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Texas owner Cal McNair’s head coach search, as she enters this new phase now led by new general manager Nick Caserio, will be among the most scrutinized hires in recent history. The unusual nature of the process at this point has already succeeded in shaking many factions around the NFL while throwing McNair into a difficult light.
To review, the owner ostensibly oversaw GM’s chief coaching and research, and he was very vocal in how he built coalitions comprising many parties inside and outside his organization. Former player Andre Johnson, current quarterback Deshaun Watson, former Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy, Texans team president, and research firm Korn Ferry were all supposed to help guide the pursuit. . Only things took a turn for the worse quickly enough, according to many sources with first-hand knowledge of the situation.
Many of the candidates interviewed, including seasoned black candidates like Marvin Lewis and Jim Caldwell, could be excused for feeling like they were being used as McNair was essentially doing parallel research for these openings – simultaneously interviewing the men suggested by the company. of research. pining for Caserio, whom he tried to hire in the past and clearly wanted from the start. McNair hired Caserio before the full list of CEO talks ended and a few hours after the ongoing talks were completed. This represents the expense of a previous list of coaching interview requests that had previously been posted but are now largely irrelevant as he and Caserio begin their new research this week.
There has been little to no actual communication with many people who have been made to believe this will be a diverse and radical process. The committees represented very little.
“Cal was going to do whatever he wanted to do,” an adviser told a member of that coalition, “and if they really do meet, I guess my guy wasn’t invited.”
The end result pissed off many. You can see why.
The franchise quarterback, who has lost years to the Bill O’Brien debacle, is particularly disturbed. As CBS Sports first reported in October, Watson had a distinct feeling that he would have some semblance of a voice in this process and that his opinion might matter a little. However, the candidate he supported the most – Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieneimy – was not approached for the job. Watson feels the process lacked transparency, and this is where it gets really weird.
During the recruiting process, according to numerous sources, the candidates were specifically told that the team was not looking to return to the well of candidates with connections to the Patriots. (Vice President Jack Easterby was from New England, as was O’Brien.)
“The gist of the interview was that we want to change the culture,” said a source with knowledge of the situation. “It was all about how they wanted to have fun again and turn things around and how it wasn’t going to be ‘Patriots South’. Can you believe that?”
Watson, for his part, cannot. Especially with this does not look like Bieneimy will be a fit. This franchise’s reputation for openness and diversity has been an ongoing storyline stretching back to the NFL’s handling of Colin Kaepernick’s peaceful protests and the growing social justice movement in the league when McNair’s father Bob, was at the helm.
None of this is on Caserio, who has spent his entire career in New England and is beyond qualifying. McNair had every right to want him as the Texans’ new general manager. But the way this research has been handled – many parties have essentially been rejected, a legion of coaches and executives who believe their time has been wasted in a sham – creates a bad image for an owner whose the tenure was marred by blunders (like giving O’Brien full control of the building and supporting the wrong ticket in the various power struggles so common in this organization).
Now it’s up to Caserio to navigate that minefield, find the right coach, get Watson to buy and not demand a trade, all while improving the squad to the third overall pick that the Texans rightly deserve. to go to the Dolphins via O’Brien’s Ridicule. trades. Oh, and he’ll also have to deal with a cumbersome salary cap situation. That’s a lot for a newbie GM and for an owner who hasn’t piloted the ship for so long but has managed to stir up some controversy.
Washington will start its restructuring
The restructuring of the Washington football team is about to begin and includes a search for several staff executives to help Ron Rivera with his vision to reshape the franchise.
I continue to hear that the WFT will be looking to speak with 49ers executive Martin Mayhew, a former player in Washington, as well as former Panthers general manager Marty Hurney, who started his scouting career in Washington. Owner Dan Snyder also appreciates Colts executive Morocco Brown, who was on WFT staff for years before. Another name I keep hearing about the potential opening is Jimmy Raye of the Lions. Either way, I anticipate the team will wholeheartedly jump into the research process early this week, especially with the market already more crowded than it has been in years for general managers.
It would make a lot of sense for Washington to contact former Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, who has extensive experience and a great CV and works very well with others. I’m surprised more teams haven’t given McKenzie a legitimate chance in this round, although there’s still time for that to change.
Seahawks should consider this CO
The Seahawks should seriously rethink their offensive approach and their staff. There are so many coaches who are at the forefront of the modern passing game who would love to work with Russell Wilson. A few years ago when Seattle hired Brian Schottenheimer, a member of the organization asked me for some names to suggest as OC. I only gave him one: Brian Daboll, who went on to do amazing things with the Bills and Josh Allen. This while the Seattle attack was once again quite in fashion, lacking a lot of ingenuity down the line when it mattered most.
More Super Wild-Card Weekend Insider Notes
- Gutsy wins by the Bills, but their defense has serious problems and if they were to come up against a team that specializes in managing football, they could have big problems …
- Robert Saleh does the rounds with interviews, but it remains to be seen if the 49ers’ defensive coordinator lands anything. I hear him pushing 49ers passing coordinator Mike LaFleur, the brother of Packers coach Matt LaFleur, as his favorite offensive coordinator if he gets a job …
- The “Lamar Jackson Can’t Win Playoff” junk is over. It should never have started. Kid literally just turned 24. He’s faced make-or-die games his entire rookie season after taking over from Joe Flacco and winning them all to get them into the playoffs. He accounted for 508 yards on offense in the loss to the Titans last January and has faced any do or die this year with the Ravens at 6-5 (winning everything else). Please. I’m just saying that kind of hate isn’t about football. He was by far the best player on the field and resumed this match …
- The Lions continue to fight for a potential big offer for Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert. He has been their dream employer for a long time and his contract with Pittsburgh expires. Those who know him best doubt he plans to leave the Steelers – and he negotiates his deals with the club year after year at his own request – but the Lions have been working on it for weeks behind the scenes and would love to be able to l ‘attract. If the Steelers lost on Sunday night, I would expect them to move. Again, I don’t see that happening, but he’s the guy they covet the most, for good reason …
- Titans OC Arthur Smith has had his toughest outing in quite some time against the Ravens – tends to happen in the playoffs with young coordinators so in demand for coaching interviews – but his job is great. He was due to meet Jacksonville on Sunday night with at least four other teams also showing some interest in him …
- Many people in this league believe Daboll will be the next coach for the Chargers, who he interviewed on Sunday.
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