The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport released its annual racial

While the NFL office continues to receive high grades for its racial hiring practices Womens Bobby McCain Jersey , a diversity report shows there are still major strides needed at the team level. giving the NFL as a whole an A- for its racial hiring — the ninth straight year it has received a grade or A- or better. The league received a C for gender hiring, giving it an overall grade of a B in racial and gender hiring practices.While the study's author Richard Lapchick said the league's grade for racial hiring was "impressive," he cautioned that the league's 32 teams simply need to do a better job of hiring people of color. "It shows that across the league, particularly from the commissioner's office, that there's an attempt to have a strong base for diversity," Lapchick said. "But the league is way ahead of the teams, particularly in (hiring at) senior level positions for women and people of color."The study found that of the 32 general managers, only four — or 12.5 percent — are people of color. Lapchick said that doesn't adequately reflect a league whose players are made up predominantly (72.6 percent) of people of color.The TIDES report was based on the 2018 season, so it was completed before five coaches of color were fired in the days after the season. That leaves only three coaches of color in the NFL currently — Los Angeles Chargers‘ Anthony Lynn Womens Danny Amendola Jersey , Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin and Carolina's Ron Rivera — although the Miami Dolphins are expected to hire Patriots assistant coach Brian Flores, who is black, after New England is finished playing in the Super Bowl.In 2017, the NFL matched its all-time high of eight head coaches of color first reached in 2011 with the addition of Vance Joseph in Denver and Lynn.The NFL has worked this past year to strengthen the Rooney Rule, a mandate that coaches of color must be interviewed for any vacant head coaching position. The new rules state that teams are now required to go outside of their own organizations to interview a candidate of color or interview a candidate who is on the league's career development advisory panel.Lapchick said based on the history of the NFL racial and gender hiring report, the coaching changes are a cyclical thing and he's confident it will swing back up with more coaches of color being hired in the future.Still, he said, four coaches of color are far too few.TIDES announced Wednesday it was not releasing the number of people of color in NFL coordinator positions because of a discrepancy they found in the report.The coordinator position was a point of concern two years ago when Lapchick said he was bothered by the lack of progress at that position, considering most head coaches first serve as coordinators. The percentage of assistant coaches of color dipped slightly from 31.9 percent a year ago to 31.4 percent in 2017.In terms of gender hiring, Lapchick said generally speaking none of the professional teams aren't doing well with the exception of the NBA http://www.thedolphinsfootballauthentic.com/davon-godchaux-jersey-authentic , where anticipates it won't be long before there is a female coach."That is something we have to pay more attention to," Lapchick said of the low gender hiring numbers.The issue, of course, is the NFL is a league made up of — and played — historically by men, which leaves women at a distinct disadvantage of getting hired.But Lapchick still sees a niche in NFL teams where women can flourish on the business side."A woman can be trained equally as well as a man can," Lapchick said. MIAMI (AP) — Contemplating the agony of the Miami Dolphins‘ latest defeat, coach Adam Gase drew on his experience, wishing he had less of it."You always debate — are you better off getting blown out, or losing in a heartbreaker," Gase said.His conclusion? "No matter which way you do it Youth Kenny Stills Jersey , it just hurts the same," he said.The Dolphins (7-7) have lost both ways too much this year. Ditto Jacksonville (4-10), Miami's opponent Sunday.Here are things to know about two teams afflicted with the holidays blahs:ALSO-RAN STATUSA 41-17 loss at Minnesota last week pushed Miami to the verge of elimination from the AFC playoff race, and dropped Gase's three-year record in games decided by more than one score to 3-18.That's a lot of lopsided losses, including three this year. The 2018 Dolphins also squandered fourth-quarter double-digit leads in two defeats.That's why they're ninth in the AFC race for six playoff berths. They'll likely be postseason spectators for the 15th time in the past 17 seasons."It is out of our hands," quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. "We do not have any control in this situation. We are going to need a lot of help."The Jaguars are beyond help. They've lost nine of their past 10 games and seem to be getting worse, scoring a total of 28 points in the three weeks since Cody Kessler replaced Blake Bortles at quarterback."What is on the field is my responsibility," said coach Doug Marrone, who is 15-17 with the Jaguars. "I have done a poor job of communicating, of keeping everyone on track Youth Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey , of keeping everyone consistent. That falls solely on me."GROUNDED JAGSJacksonville is one of two NFL teams (along with Philadelphia) that hasn't had a 100-yard rusher this season. Leonard Fournette gained 95 yards on the ground in consecutive games last month, but hasn't topped 50 yards rushing in the three weeks since ."Obviously it's shocking," said Marrone, whose offensive identity is to run the ball and take advantage of play-action passes.The Jaguars will try to end the skid against Miami, which ranks 31st in the league against the run.ROOKIE'S BREAKOUTNFL active rushing leader Frank Gore will miss the final two games because of a sprained foot, which likely will mean more snaps for Dolphins rookie Kalen Ballage.The fourth-round draft pick from Arizona State rushed for a career-high 123 yards last week, including 75 for his first career touchdown.Ballage wasn't keen to discuss his performance at Minnesota."Not to be rude or anything," he said, "but we lost."HOMECOMING OF SORTSFor Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell, a two-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection at the University of Miami http://www.thedolphinsfootballauthentic.com/kiko-alonso-jersey-authentic , this trip has more meaning than most."It's fun to compete in the old stomping grounds," Campbell said. "I found a lot of success in that city in college."Campbell had hoped to face Gore, one of his college teammates, and still plans on getting Gore's jersey — but not his Dolphins No. 21. Campbell, who spent the first nine years of his career in Arizona, plans on asking Gore for a San Francisco 49ers jersey since they had so many "great battles" in the NFC West.Gore spent 10 years in San Francisco.HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGEThe Dolphins have been awful on the road, but only one AFC team has a better home record than their 6-1 mark.Tannehill has won nine consecutive home starts. He has 17 touchdown passes and a 129.4 rating in his past six home games."It's an honor to get to go out and step foot on that field every time we get to play at home," Tannehill said. "We want to put on a good show for our fans."Jacksonville is 1-5 on the road, including losses of 40-7 at Dallas and 30-9 at Tennessee.