“I believe’cautious optimism’ is the ideal way to frame it,” Graves told me Sunday afternoon. “A great deal of credit goes to Mut 21 coins (Commissioner) Roger Goodell and (VP of football operations) Troy Vincent for the sense of urgency which has developed about this problem over the previous 8-to-12 months”

There is nothing to champion before we see the final outcome of these hunts, but it seems more than lip service has been paid to The Rooney Rule, and there’s a sense within the classes doing the hiring that time for words is over — that this league must be equitable in who gets to sit in places of power inside the sport, and, ultimately, just the owners themselves may alter that.

Experienced coaches like Marvin Lewis and executives like Rick Smith seem really poised at this point to have a valid opportunity with numerous teams.

The team has become more aggressive, proactive and consistent with its messaging to teams about the requirement to alter how they have been doing business, and I have heard repeatedly from those doing the hiring, and those who represent many of the very best candidates, that the nature of this cycle will in reality be different.

“I have never felt a vibe like this before,” said one prominent agent. “I think Goodell has put the hammer down and cheap Madden 21 coins these groups are receiving the message.”