At least Smith had an opportunity. Caldwell didn’t. Neither did Winston Moss, an assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the Green Bay Packers.
“I’m probably more disappointed that Jim Caldwell and Winston Moss didn’t get interviews,” Wooten said. “Caldwell could’ve been undefeated his rookie year if (then Colts general manager) Bill Polian doesn’t make the decision to bench Manning. And Moss is such an impressive coach. Look at the way he held together the Packers’ linebackers with all their injuries.”
Keith Armstrong, special teams coach for Atlanta, interviewed for vacancies with Kansas City, Philadelphia and Chicago. Armstrong wasn’t really considered a serious candidate for those teams. Some believe he was granted interviews simply to satisfy the Rooney Rule. The Chiefs hired Andy Reid just a few days after the Eagles fired him. The Bears chose Marc Trestman.
“I would never tell a guy not to take an interview because it’s not a realistic interview,” Wooten said. “Keith Armstrong is a strong talent evaluator and excellent coach.”
There were a total of 203 minority coaches in the NFL in 2012, including six head coaches. With Smith and Romeo Crennel out, only four minorities will start the 2013 season as head coaches. That’s the fewest since 2003.
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobMaaddi
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Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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