houstonhurricane
Veteran
Lazy hire.
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Replacement GM thread
- Thread starter AcresHomesTexan
- Start date
Oh I remember, you saying the national guys didn't know anything when it came to BOB wanting to leave/if he didn't win a playoff game/texans being a dysfunctional org and I'm not going to waste my time looking it up.
The Texans fan base should have a Saturday Night Live, Lowered Expectations skit playing on the big screen before every game.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Texans plan to hire Brian Gaine as new GM, extend contract of coach Bill O'Brien
By John McClain, Houston Chronicle
Updated 6:36 pm, Wednesday, January 10, 2018
The Texans are in negotiations to hire Brian Gaine as general manager and sign coach Bill O'Brien to a contract extension.
Gaine, Buffalo's vice president of player personnel, interviewed Tuesday.
Once Gaine's deal is official, the Texans are hoping to have O'Brien's extension wrapped up, too.
O'Brien has one year left on his contract and needs to hire six new assistant coaches because of firings, one retirement and one voluntary departure on his staff.
O'Brien and his staff are coaching in the Senior Bowl in two weeks. If he has an extension, it'll be easier for him to hire better assistants. Senior Bowl week is a job fair for out-of-work assistant coaches.
Gaine, who worked as director of pro personnel and director of player personnel for three years (2014-16) under former general manager Rick Smith, had an impressive interview Tuesday.
Before coming to Houston, Gaine worked in scouting/personnel for the New York Jets (1999-2004), Dallas Cowboys (2005-2007) and Miami Dolphins (2008-2013).
The search committee of owner Bob McNair, vice chairman Cal McNair, president Jamey Rootes, O'Brien and Jed Hughes from the Korn Ferry search firm began interviews Monday with Jimmy Raye III, the Texans' vice president of football operations/assistant general manager.
Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay's director of college scouting at the time, came to Houston on Saturday and had dinner with O'Brien that night. At 2 a.m., he accepted an offer to become the Packers' new general manager to replace Ted Thompson.
Last week, when the Texans were putting together their list of candidates, they were denied permission to interview Philadelphia vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas, New England director of player personnel Nick Caserio and Patriots' director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort.
Teams can deny permission as long as their teams continue to play. Philadelphia and New England host divisional round games this weekend.
By John McClain, Houston Chronicle
Updated 6:36 pm, Wednesday, January 10, 2018
The Texans are in negotiations to hire Brian Gaine as general manager and sign coach Bill O'Brien to a contract extension.
Gaine, Buffalo's vice president of player personnel, interviewed Tuesday.
Once Gaine's deal is official, the Texans are hoping to have O'Brien's extension wrapped up, too.
O'Brien has one year left on his contract and needs to hire six new assistant coaches because of firings, one retirement and one voluntary departure on his staff.
O'Brien and his staff are coaching in the Senior Bowl in two weeks. If he has an extension, it'll be easier for him to hire better assistants. Senior Bowl week is a job fair for out-of-work assistant coaches.
Gaine, who worked as director of pro personnel and director of player personnel for three years (2014-16) under former general manager Rick Smith, had an impressive interview Tuesday.
Before coming to Houston, Gaine worked in scouting/personnel for the New York Jets (1999-2004), Dallas Cowboys (2005-2007) and Miami Dolphins (2008-2013).
The search committee of owner Bob McNair, vice chairman Cal McNair, president Jamey Rootes, O'Brien and Jed Hughes from the Korn Ferry search firm began interviews Monday with Jimmy Raye III, the Texans' vice president of football operations/assistant general manager.
Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay's director of college scouting at the time, came to Houston on Saturday and had dinner with O'Brien that night. At 2 a.m., he accepted an offer to become the Packers' new general manager to replace Ted Thompson.
Last week, when the Texans were putting together their list of candidates, they were denied permission to interview Philadelphia vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas, New England director of player personnel Nick Caserio and Patriots' director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort.
Teams can deny permission as long as their teams continue to play. Philadelphia and New England host divisional round games this weekend.
It is not even the guy they are rumored to be hiring, it is the poor administrative process in doing so.
Shishkabob
All Pro
I agree with this, however mclain is saying Mcnair wanted to wrap this up quickly to get Obriens contract extension done so he could hire quality coaches to fill out out depleted staff. Makes sense seeing as no coach worth his salt will follow a coach going into a lame duck year. Here's to hoping Obrien makes good coaching staff decisions this time around
Wolfiegrrl
Fan of NFC Seahawks & AFC Texans
I have to say, I was more impressed with the Street FAs we picked up during '15 and '16 seasons than I was with the crap we were handed this season. Let's see if Gaine can fix the ******* mess that Smith put us in. And maybe... just Maybe Smith decides not to return. A girl can hope...
So then the McNairs hire a GM who is buddies with O'Brien and does everything O'Brien wants?
Knowing how MxNair operates, he will extend OB, then fire him while extending the new GM... He does love continuity
Smith will still be behind the scenes pulling strings.
Dont believe me?
The only 2 guys to interview were Raye/Gaine who were both Smith hires. If you think Smith isn't going to have influence during this yrs sabatical then I've got some great swamp land to sell you.
welsh texan
You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one
http://www.khou.com/mobile/article/...for-most-players-used-in-one-season/502432780
Texans set a new NFL record during the last season, I'm not trying to disagree with your statement that the quality dropped off, but add a little balance in that their hand was forced to some extent.
The flip side of that, of course, is that despite a remarkable number of injuries, the record was helped by a high turnover of street FAs who came in, played, and were then let go because they weren't up to the mark.
Hopefully better luck with injuries next year will lead to a better record in itself. Still a big job Gaine has on his hands to right the ship however.
I feel they need to scrabble for starters this year, depth a huge issue in many areas of the roster but hard to see how thats getting addressed this off-season.
I find it interesting you think Smith will have any influence. Here’s a snippet from an article from Pat Star where McNair addresses the Smith situation:
“Also, McNair put a stamp on former general manager Rick Smith's role with the team moving forward.
“Rick (Smith) needs to take care of his family. Hopefully, they’ll get good results,” McNair remarked, regarding Smith's situation with his wife Tiffany. “Some people have raised the question, if Rick comes back at the end of a year, he’s going to have undue influence on the GM. That’s not the case. Rick might not want to come back."
McNair clearly stated that Smith may not want to come back to the job situation in Houston but they are not worrying about that to this point. They want Smith to take a year away from the franchise and go from there but it is clear Smith is no longer involved in the football side of operations for the Houston Texans”
I think that Smith wasn’t fired because of his wife’s unfortunate situation. It’s clear the McNairs are fond of Rick, and it would look terrible if the fired him after he announces his wife has cancer. History has shown the McNair’s to be stand up people, just look at DQ for example.
I also think Gaine wouldn’t return if he didn’t have some assurances that RS wouldn’t be involved in FB operations given that he left for a lateral position in Buffalo.
Uncle Rico
Ur apology should be as loud as Ur disrespect was
Most interesting part for me was the whole 'Gaine has complete personnel control' .. it will be a quickly visible decision especially if he can work magic behind the 8 ball in this draft. Doesn't really move the needle for me either direction. Don't love it, don't hate it.
That's was the case with Smith and Casserly too, so?
I gave three examples of the right coach having the last say in player acquisition matters. Admittedly, we took the longest to turn things around of those three. But in all three cases (and you could probably add in Parcells as a fourth) the turnaround took time. But it worked with the right coach calling the shots.
Anyway, the point was having the right coach having input on hiring the GM that will go get the players he needs to produce wins has worked.
I was going to respond to this but otisbean beat me to it.
I will add this from the McClain (aka 'Pancakes') article.
In his interview, Gaine emphasized the importance of communication, organization, high character and having strong opinions on personnel and what it will take to be successful.
Before coming to Houston, Gaine, worked in scouting/personnel with the New York Jets (1999-2004), Dallas Cowboys (2005-07) and Miami Dolphins (2008-13).
Gaine is a Bill Parcells protégé who worked with the Hall of Fame coach/general manager with the Jets, Cowboys and Dolphins.
Gaine is a Bill Parcells protégé who worked with the Hall of Fame coach/general manager with the Jets, Cowboys and Dolphins.
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I guess you can look at this as a "lazy hire" as houstonhurricane put it but looking at all the things coming up (BOB's contract, coaching senior bowl, hiring asst coaches, etc...) this seemed more like a hire of convenience than anything else. Gaine was the favorite, he gets along well with BOB, and he was available at the right time without having to wait. My biggest concern and question is, with all his experience as a scouting/personnel man for the Jets, cowpies, Dolphins, and Texans, how good is he at finding and picking talent in the Draft and FA? Who is he directly responsible for finding on those teams that made a difference? We will probably never know!
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See I thought you were going to be happy with a Brian Gaine hire, but look at you now because before it even becomes official you are already bitchin again like a little girl which confirms what I've thought was you main reason for being here - complaining and whining.
TejasTom
All Pro
It’s probably just gas.
Shishkabob
All Pro
so smith and Obrien hate each other, Obrien and Gaine like each other. Gaine is known as an Obrien guy, not Rick Smith guy one of the reasons people speculate he was fired last year. Smith was making a power play and got rid of Obriens closest ally in the FO. Gaine also comes from the parcells tree which has more ties to Obrien than it does smith. Gaine was hired in 2014, Obrien could have had some influence in getting him here. However obviously Rick did not like this guy enough to want him gone, and then when Rick was scolded and tried getting him back Gaine flipped him the bird and went to buffalo. Do you think Rick would really like a guy he wanted to get rid of to take his job? and do you think Gaine who had his own problems with Rick would take a job if Rick was coming back, and going to be bossing him around let alone listen to him?
you might be better off discussing how you believe the earth or flat
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
With Smith and O'Brien, they were expected to work things out, with Smith having priority over picking the groceries and O'brien deciding how to use the groceries. If there were a log jam between the two, then they were both to go to McNair. Now, even though O'Brien had a say as to the GM pick for "alignment" purposes, Gaine will still have priority over picking the groceries and O'brien deciding how to use the groceries. But if now there were a log jam between the two, Gaine will be having the final say. If Gaine has any problems in any facet of his job, he alone will be going to McNair......a direct message to Gaine that he will be above O'Brien in the power structure.
Unless there's a known case of O'Brien ever winning a conversation that involved he, Smith and the McNair's, I don't see that as much different than what we had.
I can easily envision the Rick Smith/O'Brien conversation going something like this... "Bill, I know you want that guy instead, but financially my guy just makes more sense. Do you really want to go take this one to Cal for a ruling? You know how that's going to go, right?"
O'Brien confirmed prior to the season (and after the draft) that they had never gone to McNair over a disagreement up to that point.
You've got alot more faith in the McNair's than I do. I don't beleive what they're selling. I can see Ricky having undue influence witout Gaine even knowing about it.
You're quite naive if you think the McNair's will EVER fire the godfather. The Godfather has helped make the McNair's alot of $$$$ along with Jamey Rootes. Both of these guys have a place within the Texans org as long as they want to work there.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
And you really believe that? Statements like that are made for public consumption.
Wrong again, I like Gaine and like the Gaine hire. I've always said I wished Gaine was the GM instead of Ricky. You need to search my posts on Gaine before posting such drivel. Even though you don't bother to do that because of your preconceived notions about me.
I do think the McNair's should've interviewed guys like Caserio/Wolf etc... It never hurts to here how guys from other orgs go about acquiring talent and how these orgs are set up.
The search feels like it was rushed too me. What would it have hurt to wait on interviewing Caserio. ( My #1 guy) I mean the Sr. Bowl is coming up and BOB/scouts should be able to handle that job. If they cant then this org is in deep trouble anyways. We're talking about the McNair's who let Kubiak miss the scouting combine for an elective sinus surgery.
Shishkabob
All Pro
so you wanted smith gone, and you wanted Gaine to replace smith, but you also think since Gaine was once hired by smith he will still be pulling strings behind the scenes? you can't even keep your own ideas straight
I think Ricky will be in the McNair's ears telling them what he wants them to do and the McNair's will do what Ricky wants done when push comes to shove. Is that clear enough for you?
I also want to go on the record that I hope I'm wrong, but there's a reason only 2 former Texan employees were interviewed for the job and candidates like McClay turned down the opportunity to interview for the job. 1 of only 32 jobs in the world.
This tells me alot about what high caliber NFL people think about the Texans org when they dont even want to interview with the the McNair's.
Yep, this was a local interview with MAD Radio that few heard.
It wasn't the usual leak where the national media reports that O'Brien didn't want to start Savage over Watson or something. Those are the ones for public consumption (along with OB wanted to cut Mallet, he had Brock forced on him, he didnt want Rahim Moore, etc)
Shishkabob
All Pro
you say candidates like there were multiple, there was 1 guy who turned it down. a guy who is essentially a gm in Dallas without the title, so he has most of the benefits and none of the risk. another candidate flew down here for an interview, obviously he wanted to interview before being offered the same job by his current employer. stop spinning your own narratives as facts. Mcnair said the gm will have full control over football operations, he said Rick smith will not undo any of that power if he even returns. so as far as i know mcnair isn't known as bring a dishonest guy, so I won't start calling him a liar, if you want to go for it. Gaine is an Obrien guy, I don't think he would chose this job, and I don't think Obrien would be signing an extension if they though Rick would come back and have mcnair trump their decisions, it doesn't make sense.
but again you implied before since Rick smith hire Brian gaine before he will still call the shots this year? A. Do you really think Rick cares that little of his wife that has a very serious firm of cancer. B.do you really think that little of Brian Gaines intelligence
Fair enough
Too answer your questions, yes, yes, and yes.
After all of these yrs I dont trust much of anything that comes out of the Texans org.
cuppacoffee
Resident Grouch
Who, besides McClay, declined to interview?
Gaine knows exactly how the Mcnuggets operate and what he is getting into. He is coming in with his eyes open. He already has a leg up on any other candidate by knowing beforehand many of the problems awaiting him.
Being a friend of Obrein is a plus.
I'm happy. godfather is gone. I suspect Raye will be allowed to seek employment elsewhere soon. Leave no trace of the godfather ever having been here.
Many here were disappointed when Gaine left and went to Buffalo. If I recall correctly (and my recall is on the downside) you were one of them.
Hopefully Mcnugget feels that he has fulfilled his obligation to the godfather. I don't think he will have he influence you fear.
Who, besides McClay, declined to interview?
Gaine knows exactly how the Mcnuggets operate and what he is getting into. He is coming in with his eyes open. He already has a leg up on any other candidate by knowing beforehand many of the problems awaiting him.
Being a friend of Obrein is a plus.
I'm happy. godfather is gone. I suspect Raye will be allowed to seek employment elsewhere soon. Leave no trace of the godfather ever having been here.
Many here were disappointed when Gaine left and went to Buffalo. If I recall correctly (and my recall is on the downside) you were one of them.
Hopefully Mcnugget feels that he has fulfilled his obligation to the godfather. I don't think he will have he influence you fear.
Who did they even interview? My point is they didn't even interview anybody that hasn't already worked for the Texans org. I think there's a reason the McNair's ran the GM search the way they did. In short I dont trust the McNairs and that's been earned by watching the way they've gone about their business over the last 15 yrs.
I hope you're right, I've got my doubts.
See my hypothetical convo above. I figure both knew who McNair would side with, so little point in trying.
So when is the press conference? I’m ready to move on, honestly. O’Brien would already be out the door without Watson’s endorsement. He lost some power over personnel. In my eyes, that’s a good thing. Rick Smith’s passive aggressive management style is gone. I know nothing about what Gaine brings to the table, but I can say pretty much the same about the other candidates.
So fire up the presser and let’s get on to Mobile.
So fire up the presser and let’s get on to Mobile.
Shishkabob
All Pro
then follow another flipping team. you complain about something, and then when you get your way you complain about that to. Can you even grasp the concept that mcnair who is known as a stand up guy by everyone might have smith "take a leave of abscence" instead of a firing so his wife can get the medical care she needs now more than ever? or are you blinded that much by your anti Rick smith, and bib mcnair to even consider it?
Obrien got his way like it or not, Obrien is getting an extension, Obrien got his friend as a GM, it will be all on him now. You can no longer go foward blaming Rick Smith get over it
Shishkabob
All Pro
contracts not signed yet
http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Early-encounters-with-Brock-Osweiler-left-6884287.php
I'm not very excited about this move. This is the same guy who had a hand in Osweiler signing. We'll see what he does going forward I guess.
I'm not very excited about this move. This is the same guy who had a hand in Osweiler signing. We'll see what he does going forward I guess.
Given that OBrien has clearly won the power struggle, I don't think that's true
TexansBull
Hall of Fame
Gaine was a Parcells guy, and OB is a Belichick guy who was a Parcells guy.
Sounds like alignment.
Rick Smith was what kind of guy?
Sounds like alignment.
Rick Smith was what kind of guy?
cuppacoffee
Resident Grouch
I'm moving my attention to who we ( Texans) are going to sign (need to sign) to coach the team.
Need a thread for that?
Need a thread for that?
Gaine was talent evaluating for the Texans the past 3 years
I will be following this team.
I understand what you're saying about the McNair's and Rick Smith.
We just have different opinions of what a STAND UP guys the McNair's are.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
Dude, your sample size is 1 rejection. It shouldn't tell you anything more than 1 guy declined the job.
As for the Gaine hire, I'm an optimistic about it. While there's certainly potential for Gaine to just be a "yes" man to OB, There's also something to be said for having a guy in your corner whom you respect & work well with to help you achieve the ultimate goal. Belichick gets the lion's share of the credit for having built the Patriots dynasty b/c he had final say in personnel decisions, but Scott Pioli was there playing a critical role the whole time helping him build that dynasty too. Dude was pretty much Belichick's "guy" from the time Belichick left Cleveland to NE.
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Yeah, the contracts are not signed but it's leaning heavily toward Gaines and O'Brien going forward. It appears Gaines understands O'Brien and vice-versa, which for no other reason may yield something positive in 2018. I hope that McNair, his rookie GM and O'Brien understand that this new relationship is starting out behind the 8-Ball. There will be many holes to fill, veterans to cut (for cap space), FA's to find / sign without getting raped and trying to turn the 2018 NFL Draft into a reasonable amount of success. With this in mind...I'd personally feel a lot better if there was a team consultant hired to help and oversee this groups first season.
Shishkabob
All Pro
outside of you disagreeing with his decisions regarding his football team, do you have any examples of him showing poor character? please post links for proof.
Yes, appears to be set up to get the wanted result versus a true result.
-Ask one guy who has turned down jobs before and has a low risk gig
-Interview a guy who happened to get an offer in the middle of his visit
-Ask three dudes who are subject to being denied by their employers while in playoffs
-Satisfy Rooney rule in house
-Return to a former employee that everyone knows and likes well enough
I presented these facts to my wife (non sports fan) last night and she said that's a bs process to weakly cover the fact you wanted one guy to start with.
Max
Veteran
Feel free to move this if a new thread gets started. My 2 cents on what our offseason focus should be: Have a 2 year plan on turning the team around – there’s enough holes that 1 offseason minus a 1st and 2nd round pick probably aren’t enough to address everything. Focus on offense this year and D the following year. Commit to a blocking scheme and find O-lineman that will succeed in it. My thoughts are to retain Martin, Davenport, Manz and Lamm and find 2 starting OG’s and an OT. Other priorities for this year is a backup qb that is able to work the same O if Watson goes down and a contributing TE. More likely to find starting caliber players in the draft 3rd round and later at OG and TE than T so get your T in FA and a developmental QB and DB later in the draft. There should be enough $ to find a starting DB in FA this year as well.I'm moving my attention to who we ( Texans) are going to sign (need to sign) to coach the team.
Need a thread for that?
Draft priority: OG, OG, TE, QB, DB.
FA: T, CB (possibly backup QB)
This nets us a young OL on rookie contracts (save the T in FA) that can grow w/ Watson and hopefully be a foundation for the offense for 5 years +. It’s hard to imagine we couldn’t do better in the draft than Allen and Su’a-WhatTheF.
In theory, our O will be putting up points next year and maybe it’s good enough to make a run. If JJ and Mercilus are their old self (and KJ turns it around) – maybe the D is closer to 2016 than 2017 and we’re a playoff team that can score points and make a run. If not, work on D the following year by overhauling the DB’s and look for another pass rusher.