A look at the 6 GM candidates the panthers will interview this week

[Bwood]

Lake Dawson

Age: 41

Current position: Tennessee Titans vice president of player personnel.

Former NFL roles: Titans vice president of football operations (2011), Titans pro scouting director (2007-10), Seattle assistant director of pro personnel (2005-06), Seattle pro personnel assistant (2001-04).

Comment: Dawson interviewed for the St. Louis Rams’ general manager vacancy last year before Les Snead was hired. He has been a pro scout throughout his career, and was with Seattle in 2005 when the Seahawks beat Carolina to advance to the Super Bowl. Dawson is a former Notre Dame wideout who played six NFL seasons.

Dave Gettleman

Age: 62

Current position: New York Giants senior pro personnel analyst.

Former NFL roles: Giants pro personnel director (1999-2011), Broncos scout (1994-98), regional scout for BLESTO scouting service (1992-93), Bills area scout (1987-92).

Comment: Gettleman has 25 years of NFL experience, by far the most among the Panthers’ finalists. He worked closely in New York with Accorsi. Gettleman has been a part of six Super Bowl teams, including three that won rings – the 2007 and ’11 Giants and the 1997 Broncos.

George Paton

Age: 43

Current position: Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager.

Former NFL roles: Miami pro personnel director 2001-06, Chicago pro personnel director (2000), Chicago college and pro scout (1997-99).

Comment: The Vikings gave Paton (pronounced PAY-ton) a promotion last year when it appeared he was going to land the Rams’ general manager job. He is close with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, with the two also having worked together in Chicago and Miami. Paton, a defensive back at UCLA, played professionally in Italy and Austria.

Jim Popp

Age: 48

Current position: Montreal Alouettes vice president, general manager, director of football operations and player personnel.

Former NFL roles: None.

Comment: Popp has carved out a long and successful CFL career. Over the past 19 years, all of his teams have made the playoffs, with four winning Grey Cup titles. Popp had college coaching stops at Michigan State, North Carolina and The Citadel, and was an assistant for the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the World League under Roman Gabriel in 1991. He and his family live in Mooresville.

Marc Ross

Age: 39

Current position: New York Giants director of college scouting.

Former NFL roles: Buffalo Bills national college scout (2004-07), Eagles college scouting director (2000-03), Eagles eastern regional scout (1997-2000).

Comment: Ross is one of the hottest general manager candidates, interviewing with four of the seven teams that have openings. He has already talked to San Diego, Jacksonville and the New York Jets. He was in Philadelphia when Rivera was an Eagles assistant. Ross has a good reputation as a talent evaluator, running the drafts that brought Kenny Phillips, Hakeem Nicks and Jason Pierre-Paul to the Giants.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/01/07/3770897/a-closer-look-6-panthers-gm-candidates.html#storylink=cpy

[chknwing]

im sure no one on the huddle ever goes to the charlotte observer website, like ever.

[Gucci Mane]

Lets just hope its NOT jim popp... CFL can fugg off

[PhillyB]

you forgot brandon "beaucoup lombardis" beane

[davos]

Creek Dawson seems like an interesting feller. Not that I necessarily want him to be our GM but he has to be the least talked about out of all of the potential hires.

[jgraham]

I don't know really what the requirements of the GM are - is their job primarily scouting and dealing with player contracts?

It may well be shortshighted and perhaps naive but for me getting in a young GM would be a smart move - clearly the candidate has to have the credentials but getting a younger GM in would freshen things up perhaps? A more modern thinking approach to that role? Or is it simply a case of experience is key?

[Bwood]

you forgot brandon "beaucoup lombardis" beane

Yea he was the first name on the list, but my iPhone wasn't letting me copy that part and I just said fug it. Fug Beane.

[Kurb]

Beane went to UNCW.

He should be our guy.

[pantherholic]

Whatever happened to Tom Gamble (49ers)? He was mentioned a lot early on, but his name hasn't been brought up lately as a candidate.

[UNCrules2187]

Whatever happened to Tom Gamble (49ers)? He was mentioned a lot early on, but his name hasn't been brought up lately as a candidate.

Never any interest on our part. Also, he has strong ties with Bill Polian who was pushing him hard for the Jets GM job. Last I heard he was supposed to be the frontrunner for the Jets job, but that may be fading now as the Jets have started to bring in more candidates (Falcons Director of Player Personnel David Caldwell had a second interview with the Jets today, first candidate other than Gamble to get a second interview) and I believe Gamble is supposed to interview today for the Chargers GM job.

I think the Panthers new GM will be one of the 6 mentioned in the Observer article. If I had to guess I'd say it'll be Gettleman because Accorsi's been trying to get him a GM job for a while now.

[Guest Tom Cat]

im sure no one on the huddle ever goes to the charlotte observer website, like ever.

Props to the op for posting this.

We dont all live in the confines of Charlotte .

[Catalyst]

I like Gettleman the best. Hopefully we hear something soon.

[Mr. Scot]

Props to the op for posting this.

We dont all live in the confines of Charlotte .

The Observer website isn't available outside of Charlotte?

[chknwing]

Props to the op for posting this.

We dont all live in the confines of Charlotte .

lol some ones trying to solicite oral sex from Bwood.