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At center of debate over diversity among NFL coaches, Eric Bieniemy takes conciliatory tone

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eric Bieniemy walked into his weekly news conference on Thursday with a grin and a message to deliver — just not the one some might have expected him to have.

After missing out on head coaching jobs he interviewed for with the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, Bieniemy had spent much of the previous 48 hours in the news cycle as a hot topic. His inability to snare either job after two successful years as Andy Reid’s offensive coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs has led many to question the effectiveness of the Rooney Rule and ponder ways to help a league that’s 70 percent black put more minorities in head coaching positions.