As Seattle executives were conducting a lengthy interview with Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier about their head coaching job Saturday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was telling the Cincinnati Enquirer that the Seahawks have not danced around following the Rooney Rule despite reports that Pete Carroll already has agreed to become their coach.
Joe Reedy of the Enquirer interviewed Goodell before the Bengals playoff game against the New York Jets and asked if either the Seahawks or Washington had failed to be in compliance with the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview a minority candidate for head coaching openings. The Redskins, of course, targeted and then quickly hired Mike Shanahan after the regular season ended last Sunday.
"They have in both cases," Goodell said of Seattle and Washington. "I can assure you they have complied with the rule with the information that I have. I mean I've been in contact with them so they've been in compliance. I can't give all the details but they're in compliance."
The NFL Network reports that the Seahawks interviewed other minority candidates last week. I bet that's going to come as a surprise to Jim Mora, who was fired on Friday.
Update: It sounds as if the interview between Frazier and Seattle CEO Tod Leiweke lasted for more than four hours today. If Leiweke's name sounds familiar it's because he's the former president of the Minnesota Wild.
