Together with the NFL's coach and general manager hiring cycle today in full swing, there's a sense of optimism in those early stages of the Madden nfl 21 coins process about the searches becoming more diverse and inclusive than anything else we have seen in the last several years. It's far too preliminary to make any proclamations, but through the first interviews for applicants not currently under NFL contracts, owners appear to be performing a more-than-cursory job of meeting with varied candidates, and there is a growing awareness among former and current NFL executives, coaching representatives, and one of the candidates of color themselves who 2021 can in reality be reflective of the composition of the NFL's locker rooms.

I'd call it cautious optimism, as NFL teams begin to submit formal request slips to interview coach and GM candidates. And Rod Graves, head of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which operates together with all the NFL in the pursuit of greater diversity in the management and coaching ranks.

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

There is not anything to champion before we see the final results of those hunts, but it seems more than lip service has been paid to The Rooney Rule, and there is a sense within the groups doing the hiring that the time for words is over -- that this league must be more equitable in who gets to sit in positions of power within the game, and, finally, only the owners themselves may alter this.

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

The league has become more competitive, proactive and consistent with its messaging to teams 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 lots of the very best candidates, the nature of the cycle will in fact differ.

"I've never felt a vibe similar to this earlier," said one prominent representative. "I believe Goodell has put the hammer down and these groups are receiving the message."

In the past Graves has broached the topic of pushing back all hires till after the Super Bowl to try to level the playing field for this in and outside of the match, providing the rules that govern the sport. However, so many coaches and cheap Madden 21 coins GMs being let go in-season this past year -- creating a more robust cycle of interviews while games were still being played is a dynamic that also could foster diversity.