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While the Hawks are looking for a new general manager and head coach, owner Arthur Blank continues to send the message that incoming hires will not be tied to fullback Matt Ryan and receiver Julio Jones.
“What I think is important and most important is that we employ people who, number one, are the very best at their job,” Blank said recently at a press conference that ended the season. “It goes without saying. Who will come up with a plan to have a championship team, a competitive team, and so on. And that could include Matt and Julio for now, for the next two years, three years, or not. I have no idea.”
After the dismissal of coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff, Blank made it clear that Ryan has no guarantee of returning in 2021.
“Matt was a franchise leader for us,” Blank said at the time. A good quarter. One of the leading quarterbacks in the NFL for the past 13 years. So I hope he will be part of our plans going forward. But it will be a decision I will not make. ”
Last month, CEO Rich McKay attached strings to the ability to move on from Ryan and / or Jones.
“Give us a plan,” McKay said. ‘Show us what you want to do and show us why. Show us how it comes out at Ws and make sure you really execute the plan. ”
So while Blank is willing to postpone the verdict to the new GM and coach, it appears that McKay is willing to put forward the right to object if the ‘plan’ to win without them is not convincing. The plan will include setting up a grid for a capital cost of $ 44 million (the amount for detaining him would be $ 40.9 million). For Jones, the amount of $ 23.25 million would trade for him; the capital cost to keep him would be $ 23.05 million.
While interviewing candidates for both positions, it becomes critical to know exactly whether they have the discretion to move Ryan and / or Jones, whether McKay can veto it and / or whether McKay will roll his eyes at Blank if they deal this or any other decision in a way he would not do.
Actually, they have to accept that the last part is true. And candidates must honestly say before accepting a job in Atlanta, they must look for work elsewhere that gives them a direct chance at ownership, without anyone else approving or undermining the decisions they make in the best interest of the team.