Texans owner Cal McNair’s head coaching quest as it enters the new phase, now led by new general manager Nick Caserio, will be one of the most investigated hires in recent history. The unusual nature of the process up to this point has already managed to upset numerous factions around the NFL while putting McNair in a challenging light.
To review, the owner apparently oversaw simultaneous head coaching and GM searches, and he was very outspoken about building coalitions that included numerous parties inside and outside his organization. Former player Andre Johnson, current fullback Deshaun Watson, former Super Bowl coach Tony Dungy, the team’s president of the Texans, and search firm Korn Ferry were supposed to help lead the pursuit. Only things went sideways fairly quickly, according to numerous sources with direct knowledge of the situation.
Many of the candidates interviewed, including experienced black candidates like Marvin Lewis and Jim Caldwell, can be excused for feeling like they are being used, as McNair has essentially conducted parallel searches for these openings. while he was keen on Caserio, which he had tried to hire in the past and clearly wanted all the time. McNair hired Caserio before the full list of GM interviews was completed and within hours after the interviews were still ongoing. That’s the cost of a previous list of coaching interview requests that have already gone out but are now largely irrelevant as he and Caserio begin their new search this week.
There was little to no real communication with many people who believed it would be a diverse and comprehensive process. The committees amounted to very little.
“Cal would do what he wanted to do,” said one adviser to a member of this coalition, “and if they were really meeting, I think my guy was not invited.”
The end result was very irritating. You can see why.
The franchise quarterback, who has been wasted by the Bill O’Brien debacle for years, is particularly upset. As CBS Sports reported for the first time in October, Watson has a clear impression that he would have a bit of a shine of voice in this process and that his opinion might matter a bit. The candidate he supported the most – Eric Bieneimy, the offensive coordinator of Chiefs, however, was not approached about the post. Watson feels that the process was not transparent, and that is where it gets really weird.
According to the numerous sources, during candidates it was specifically said that the team does not want to plunge back into the pit of candidates with Patriots. (Vice President Jack Easterby comes from New England, as does O’Brien.)
“The core of the interview was that we want to change the culture,” said one source with knowledge of the situation. “It’s all about how they want to have fun again and change things and how it’s not going to be ‘Patriots South’. Can you believe it?”
Watson, for one, can not. Especially since it does not look like Bieneimy will be a pass. The reputation of this franchise for openness and diversity was an ongoing story 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 at the helm.
None of this is up to Caserio, who has spent his entire career in New England and is no longer qualified. McNair had every right to want him as the new GM of the Texans. But the way this search was handled – many parties were basically launched, a legion of coaches and managers who believe their time wasted as part of a scam – creates a bad look for an owner whose term of office mistakes were made (such as giving O’Brien full control of the building and supporting the wrong ticket in the various power struggles so prevalent in this organization).
The task now rests with Caserio to navigate this minefield, find the right coach, let Watson buy and not demand a trade, while the team is the third overall choice the Texans justifiably deserve to go to the Dolphins via O’Brien’s ridiculous. crafts. Oh, and he will also be dealing with a cumbersome situation with salary actions. This is a lot for a rookie GM and for an owner who has not been at the helm of the ship for so long, but who has not succeeded in causing controversy.
Washington to start restructuring
The restructuring of the Washington Football Team is about to begin and it will include a search for several staff members to assist Ron Rivera in his vision to reform the franchise.
I keep hearing the WFT will try to talk to 49ers CEO Martin Mayhew, a former Washington player, as well as former Panthers GM Marty Hurney, who began his exploratory career in Washington. Owner Dan Snyder also thinks a lot about Colts CEO Marts Brown, who was at the WFT years before. Jimmy Raye of the Lions is another name I keep hearing about in connection with the possible opening. Regardless, I expect the team to jump wholeheartedly into the search process early this week, especially since the market is already under more pressure than it has been for years for general managers.
It would make a lot of sense for Washington to reach out to former Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, who has extensive experience and a good resume and works very well with others. I’m surprised that more teams have not given McKenzie a legal chance in this cycle, although there is still time to change that.
Seahawks should consider this OC
The Seahawks need to think seriously about their offensive approach and 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, someone in the organization asked me a few names to introduce me as OC. I only gave him one: Brian Daboll, who did amazing things with the Bills and Josh Allen. That while Seattle’s offense was appropriate again and started with a lot of ingenuity when it counted the most.
More notes from Super Wild-Card Weekend
- Gutsy wins by the Bills, but their defense has serious problems, and if they face a team that specializes in managing football, they could be in big trouble …
- Robert Saleh is doing the rounds with interviews, but it remains to be seen if the 49ers defense coordinator ends up anything. I hear he pushes Mike LaFleur, brother of Packers coach Matt LaFleur, as a popular 49ers offensive coordinator as his preferred offensive coordinator when he gets a job …
- The rubbish “Lamar Jackson can not win in the playoffs” is over. It should never have started. Kid has literally just turned 24. He faced do-or-die matches all rookie season after taking over for Joe Flacco and winning them all to get them into the playoffs. He offended 508 yards last year in the loss to the Titans and this year faced all do-and-die games with the Ravens at 6-5 (with all the rest). Please. I’m just saying, that kind of hate is not about football. He was by far the best player on the field and took over the game …
- The Lions are still getting their ducklings in a row over a potentially substantial offer for Steelers’ GM Kevin Colbert. He had long been their dream appointment, and his contract with Pittsburgh expired. Those who know him best doubt that he will ever consider leaving the Steelers – and he goes on his own year-to-year with his affairs with the club – but the Lions have been working behind the scenes for weeks and will would like to be able to lure him away. Should the Steelers lose Sunday night, I would expect them to make their move. Again, I do not see this happening, but he is the man they desire most, with good reason …
- Titans OC Arthur Smith has had his toughest outing for some time against the Ravens – tends to happen in the playoffs with young coordinators, it has been in high demand for coaching interviews – but his work is tremendous. He would meet Jacksonville on Sunday night with at least four other teams who also showed some interest in him …
- Many people in this league believe that Daboll will be the next coach of the Chargers, with whom he interviewed on Sunday.