Much has been said about the various rule changes proposed by the Competition Committee for 2012. Not much has been said about the the rules that won’t be changed.
The current rules permit a coach whose team’s season has finished to be released from the balance of his contract during the postseason, and then to join another team. It’s something that players can’t do; once the postseason starts, the rosters lock until after the Super Bowl.
In January 2012, the Rams did it with former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, releasing his rights after the regular season ended, which allowed him to take a job with the Patriots for the playoff run.
Though the maneuver seems unfair at a visceral level, the Competition Committee has not recommended a change to the rules.
"[W]e didn’t think there was a rule change necessary with respect to that situation,” Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said at a Monday press conference.
It’s a mistake, and when we put it out to a vote in January nearly 70 percent of you agreed.