The search for Texas head coach Cal McNair, as he enters this new phase now led by new general manager Nick Caserio, will be among the most scrutinized signings in recent history. The unusual nature of the process to this point has already managed to upset several factions around the NFL by launching McNair in a challenging light.
To review, the owner was ostensibly overseeing GM’s main coaching and searches, and he was very clear about how he was building coalitions that included multiple parties inside and outside his organization. Former player Andre Johnson, current quarterback Deshaun Watson, former Super Bowl winner Tony Dungy, president of the Texans team and search firm Korn Ferry should all be helping to guide the chase. Only things went wrong quickly, according to several sources with direct knowledge of the situation.
Many of the candidates interviewed, including seasoned black candidates like Marvin Lewis and Jim Caldwell, could be excused for feeling that they were being used because McNair was essentially doing parallel searches for these vacancies – simultaneously interviewing the men the research firm suggested while craving by Caserio, who he tried to hire in the past and clearly wanted all the time. McNair hired Caserio before the full list of interviews with GM was completed and just hours after the interviews were still in progress. This is at the expense of an earlier list of requests for coaching interviews that had already been released, but are now irrelevant as he and Caserio begin their new search this week.
There was little or no real communication with many of the individuals who were led to believe that this would be a diverse and comprehensive process. The committees added very little.
“Cal was going to do whatever he wanted,” said an adviser to a member of that coalition, “and if they are really meeting, I think my guy hasn’t been invited.”
The end result irritated many. You can see why.
Most notably disturbed is the franchise’s quarterback, who wasted years with the Bill O’Brien disaster. As CBS Sports first reported in October, Watson had the distinct impression that he would have a voice appearance in the process and that his opinion could be of some importance. However, the candidate he most supported – the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator, Eric Bieneimy – was not approached about the job. Watson feels that the process lacked transparency and this is where it gets really weird.
During the hiring process, according to several sources, candidates were specifically informed that the team was not trying to dive into the candidate pit with ties to the Patriots. (Vice President Jack Easterby came from New England, as did O’Brien.)
“The essence of the interview is 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 change things and how it wouldn’t be ‘Patriots South’. Can you believe that? “
Watson, for example, cannot. Especially with him not looking like Bieneimy will be an adjustment. This franchise’s reputation for openness and diversity has been an ongoing storyline dating 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 in charge.
None of this is in Caserio, who has spent his entire career in New England and is beyond qualified. McNair had every right to wish him as the new Texans GM. But the way this search was handled – many parts basically kicked to the curb, a legion of coaches and executives who believe their time was wasted as part of a scam – creates a bad look for an owner whose management has been spoiled by serious mistakes (like giving O’Brien full control of the building and supporting the wrong ticket in the various power struggles so common in this organization).
The responsibility now rests with Caserio to navigate this minefield, find the right coach, get Watson to buy and not demand an exchange, while making the team better the third overall choice that Texans rightfully deserve by going to the Dolphins via the ridiculous of O’Brien trades. Oh, and he will also have to deal with a complicated wage cap situation. It is a lot for a novice GM and for an owner who has not steered the ship for so long, but has managed to generate controversy which was not lacking.
Washington will start restructuring
The restructuring of the Washington Football Team is about to begin and includes a search for several staff executives to assist Ron Rivera in his vision to reshape the franchise.
I keep hearing that the WFT will try to speak to 49ers executive Martin Mayhew, a former Washington player, as well as ex-Panther GM Marty Hurney, who started his scouting career in Washington. Owner Dan Snyder also treats Colts executive Morocco Brown, who worked at WFT for years before. Jimmy Raye, from the Lions, is another name I keep hearing about the possible opening. Regardless, I anticipate that the team will enthusiastically enter the research process earlier this week, especially with the market already more crowded than it has been for general managers for years.
It would make a lot of sense for Washington to contact former Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, who has extensive experience and a great resume and works very well with other people. I am surprised that more teams have not given McKenzie a legitimate chance in this cycle, although there is still time for that to change.
Seahawks should consider this OC
The Seahawks should seriously rethink their approach and offensive team. There are so many coaches at the forefront of the modern passing game that they would love to work with Russell Wilson. A few years ago, when Seattle hired Brian Schottenheimer, someone in the organization asked me for some suggestion names like OC. I gave him just one: Brian Daboll, who went on to do amazing things with Bills and Josh Allen. Meanwhile, the Seattle attack was once again all locked up and restarted, lacking a lot of ingenuity at the end, when it counted more.
More Super Wild-Card Weekend internal notes
- Bills’ courageous victory, but their defense has some serious problems and if they had to face a team specialized in directing football they could be in trouble …
- Robert Saleh is circulating with interviews, but it remains to be seen whether the 49ers’ defensive coordinator hits anything. I heard he’s pushing the 49ers to pass game coordinator Mike LaFleur, brother of Packers coach Matt LaFleur, as his preferred offensive coordinator if he gets a job …
- The “Lamar Jackson can’t win in the playoffs” trash is over. I should never have started. Kid literally just turned 24. He faced life and death games throughout his debut season after taking over from Joe Flacco and won them all to put them in the playoffs. He was responsible for 508 yards of attack in the loss to the Titans last January and faced all life-and-death games this year with the Ravens 6-5 (beating all others). Please. I’m just saying that this kind of hatred is not about football. He was by far the best player on the field and dominated the game …
- Lions continue to discuss a potentially significant offer for Steelers GM Kevin Colbert. He has been the contractor of his dreams for a long time and his contract with Pittsburgh is expiring. Those who know him best doubt that he would consider leaving the Steelers – and he has been doing business year after year with the club at his own request – but Lions have been working on it for weeks behind the scenes and would love to be able to lure him away. . If the Steelers lose on Sunday night, I hope they make their move. Again, I don’t see it happening, but he’s the guy they want the most, for good reason …
- OC Titans Arthur Smith has had his toughest fight in a while against the Ravens – it tends to happen in the playoffs with young coordinators so sought after by coach interviews – but his work is excellent. He was scheduled to meet Jacksonville on Sunday night with at least four other teams showing some degree of interest in him too …
- Many people in this league believe that Daboll will be the next coach of the Chargers, with whom he interviewed on Sunday.