Browns Claim They Fulfilled Rooney Rule In One-Day GM Hiring Process

The Browns fired executive VP of football operations Sashi Brown Thursday and hired former Chiefs GM John Dorsey as his replacement, within the same day. That was quick! The speedy process also brought up the question as to whether the team complied with the Rooney Rule in its search.

After the Browns announced they had hired Dorsey last night, USA Today Sports’ Jarrett Bell spoke with Fritz Pollard Alliance chairman John Wooten, who was furious with how the team conducted its hiring:

“I think John Dorsey is a very top quality GM,” Wooten told USA TODAY Sports in a text message. “I am livid that the Browns would totally ignore the work all of us to make the Rooney Rule meaningful.”

It is highly unlikely that within a single work day, the Browns could conduct enough interviews and paperwork to get their pick and also fulfill the Rooney Rule. This would suggest that Cleveland was looking for Brown’s replacement while he was still employed, which makes an already shady situation potentially even more fucked up. When Bell asked the Browns which minority candidate they interviewed, a spokesperson wouldn’t reveal any names. That’s even shadier! Today, sources—who definitely weren’t in Berea—threw out an actual name: former Bills GM Doug Whaley. Owner Jimmy Haslam went on the record but wouldn’t give any names.

Now, with how this played out, and with the abundant history of the Browns’ competence, and with everything we know about Jimmy Haslam, do you believe them?