With the NFL's coach and general manager hiring cycle today in full swing, there's a sense of optimism in those early phases of the Madden nfl 21 coins process about the hunts being more diverse and inclusive than anything we've seen in recent years. It's much too preliminary to make any proclamations, but during the initial interviews for candidates not under NFL contracts, owners seem to be performing a more-than-cursory job of meeting with varied candidates, and there is an increasing awareness among former and current NFL executives, coaching representatives, and one of 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. Along with Rod Graves, head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which operates with the NFL in the pursuit of greater diversity in the coaching and management ranks.

"A lot of credit goes to (Commissioner) Roger Goodell and (VP of football operations) Troy Vincent for the feeling of urgency that has developed about this problem over the previous 8-to-12 months"

There's not anything to winner before we see the final outcome of these searches, but it seems more than lip service is being paid into The Rooney Rule, and there's a sense within the groups doing the hiring which the time for words is over -- this league must be equitable in who gets to sit in positions of power within the sport, and, finally, just the owners themselves may change this.

Knowledgeable coaches like Marvin Lewis and executives like Rick Smith seem really poised at this point to have a valid opportunity with numerous teams. There's hope that 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will have better luck this time around.

The team has become more competitive, proactive and consistent with its messaging to groups about the need to alter how they have been doing business, and I have heard repeatedly from those doing the hiring, and people who represent many of the top candidates, that the nature of this cycle will in fact be different.

"I've never felt that a vibe similar to this before," said one prominent agent. "I think Goodell has put down the cheap mut coins madden 21 hammer and these teams are receiving the message."