The GM Candidates

[Mr. Scot]

Profile completed for Lake Dawson.

If Popp is a candidate, I probably won't research him until tomorrow or Monday.

[Mr. Scot]

Profile is done on Paton now too.

Some things that might make you wince: He and Rick Spielman were part of the braintrust that chose to pass on Drew Brees and trade for Daunte Culpepper instead. More recently with the Vikings, they traded the Pats a third rounder for Randy Moss, who wound up cut just a little while thereafter when he underachieved and made as ass of himself.

Knowing those things doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.

[Zithers]

rick spielman and george paton also drafted matt kalil (while trading back), harrison smith, blair walsh, and josh robinson this year...

hired a new DC that improved their defense like 15 spots.

though their adventures into free agency this offseason weren't very good...

[Mr. Scot]

rick spielman and george paton also drafted matt kalil (while trading back), harrison smith, blair walsh, and josh robinson this year...

hired a new DC that improved their defense like 15 spots.

though their adventures into free agency this offseason weren't very good...

Paton actually sounds like a guy who might be better suited to be a director of college scouting, but most of his direct experience is with pro scouting and right now he's an assistant GM.

It's hard to know whether he played a significant role, or no role, in the debacles listed above. Still, the fact that he was part of those staffs when those decisions were made is the kind of thing that makes you stop and think.

He comes across as a really smart guy, but he's been privy to some free agency decisions that pretty much nobody would call "smart choices".

[Mr. Scot]

Quick update on the GM situations around the league...

San Diego Chargers

Have narrowed their pool to two, Colts VP of Football Operations Tom Telesco and an in-house candidate, Director of Player Personnel Jimmy Raye

Jacksonville Jaguars

Also down to two, choosing between Falcons Director of Player Personnel David Caldwell and Cardinals Vice President of Player Personnel Steve Keim Caldwell is considered the favorite.

Arizona Cardinals

It was generally expected that when Rod Graves was fired, the job would be handed to Steve Keim. He's still considered the favorite here but has been allowed to interview elsewhere. The Cards also interviewed Redskins Director of Player Personnel Morocco Brown.

Kansas City Chiefs

Expected to hire Packers Director of Football Operations John Dorsey, but also interviewing an in-house candidate, Director of Pro Personnel Ray Farmer. It was widely believed that new coach Andy Reid would bring in old friend Tom Heckert for the job, but that hasn't appeared to be true.

New York Jets

By most accounts, pretty well zeroed in on 49ers Director of Player Personnel Tom Gamble. He comes with a heavy recommendation from old colleague Bill Polian and prior experience working for the Jets organization. I've heard it said he has some background with Rex Ryan too, but I don't know from where.

Cleveland Browns

Have requested permission to interview three: Vikings Assistant General Manager George Paton, Ray Farmer and Tom Gamble. There's still plenty of buzz that the job will eventually go to Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post (and a former Browns employee) but there's nothing official about him interviewing that I've seen.

That's where everybody else is right now.

Looking more and more like this year's "hot candidate", Marc Ross, is going to be shut out again...that is unless we hire him.

[Mr. Scot]

Jay Glazer confirmed that the Panthers will interview George Paton this week, but didn't say when.

Lake Dawson has been named as an option, but I'm beginning to think he's a fallback. To date, I can't find any confirmation that the Panthers have actually made a formal request to interview him.

[carpanfan96]

Jay Glazer confirmed that the Panthers will interview George Paton this week, but didn't say when.

Lake Dawson has been named as an option, but I'm beginning to think he's a fallback. To date, I can't find any confirmation that the Panthers have actually made a formal request to interview him.

They haven't, just Paton, Ross, Gettleman, Popp and Beane have interviews so far.

[Mr. Scot]

Is there any actual confirmation that they're planning to interview Popp? All I've seen is speculation.

(which, to be honest, is all I've seen with Beane as well)

Only confirmed interviews I've found online are Ross, Gettleman and Paton.

[carpanfan96]

Well the Beane stuff is from Person's, who would know if he was being interviewed or not. Other then that on that front, no one else has said anything.

As for Popp, his family lives in NC and it's also been reported by Person's and a few other places that he was added to the interview list. He did a customary No Comment as for the interview.

I just don't think he would turn down the interview and I think he was at least offered that because of his Resume and ties to the area.

[UNCrules2187]

Is there any actual confirmation that they're planning to interview Popp? All I've seen is speculation.

(which, to be honest, is all I've seen with Beane as well)

Only confirmed interviews I've found online are Ross, Gettleman and Paton.

Same. Interesting to note that he lives in Charlotte and is a Panthers season ticket holder, though.

I have mentioned this in the past but continue to hear it -- longtime CFL general manager Jim Popp is getting traction in some of these searches. He has already met with at least one NFL owner, I'm told, and has more things lined up. He could end up surfacing further in the Jets search, and, as he lives in Charlotte, N.C. (he's an American who resides in Montreal during the season but North Carolina in the offseason), and is a Panthers season-ticket holder, it's only natural owner Jerry Richardson might want to talk to him, too, with that search taking off this week. Popp was runner-up to Ryan Grigson for the Colts GM gig a year ago.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/21511211/monday-observations-did-offensive-coordinators-job-chances-stall

[Mr. Scot]

Well the Beane stuff is from Person's, who would know if he was being interviewed or not. Other then that on that front, no one else has said anything.

As for Popp, his family lives in NC and it's also been reported by Person's and a few other places that he was added to the interview list. He did a customary No Comment as for the interview.

I just don't think he would turn down the interview and I think he was at least offered that because of his Resume and ties to the area.

I've only heard Person say he was "expected to be interviewed" which could be speculation or he could be getting fed a line from Beane's agent (same way Yasinskas got trolled on Mike McCoy a few years back).

[rayzor]

Here's an odd little factoid.

With the exception of Dave Gettleman, every single candidate that's been listed for our GM job is younger than head coach Ron Rivera (age 50).

Nearly all others are in their 40s except Marc Ross, who's 39.

one thing that is very much needed in the organization is more experience.

if rivera had on his staff more experience or he himself had more of it (in the HC capacity anyway) it wouldn't be more needed at the GM level. as it is, though, rivera needs someone with more of a clue helping him build the team...if rivera's the man to rebuild it.

[SparkyDevil]

I'm not sure who was on the radio - but on WFNZ the journalist they had on said that Marc Ross and Ron Rivera are actually close friends - suggesting that Ross has been the plan all along.

[Gabeking]

I'm not sure who was on the radio - but on WFNZ the journalist they had on said that Marc Ross and Ron Rivera are actually close friends - suggesting that Ross has been the plan all along.

If you can find out who said that or a link to that audio clip later on that would be nice