Potential Assistant GM?

[Mr. Scot]

From Albert Breer...

The Patriots were fortunate to come out of the January hiring cycle largely intact, with OC Josh McDaniels, director of player personnel Nick Caserio and pro scouting director Dave Ziegler all eliciting interest. With them staying put, New England avoided the kind of mass exodus it went through last year. But the Pats won’t make it through this offseason totally unscathed. Highly-regarded college scouting director Monti Ossenfort will likely be on the move in the coming weeks—he was twice requested for, and blocked from, interviews for the Texans GM job over the last two years, and interviewed for the Browns GM job in January. Ossenfort succeeded Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff in his current role in New England, and has been an integral part of building the second iteration of the Bill Belichick dynasty. For obvious reasons, this figures to be a quieter year for movement in the scouting community (normally, May is when a ton of guys are switching jobs). But in the case of someone like Ossenfort, having an established reputation and relationships should supersede the difficulty teams might have in running a search process amid the circumstances. The Patriots, for their part, weren’t caught off-guard here, with Ossenfort letting his contract expire. They brought former Browns and Packers exec Eliot Wolf aboard in February.

SI.com

As Breer mentioned, Ossenfort has been a GM candidate before. There's also not the permission issue to worry about because his contract is expiring, and it's known that David Tepper admires the "Patriot Way".

The downside? Tepper has expressed that he wants an Assistant GM that comes from a pro scouting background rather than one with college experience, reason being he knows that's where Marty Hurney is weak. Ossenfort's entire career has been college scouting.

With that said though, if other teams continue to refuse permission unless the job includes full roster control, there may not be a whole lot of choices.

[Mr. Scot]

Should add my favorite candidate who does have a pro scouting background is Steelers pro personnel guy Brandon Hunt, but word is that the Steelers want him to be Kevin Colbert's successor so it's questionable whether they give permission for an interview.

I'd also happily take Saints pro personnel man Terry Fontenot, but permission could also be an issue there, especially given that it would be coming from a team who traded a future draft pick just to spite us.

I suppose Dave Ziegler from the Patriots could be an option too now that they've secured Nick Caserio for a few more years, but again, permission required.

[45catfan]

I don't get the assistant GM role if Marty is staying in some GM capacity.  It really makes no sense.  College scouting versus pro scouting is a bit overstated.  You are looking for the same positional attributes.  It's not like the criteria changes for say, an OT, QB or CB between the two levels.  All I would say is Marty's passion is college scouting.

[4Corners]

Classic Scott thread right here 

[Mr. Scot]

12 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

I don't get the assistant GM role if Marty is staying in some GM capacity.  It really makes no sense.  College scouting versus pro scouting is a bit overstated.  You are looking for the same positional attributes.  It's not like the criteria changes for say, an OT, QB or CB between the two levels.  All I would say is Marty's passion is college scouting.

Perhaps, but even Hurney's defenders admit his free agency game isn't exactly top shelf.

Tepper talked about the GM job being too big for one person (bullsh-t, but okay) and indicated he wanted the Assistant GM to handle the pro stuff while Marty did the college side of things. Sounds silly to me, but I'm going by his words.

Ossenfort wouldn't fit that model, but all the people who do require permission from their current employer.

So good luck with that.

[45catfan]

1 minute ago, Mr. Scot said:

Perhaps, but even Hurney's defenders admit his free agency game isn't exactly top shelf.

Tepper talked about the GM job being too big for one person (bullsh-t, but okay) and indicated he wanted the Assistant GM to handle the pro stuff while Marty did the college side of things. Sounds silly to me, but I'm going by his words 

The only thing I can think of is Tepper knows Hurney isn't exactly the fan base's favorite guy, but he personally is a fan.  So by bringing in another GM, absolute GM power is out of Marty's hands, can deflect some future criticism (of an inevitable bad move) while keeping Marty where Tepper wants him; still firmly in the GM role.  

Tepper is seemingly splitting hairs in an attempt to keep everyone satisfied, most importantly himself, by retaining Hurney.

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, 45catfan said:

The only thing I can think of is Tepper knows Hurney isn't exactly the fan base's favorite guy, but he personally is a fan.  So by bringing in another GM, absolute GM power is out of Marty's hands, can deflect some future criticism (of an inevitable bad move) while keeping Marty where Tepper wants him; still firmly in the GM role.  

Tepper is seemingly splitting hairs in an attempt to keep everyone satisfied, most importantly himself, by retaining Hurney.

General belief is that the assistant is also the successor, so it needs to be someone who can take on the full job.

[45catfan]

7 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

General belief is that the assistant is also the successor, so it needs to be someone who can take on the full job.

Yup, but I can almost assure you Hurney gets another contract from Tepper before riding off into the sunset, whenever that will be.  Many of us were relieved that Hurney's deal is up and was relishing getting a fresh face into the GM position.  Now it looks like some window dressing and Hurney ultimately still calling the shots for a while longer.

[Mr. Scot]

22 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

Yup, but I can almost assure you Hurney gets another contract from Tepper before riding off into the sunset, whenever that will be.  Many of us were relieved that Hurney's deal is up and was relishing getting a fresh face into the GM position.  Now it looks like some window dressing and Hurney ultimately still calling the shots for a while longer.

I can see Hurney getting another deal, but I'm not so sure it's one that includes full power.

A title like Director of College Scouting would be no shock.

[thefuzz]

58 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

The only thing I can think of is Tepper knows Hurney isn't exactly the fan base's favorite guy, but he personally is a fan.  So by bringing in another GM, absolute GM power is out of Marty's hands, can deflect some future criticism (of an inevitable bad move) while keeping Marty where Tepper wants him; still firmly in the GM role.  

Tepper is seemingly splitting hairs in an attempt to keep everyone satisfied, most importantly himself, by retaining Hurney.

This is what I have seen as well.  Half measures...over and over.

Not a great way to do anything in life.

[jfra78]

47 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

I can see Hurney getting another deal, but I'm not so sure it's one that includes full power.

A title like Director of College Scouting would be no shock.

If they are hiring an assistant GM, then Im sure his title would remain GM.

[Waldo]

From the GM that hired himself if the last GM search?

I will expect a non-threatening hire over anyone that could really push MH. Maybe some scrub he used to work with that will act as an underling in a non-threatening existence.

Sounds like we remain screwed. I will belive we are hiring a qualified candidate when we do more than interview one.

[Mister]

No

[Mr. Scot]

Didn't take long. He's getting a job as the Titans Director of Player Personnel. Ties to Jon Robinson and Mike Vrabel from their days with the Patriots helped seal the deal.

Interestingly enough, he's taking Ryan Cowden's old job (he's a vice president now). Wouldn't object to Cowden returning, but again... permission.