RUMORS FLY THAT FORMER EMPLOYER(S) ARE TRASHING FASSEL

Over the weekend, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that former Giants coach Jim Fassel had a “terrific” interview for the vacant head-coaching job in St. Louis. But if Fassel doesn’t get the job there or elsewhere, he might want to poke around a bit regarding the things that one or more of his former employers are saying about him, either on or off the record. We’re hearing that one or more of Fassel’s former employers are sharing negative information with prospective employers about Fassel, and that these statements could be scaring other teams away from him. That said, anyone who is considering Fassel for employment should conduct an objective, meaningful, and good-faith background check, and seek information from all relevant resources, including former employers. And if the prospective employers get bad information about Fassel, they shouldn’t accept it at face value; they should investigate whether it’s accurate. In other words, no team should merely rely on rumors that former employers are saying unflattering things about Fassel. The Rams or the Raiders or the Argonauts or one of the to-be-named UFL franchises should do their own work and come to their own conclusions. Any other approach would be unfair to Fassel, and downright stoopid. It also would be downright stoopid for any former employer to say bad things about Fassel, either on the record or off the record. Most former employers in most other industries choose the “if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all” approach, given the liability issues that can arise -- especially if anything bad that the former employers say turn out to be untrue. Fassel has previously worked for the Raiders, Broncos, Cardinals, Giants, and Ravens. He was fired as head coach of the Giants after the 2003 season, and during the 2006 season by the Ravens, where he served as offensive coordinator.