Texans GM Rick Smith taking extended family medical leave

So Rick Smith fired Rick Smith, then McNairs put Rick Smith out to pasture so they could bring in Rick Smith?

 

Brian Gaine the favorite

The Texans can make a smooth transition from Rick Smith to his replacement as general manager by hiring Brian Gaine or Jimmy Raye III because of their familiarity with the organization.

The Texans kicked off the interview process Monday with Raye, their vice president of football operations/assistant general manager.

Gaine, Buffalo's vice president of player personnel, interviews Tuesday.

Although the situation could change, most consider Gaine the favorite because he spent three seasons (2014-16) with the Texans and was highly respected by members of the personnel, coaching and administrative departments.

This is a busy time for the Texans, as it is for most NFL teams. Not only are they looking for a new general manager, but coach Bill O'Brien must replace six assistant coaches.

O'Brien, whose staff will coach in the Senior Bowl, doesn't appear to be in a rush to hire new assistants. Because he has only one year left on his contract, it'll be easier to get coaches to come to the Texans if he signs an extension.

Once owner Bob McNair and vice chairman Cal McNair decide on a new general manager, they'll direct their attention to O'Brien and signing him to an extension.

A return to Houston?

Meanwhile, Raye was first in the interview chair.

Raye, who worked at San Diego for 17 years and Indianapolis for four, just completed his first season with the Texans. He was hired to replace Gaine.

In 2014, Gaine left Miami after six years to run the Texans' pro personnel department for Smith. That's the same year O'Brien was hired.

Smith promoted Gaine to director of player personnel. During three seasons together, Gaine and O'Brien developed a good working relationship.

There's no guarantee Gaine will get the job, because so much depends on his interview. He has to prove to the McNairs he's capable of running the personnel department and football operations the way they believe is best for the organization.

In his interview, Gaine also has to prove to the McNairs he won't be shy about giving his opinions to them and will stand up to O'Brien when it comes to personnel decisions.

O'Brien's contract says he controls who plays and doesn't play on game days. He's expected to sign an extension once the general manager is in place.

The right candidate

Last week, the Texans 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 they are playing, according to NFL bylaws. Philadelphia and New England host divisional games this weekend.

If the Texans want to wait until the Eagles and Patriots are done, they can interview Douglas, Caserio and Ossenfort if they're interested in coming to Houston.

Will McClay, Dallas' vice president of player personnel, was on the Texans' list. Stephen Jones, Cowboys executive vice president, told the team's flagship radio station Monday that indications are that McClay is staying.

There's no timetable for hiring a general manager or signing O'Brien to an extension. But as Bob McNair said last week, he would rather have it done "sooner than later."
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Can you blame any up and coming GM? They are basically playing substitute teacher.

 

He doesn't want to come be an inmate?

 

Fake search.

 

Why would Wolf rather work under a GM for the Browns instead of being GM for the Texans???

 

Did the Texans even interview him? I don't think he had the option to pick

 

Browns have tons of picks and no front office/head coaching baggage

 

One thing they don’t have tho

 

With the Browns he won't have to deal with BOB. I imagine that's good enough for many GM candidates.

 

It's going to be Brian Gaine and it was always going to be Brian Gaine.

The Texans probably let the Patriots and Eagles know ahead of time they could decline permission, just wanted to give the appearance of a search.

 

Weird they hired a search firm to interview Raye And Gaines

 

Like they can't wait a month to interview the other candidates? Nah, just get the guy we already know.

THAT'S CALLED NEPOTISM

 

So Korn Ferry casts a wide net for GM candidates and they come up so far with zero interviews that had no prior relationship with the team?

Either the NFL GM talent pool is really thin or guys are politely declining the offer to interview.

Sooner or later it'll come out that Rick Smith's status has put good candidates off the job here.

 

Lol The hate is strong. Maybe this guy just isn't a good GM candidate. Which is why he is taking an assistant assistant GM job.

 

Or, 3 of the top candidates can’t interview because their teams are still playing and the teams denied permission.
Btw, I understand denying permission for coaches as they are directly involved in preparing for games however denying FO personnel is a bit silly. I can’t believe that taking one day away to interview would effect anything negatively

 

All of these guys not good?

• Kevin Abrams – interim general manager – New York Giants
  • 19-year veteran of NYG, including 16 years as Assistant GM and primary contract negotiator
• Nick Caserio – director of player personnel – New England Patriots
  • 17-year NE staffer, including one year as WR coach and 10 years as Director of Player Personnel
• Joey Clinkscales – director of player personnel – Oakland Raiders
  • 25-year NFL player and scout. Six years with OAK after 17 years with NYJ
• Eric DeCosta – assistant general manager – Baltimore Ravens
  • 22-year NFL scout, all with BLT. Came up through the college area scouting ranks
• Joe Douglas – vice president of player personnel – Philadelphia Eagles
  • 19-year NFL scout who spent 16 seasons with BLT, then a year with CHI before joining PHI
• Scott Fitterer – co-director of player personnel – Seattle Seahawks
  • 20-year NFL scout, with 17 seasons in SEA and three with NYG. College QB and Pitcher (UCLA/LSU)
• Brian Gaine – vice president of player personnel – Buffalo Bills
  • 19-year NFL player and scout. Has executive experience with DAL, MIA, HST, and now BUF
• Chris Grier – general manager – Miami Dolphins
  • 23-year NFL scout, 18 with MIA and five with NE. Son of former Patriots exec Bobby Grier
• Brian Gutekunst – director of player personnel – Green Bay Packers
  • 19-year GB scout and former CFB coach. Spent 13 years as a college area scout
• Alonzo Highsmith – senior personnel executive – Green Bay Packers
  • Six-year NFL player with 19 years of experience in GB scouting department, primarily college
• Jeff Ireland – assistant general manager – New Orleans Saints
  • Six-year MIA GM and 22-year scout for KC, DAL, MIA, and now NO. Former college coach
• Trent Kirchner – co-director of player personnel – Seattle Seahawks
  • 18-year NFL scout who has experience pro scouting for CAR and SEA
• Martin Mayhew – senior personnel executive – San Francisco 49ers
  • Seven-year DET GM and nine-year NFL player with 17 years experience building rosters
• Will McClay – vice president of player personnel – Dallas Cowboys
  • 15-year DAL scout, who spent 11 years as player/coach in the Arena Football league
• Terry McDonough – vice president of player personnel – Arizona Cardinals
  • 26-year NFL veteran, including time with SF, CLE/BLT, JAX, and ARZ, and in the World League
• George Paton – assistant general manager – Minnesota Vikings
  • 21-year NFL veteran with experience in pro and college scouting for CHI, MIA, and MIN
• Scott Pioli – assistant general manager – Atlanta Falcons
  • Four-year KC GM and 25-year NFL scout for CLE/BLT, NYJ, NE, KC, and ATL
• Chris Polian – director of player personnel – Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Three-year IND GM and 22-year NFL scout for IND, ATL, and JAX. Son of HOF GM Bill Polian
• Louis Riddick – nfl analyst – ESPN
  • 20-year NFL player and scout who has Pro Scouting Director experience with WAS and PHI
• Marc Ross – vice president of player evaluation – New York Giants
  • 20-year NFL scout with PHI, BUF, and NYG, primarily on the college scouting side
• Duke Tobin – director of player personnel – Cincinnati Bengals
  • Tenured CIN scout and former college QB, son of longtime scout Bill Tobin
• Eliot Wolf – director of football operations – Green Bay Packers
  • 14-year NFL scout. Has worked on the pro and college sides for GB. Son of HOF GM Ron Wolf
• Brian Xanders – senior personnel executive – Los Angeles Rams
  • Four-year DEN GM and 24-year NFL scout for ATL, DEN, DET, and LAR. Football systems specialist

No hate.

Just questioning the process/why we haven't been doing a bunch of interviews.