NFL insider notes: Optimism in diversity of coaching and Madden 21 coins GM hunts, Giants and Falcons updates and more

Together with the NFL's coach and general manager hiring cycle now in full swing, there is a feeling of confidence in these early stages of the procedure about the searches becoming more diverse and inclusive than anything else we have seen in the last several years. It's much too preliminary to make any proclamations, however during the initial interviews for candidates not under NFL contracts, owners appear to be doing a more-than-cursory task of meeting varied candidates, and there is a growing sense among former and current NFL executives, training representatives, and among the candidates of color themselves that 2021 can in reality be reflective of the composition of the NFL's locker rooms.

I would call it cautious optimism, as NFL teams start to submit formal request slips to interview coach and GM candidates. And Rod Graves, head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which works with the NFL from the pursuit of diversity in the management and coaching ranks.

"A great deal of credit goes to (Commissioner) Roger Goodell and (VP of football operations) Troy Vincent for its feeling of urgency which has developed relating to this issue over the previous 8-to-12 months."

There's nothing to winner until we see the final outcome of buy Mut 21 coins those searches, but it seems more than lip service has been paid to The Rooney Rule, and there is a sense within the classes doing the hiring that the time for words is over -- this league must be more equitable in who gets to sit in places of power within the game, and, finally, only the owners themselves may change that.