I hope all of my detractors read this post.
It's all i was really trying to say.
Typical McNair BS
The shadow of Ricky will loom over the Texans org.
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Replacement GM thread
- Thread starter AcresHomesTexan
- Start date
I hope all of my detractors read this post.
It's all i was really trying to say.
Typical McNair BS
The shadow of Ricky will loom over the Texans org.
Shishkabob
All Pro
the issue with this is though there is more evidence to this being Obriens shadow looming, than Ricks shadow. Mcnair wanted someone to align with Obrien so they come up with a b.s. gm search to hire obriens friend. I don't see how that in anyways has to do with smith. just you wanting to blame smith still
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Your wife is much smarter than a majority of Texans fans.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Your wife is much smarter than a majority of Texans fans.
Absolutely. Only a stupid fan would want to wait for someone from a playoff team.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Since the decision has been made, I intend to support Gaines. But we really don't know what his real player acquisition/decision track record has been.................with the Texans, he was #2 under Smith...........and under the Bills, he was not involved with their Draft at all.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Like anyone was breaking down Gaine's door..............remind me, how many GM positions are open?
That’s exactly where I think RS goes IF he comes back, to the business side.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
You guys are something else honestly. For 6-7 years alot of you bitched and moaned about how horrible Smith was & just knew without a shadow of a doubt that McNair was never going to relieve this dude of his duties. Of course McNair shits on all of you and does just that....& already ya'll are dooming the hire a fail before the guy has even undertaken his 1st order of business as a GM here b/c:
a. He was here as a scout when we made bad draft picks under the Smith regime.
b. He wasn't a splashy pick or the guy you wanted.
c. He was a guy that figured to have the upperhand on the job from the get go...."we need a true outsider!!!!!"....b/c yeah, that's full proof.
d. He's "the guy" of a HC that you wanted fired.
e. you didn't like the process & how it was undertaken
I blame sports media in this town. All these clowns on 610, 790 and 97.5 whom can't remain objective & continue to put all this drivel out there about this or that has alot of you in full conspiracy theory mode around here.....especially guys like Granato, Jason Braddock, Adam Clanton & Paul Gallant whom are just utter trash. & just based on how much of a surprise to everyone (including the media here) it was that Smith was stepping down due to his wife's situation, it's clear, none of those jackasses have a clue of what's going on over there on kirby. The only guys remotely worth listening to are basically all the former players...ND, Seth, DT & Sean Jones b/c many of them can give legit insights into what's going on, what's the thinking of coaches/players in terms of who really messed up on that 1 play that cost us the game, & who just flat out sucks. Those guys also tend to stay away from speculating & putting trash out there about what's going ...........like that clown Jerome Solomon likes to do.
a. He was here as a scout when we made bad draft picks under the Smith regime.
b. He wasn't a splashy pick or the guy you wanted.
c. He was a guy that figured to have the upperhand on the job from the get go...."we need a true outsider!!!!!"....b/c yeah, that's full proof.
d. He's "the guy" of a HC that you wanted fired.
e. you didn't like the process & how it was undertaken
I blame sports media in this town. All these clowns on 610, 790 and 97.5 whom can't remain objective & continue to put all this drivel out there about this or that has alot of you in full conspiracy theory mode around here.....especially guys like Granato, Jason Braddock, Adam Clanton & Paul Gallant whom are just utter trash. & just based on how much of a surprise to everyone (including the media here) it was that Smith was stepping down due to his wife's situation, it's clear, none of those jackasses have a clue of what's going on over there on kirby. The only guys remotely worth listening to are basically all the former players...ND, Seth, DT & Sean Jones b/c many of them can give legit insights into what's going on, what's the thinking of coaches/players in terms of who really messed up on that 1 play that cost us the game, & who just flat out sucks. Those guys also tend to stay away from speculating & putting trash out there about what's going ...........like that clown Jerome Solomon likes to do.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
You missed the point. Asking people on playoff teams is the smart thing to do. It shouldn't be viewed as cover.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
I would say that the smarter thing to do with such an important decision is to ask to interview/actually interview people on playoff teams when they are available.
banned1976
sleeper mode
I completely agree. In my professional career, I've found it more productive to have differences with people I am friendly with than those I wasn't. And when I ran into someone that I didn't get along with and we had a disagreement, I eventually just walked away. This was when I was a Quality Engineer and/or Quality Manager and most of my disagreements were with either Supply Chain or Engineering. If I butt heads with one of them I avoided them and chose someone else from their department to work with me. No sense in arguing with someone for hours. It's a fruitless endeavor arguing with someone when you know there won't be a compromise or solution.
For this reason I like the Gaine hire. I believe he and O'Brien will be able to iron out their differences (and I expect they will have them) in a productive manner. I don't believe that was the case with Smith and O'Brien. IMHO I believe when O'Brien and Smith had their differences OB just simply walked away and let Smith "win" for lack of a better term.
My point was that the Texans (or the search firm) has to know the real possibility that the teams could (or worse would) deny the request. If you were unwilling to wait, then don't ask or only ask people who are available to be interview if time is such an important issue to the search committee.
This was akin to go ask your father, knowing what dad was most likely to say.
Perki-Perk
DieHard Texan!
Apparently a "Smith Win" doesn't equate to a Texans win on the field lol
banned1976
sleeper mode
Buffalo (where Brian Gaine is currently employed) was a playoff team.
The Texans could do a lot worse than Gaine.
I guess I don't understand the anxiety about Brian Gaine taking over the GM position for the Texans. Even people (steelbtexan) who say they like Gaine are worried. R-E-L-A-X says Aaron Rodgers. Nothing is even official yet.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
We asked when they were potentially available which is the correct process.
banned1976
sleeper mode
I really don't disagree with you, I too wish they would have waited. But I suppose they really like Gaine. There is familiarity there and I believe that played a roll in them not waiting; if indeed it's a done deal as is being discussed.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
I found this HOUSTON FRONT OFFICE LISTING curious.................it changed from what it was when I looked in on it yesterday.
TexansBull
Hall of Fame
Does anyone think it is odd that we weren’t able to interview the guy from New England but McDaniels was able to interview for the Colts job? And Patricia in New York?
Thank you, my sentiments exactly. Essentially Gaine doesn't have a known record at this kind of work, certainly not one that's established good or bad.
So this guy may be an abject failure as an NFL GM or maybe he turns out to be be an outstanding GM, hey maybe another Bobby Beathard or Ozzie Newsome.
That's right McNair gave us anything but a thorough and exhaustive search for a new GM so if you want to be pizzed at someone then he's your guy.
In the meantime, starting with the Senior Bowl lets get behind the GM & HC and go find some talent and make these Texans a serious contender again in 2018.
Shishkabob
All Pro
what changed?
what changed?
Well said, man. I know nothing about Gaine so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and I realize it will take years to truly be able to evaluate him as a GM.
That said, the process was nothing but a dog and pony show and had absolutely no merit other than satisfying the Rooney rule.
Kubiak revealed himself to be a great head coach when paired with a good GM. He won a Super Bowl once he had a GM that knows how to run an NFL team.
In Houston, Kubiak was always taking heat for hiring bad defensive coordinators. Why? Isn't that the GM's job, to hire coaches? Why didn't Rick Smith ever take any blame for that failure?
It was only when Bob McNair acted like a traditional GM and hired a DC in Wade that Kubiak was able to field a playoff team.
Only a handful of head coaches in NFL history have the talents to be both HC and GM of successful franchises. Neither Kubiak nor O'Brien are part of that club. And that's my point about McNair. He appears unable and/or unwilling to hire a strong GM and let them build the team, which is a proven model that goes back many, many decades. The jury is still out on this boardroom-style of consensus building front office.
But, it is what it is. There is really no point in further discussion because nothing is going to change. We can only hope as Texans fans that the chemistry and vision between O'Brien and Gaine is in alignment and they field a team that can compete with the Patriots, Steelers, and any other team with a winning record.
agree with your post other than this.... it's a Head Coach's job to assemble his staff, including coordinators
I am not local and with Gaine there is "nothing wrong" with the hire.and that standard is kinda the problem.
I have no anxiety about Gaine taking over the Texans. He is safe, professional, and connected from what I have gathered. I doubt he will be awful from what I can see about his background. The issues with process that appears to have been in place;
1) There does not seem to be anyway that the Texans could know if there was someone better to do the job versus you could do worse.
2) While I am content that the Texans are run this way, this was the safest possible answer to the GM problem, especially of you were wanting to act quickly over thoroughly.
3) There was not even the chance to really hear how someone else might view the situation, and how this person might attack the issue. If nothing else, actually interviewing people might give some honest, different perspective, even if you hire your guy anyway.
yeah, my point was that it is the HC's job,not the GM's. McNair had to step in when neither Kubiak or Smith took care of the situation
Yes I do.
Unlike you and steelb, I'm not willing to call O'Brien a liar.
Shishkabob
All Pro
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
No the safest & quickest way would've been to promote JR III from interim to acting GM. Regardless, this was a no win situation given the fact that those we wanted to take a run at were either hired by someone else before we could get to them or we were prohibited from interviewing until their respective teams were out of the playoffs.
They had a guy in mind & they went for thier guy..nothing wrong with that as long as you feel like you got the guy you wanted. Its highly likely he wouldn't have been hired as quickly if we had access to Caserio & the other candidate they wanted to interview. they likely would've waited until after those to go after Gaine.
Still, as unlikely as a "yes" answer might be, you ask anyway.
You may well get the "no" you expect, but if you don't even ask you have no shot at a "yes".
Texansballer74
The Marine
Lol it's called the Texans way. To be honest I truly believe they only wanted Gaine all alone.
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
Might be able to get a QB answer for development as an UDFA. Anu Solomon out of Baylor -via Arizona- is a running and throwing type of QB, plus he's 6-2 @ 220 lbs. He got benched after 2 games in Baylor but that was after he transferred from Arizona where he had two pretty nice seasons in 2014 and 2015. He completed 59% / 66% for 3,200+ / 2,200+ yards, 25 / 20 TD and 9 / 5 INT. He had his best rushing season in the 2 games he started for Baylor. Anyhow, he wouldn't cost the team a pick and just might fit the system.
Yeah, I've actually been wondering to myself why I'm putting so much intellectual energy into this when, as you've been preaching, it's just entertainment. So I'm going to pop some fresh popcorn and watch the show unfold.
Although, I do wonder that if the Gaine hire is such a "done deal" why hasn't some announcement come forth from the Texans themselves?? What's the point in waiting? Is Gaine holding out for more power or something? Or are they having issues hammering out O'Brien's extension??
....this assumes they want to make both announcements at the same presser.
Google search of "general manager duties nfl" immediately reveals this in the search results:
The general manager is also normally the person who hires and fires the coaching staff, including the head coach. The general manager will in many cases have oversight of the entire football department, typically reporting to the team president/CEO and/or owner.
Virtually every website listing and NFL GM's duties includes the potential hiring and firing of coaches.
Now that doesn't mean it is the only way or the way that everyone must do it, but traditionally in the NFL, owners would hire GM's and the GM would then fill out the staff that meets their vision for the direction of the team and style of football they want the team to play. Obviously, they are going to find a HC that they work with to fill out the staff, which is probably one of the rubs between O'Brien and Smith among other things.
Here's a great article about various aspects of being an NFL GM: 2018 NFL General Manager Candidate Study
Excerpt:
Depending on the organizational structure, a GM may have decision-making authority or advisory input in all or most aspects of the club. The job description will certainly include football operations such as coach and staff selection, management of scouting departments, contract negotiations, and most importantly, player personnel decisions. It may also include business operational items such as finance, marketing, stadium development, media and community relations. As the business of the NFL has grown, so too have the legal, financial and operational complications therein. NFL front offices have consequently grown to cover these many areas. GMs now not only oversee a large, complex network of individuals working in a variety of fields, but also must be experts or near-experts in those fields.
What this article is basically saying is that GM duties can come in a variety of forms and flavors, so the way McNair is running things is not off the wall or bizarre. It's just the way he wants to do it and that's the way it is.
That said, it is my own belief that giving a new HC, that has no prior experience and limited networking, traditional GM duties is what leads you to have five seasons of bad defense when he is unable to hire a decent DC. JMO, but also supported by franchise history.
Do you think it means anything that Bill O'Brien is listed right under the McNairs? And Rick Smith's name is under both O'Brien's and Jamey Rootes??
Shishkabob
All Pro
Do you think it means anything that Bill O'Brien is listed right under the McNairs? And Rick Smith's name is under both O'Brien's and Jamey Rootes??
think it has more to do with they took the 'of football operations' off the back end of his EVP title
It is 'just entertainment', but I tend to have the same in-depth conversations about other entertainment that I enjoy like Star Wars and heavy metal music. The key is not to get emotional about it.
I figure it is all just conversation and serves a function in my life due to a very limited social life in the real world.
I straight up don't like the board room method. I'd rather see McNair release a statement that after reading years upon years of TT posts, the new Texans GM is SBT, assistant GM is Texian and director of scouting is beerlover. I'm not being overly facetious about that, either.
I enjoy the intellectual energy I put into this. I've just learned to be like DB and not get overly passionate about it. I used to be Bulls on Parade and Jam Tex on steroids, Xs 10 before 35-3. The Oilers winning or losing would determine if I had a good or bad week. Now, it's engage in good conversation, learn something new, have your mind changed about something but never let it determine your happiness.
It is 'just entertainment', but I tend to have the same in-depth conversations about other entertainment that I enjoy like Star Wars and heavy metal music. The key is not to get emotional about it.
I figure it is all just conversation and serves a function in my life due to a very limited social life in the real world.
Outside when life is too busy, if I get too emotional about these conversations, I will go way in some manner only posting if there some mod duty or news type article that needs posting.
That could very well be true. But as the Cowboys personnel guy said, the Texans GM job has pros and cons. Smith looming in the background. The head coach is inherited with a new extension. No picks in the 1st 2 roiunds of the draft. And while McNair has always been patient with the GM and stays out of the way, he has created his own negative headlines recently. No job with Watson, Watt, and Hopkins can be considered a bad gig. Just not as plum as it should be. Had Smith & O'Brien been completely out of the picture, the Texans GM position would have been more enticing.
Hervoyel
BUENO!
"Slick" kind of guy.
Mr teX
Hall of Fame
I'd say the Pros GREATLY outweigh the cons with this job. Aside from the exclusivity of the job, You've got at least 3 of the best young and upcoming players in the league, At least 2 of the best professional & veteran players in Watt & Mercilus that any team could ever want; i.e. the core is already in place. Aside from that, you're going to have Tons of cap space projected to work with & it appears that your hardest task as the GM may have already been done for you if Watson pans out the way that its looking now.
All this, plus an owner who outside of Mike Brown in Cincy is the most patient owner in the league in terms of letting you do your thing. The absolute only real drawback is that you won't have a 1st and 2nd round pick this year in the draft.....but come next year you're back with an extra 2nd to boot. All you've got to do is come in here and win & if you do that, trust that McNair isn't going to be trying to reinsert Ricky back into the equation. Furthermore, I'm just not at all buying that working with OB is any worse than working with any HC in the league...especially given the fact that he works with plastic face self-aggrandizing ass Jerry Jones.
On top of all this....if you have all these concerns, wouldn't an interview give you the opportunity to address some of your concerns?
His alleged comments are short-sighted & sound uninformed and like he's just happy sucking from the Jones teet while not being held responsible for failures........which is why this dude probably wasn't a good candidate to begin with
All this, plus an owner who outside of Mike Brown in Cincy is the most patient owner in the league in terms of letting you do your thing. The absolute only real drawback is that you won't have a 1st and 2nd round pick this year in the draft.....but come next year you're back with an extra 2nd to boot. All you've got to do is come in here and win & if you do that, trust that McNair isn't going to be trying to reinsert Ricky back into the equation. Furthermore, I'm just not at all buying that working with OB is any worse than working with any HC in the league...especially given the fact that he works with plastic face self-aggrandizing ass Jerry Jones.
On top of all this....if you have all these concerns, wouldn't an interview give you the opportunity to address some of your concerns?
His alleged comments are short-sighted & sound uninformed and like he's just happy sucking from the Jones teet while not being held responsible for failures........which is why this dude probably wasn't a good candidate to begin with
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Mr. White
Retired OLine Coach
Every now and then I keep seeing something to the effect of "Rick Smith fired Brian Gaine, then he tried to get him back." I think I might have even heard McClain say it.
Does anyone know more about what happened in this situation? Apparently I missed it altogether.
Shishkabob
All Pro
Yea last year when Gaine left it was reported as a mutual parting. About the time Rick stepped down and Gaines name came up it started being reported by McClain and a few others he was fired. when 610 asked McClain about it he said he didn't know last year he was fired and he reported it as such, and now that he found out he was fired he has reported it as such.
No one knows why he was fired, or mutually parted ways. I can only give you my belief from the things we do know. o think Rick might have let him go because as has been reported Gaine and Obrien are close. So if Smith was trying to make a power play over Obrien getting rid of his biggest ally in the FO would accomplish that. then daddy mcnair scolded smith for getting rid of a valuable asset and told him to get him back but by that time it was to late.
again that's what I think could have happened, not what did. Could just as easily be that Gaine and Smith got in a heated argument, both started shouting, they both said some stuff, Rick fired him on the spot. After Rick calmed down he tried getting Gaine back, but by then it was to late. Hell maybe Gaine kicked Ricks dog, we don't know and will probably never know
Maybe Rick tried to get him back after his wife was diagnosed with cancer?
Then they found Jimmy Raye
powda
The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
Didn't they hire some firm or something to help them in this GM search? They end up interviewing what, 2 people?
So this is only our 3rd gm in 16 years. We waited less then 2 weeks and interviewed 2 guys? I wanted Caserio or Wolfe to at least get an interview. Gaine might be really good but I expected - hoped - for a more thorough search.
infantrycak
Hall of Fame
Uh-huh. Or everything was totally innocent. Y'all know that happens.
The Bills process was unusual last season. It was like the 2006 Texans. Doug Whaley stayed thru the draft with new HC Sean McDermott. After the draft he was fired and Brandon Beane was brought in as GM on 5/9. He brought in Jim Schoen who he worked with in Carolina as Asst. GM on 5/12. They then brought in Brian Gaine who Schoen had worked with in Miami on 5/14. Pretty convenient albeit odd time to get fired (and for all the reporter sources to go mute).
This move also brought Gaine back to the east coast where his family are and he has lived his life other than 2 years in Dallas and 3 in Houston.
Now I know reporters are infallible to some, even the ones who said OB was gone.
Oh and it's damned unusual to promote someone 7 mos. after firing them.
The Bills process was unusual last season. It was like the 2006 Texans. Doug Whaley stayed thru the draft with new HC Sean McDermott. After the draft he was fired and Brandon Beane was brought in as GM on 5/9. He brought in Jim Schoen who he worked with in Carolina as Asst. GM on 5/12. They then brought in Brian Gaine who Schoen had worked with in Miami on 5/14. Pretty convenient albeit odd time to get fired (and for all the reporter sources to go mute).
This move also brought Gaine back to the east coast where his family are and he has lived his life other than 2 years in Dallas and 3 in Houston.
Now I know reporters are infallible to some, even the ones who said OB was gone.
Oh and it's damned unusual to promote someone 7 mos. after firing them.
Shishkabob
All Pro
the only way I can really make sense of this is they are going all in on Obrien. bow if that's a smart move is yet to be determined. But they wanted to get the gm search done quickly to get Obriens contract extension done quickly so he can fill out his coaching staff. Mcnair wanted someone to be aligned with Obrien, obrien was really close with Gaine so that familiarity was there. the only other candidate with a close relation with Obrien was Caserio, they are close friends. Maybe mcnair just didn't want to wait a month to get his guy, maybe obriens said he wanted Gaine, maybe Obrien being close friends with caserio knows he wouldn't leave his job in NE which is similar to what McClay is in Dallas to come here so why wait? anyways it is all on Obrien now like it or not. hope it works