and all ventures of the sort. He, and many others, wish to see the exact same management-level opportunities provided in those ventures also, and is currently working on a demonstration to that end for its spring meeting in March.

"This is something which requires a holistic approach," Graves explained. "It's about paring back the cover on the total NFL umbrella and analyzing diversity as it pertains to other companies, and cheap Madden 21 coins in some cases it is a lot worse there than what we have observed on the football side."