NFL looks to expand ‘Rooney Rule’

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — NFL teams looking to hire general managers may soon be required to interview at least one minority candidate.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday the league’s owners discussed expanding the Rooney Rule — which already applies to coaching openings — during the final session of their two-day meetings in South Florida. No vote was taken, though Goodell indicated any changes could be made soon.

“It’s a judgment I will make with the diversity committee,” Goodell said.

The Rooney Rule is named for Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who was not at the meeting for a good reason: He’s at what Goodell described as “ambassador school.”

Rooney, a lifelong Republican, was picked by President Barack Obama earlier this year to be U.S. ambassador to Ireland.

“When he gets concluded with his tutoring, I will probably speak with him and we’ll make a determination from there,” Goodell said.

The Rooney Rule was born nearly seven years ago, when two lawyers threatened to sue the NFL if it didn’t open up more opportunities for minorities. Rooney led a committee to develop a policy to stop what the league viewed as an embarrassing lack of diversity.

In other developments before the meetings closed Wednesday morning with a 21‚Ñ2-hour session:

USeeking ways to generate new revenue streams, NFL clubs can now arrange to have their logos on cards sold by their respective state lotteries.

UTalks were held on a tougher anti-tampering stance involving free agents, although Goodell said some owners simply suggested that clubs adhere to the rules already in place.

Some teams have said clubs have illegally reached out to agents before signing periods begin, which could theoretically make it tougher for a team to re-sign its own player. The proposed change would likely install a short window of opportunity for teams to talk to free agents before the signing period begins — but with no contracts finalized.

•More talks were held on a 17- or 18-game regular season, but once again no vote was held and the league’s analysis of such a move will continue.