Time for new management plan
Failure to snare Caserio from Patriots leaves team with options, including possible trade for its new GM
Since the Texans have ended their pursuit of New England director of player personnel Nick Caserio -- at least for now -- and the Patriots have withdrawn their tampering charges, they have three options to consider in their attempt to find a replacement for Brian Gaine.
Do they try to trade for Caserio?
Do they wait for Caserio’s contract to expire next year and pursue him again?
Do they continue the interview process and bring in new candidates?
Let’s analyze each option chairman Cal McNair has to consider.
The Texans aren’t going to surrender a first-round draft choice for Caserio and probably not a second-round pick, either, not with his contract expiring after the 2020 draft. It would make more sense for them to offer a third-round selection and a lower pick.
Because Gaine left them with three compensatory draft choices in 2020, including two that could be in the third round for safety Tyrann Mathieu (Kansas City) and cornerback Kareem Jackson (Denver), this would be an ideal time to offer their third-rounder, at least.
If the Texans make an offer to trade for Caserio, it becomes a question of how bad do the Patriots want to keep him? Because coach Bill Belichick, who has final say on personnel, likes to compile as many picks as possible, would he be willing to trade Caserio knowing he could lose him next year without any compensation?
Caserio, 43, is such a valued member of the organization, Belichick might turn down a trade proposal that doesn’t involve first- or second-round picks. Or both.
Not only does Belichick trust Caserio’s personnel recommendations, but he’s involved in coaching, too. Caserio was a member of the coaching staff until he returned to scouting in 2008 when he was promoted to director of player personnel.
Because Belichick lost several members of his coaching staff to Miami when defensive coordinator Brian Flores was hired as the Dolphins’ coach, he’s being spread thin. Belichick is coaching the defense since Flores’ replacement, Greg Schiano, bailed on him after being on the job less than two months.
It seems as if Belichick needs Caserio this year more than ever.
If the Texans are unable to trade for Caserio, they can wait until next year to resume their pursuit. That means McNair would keep his current management team in place on the football side of the organization: coach Bill O'Brien, director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan, executive vice president of team development Jack Easterby and senior vice president of administration Chris Olsen.
All would answer to McNair. O’Brien would have final say on personnel. He would work closely with Bazirgan on the draft, free agency and other player decisions. Bazirgan has a 22member staff working under him.
Easterby, who was hired April 2 after spending the previous six years with New England, has been given a larger role in team decisions. He would oversee football operations and would be O’Brien’s right-hand man.
Olsen, who’s been the interim head of football operations since Gaine was fired, would continue to negotiate contracts and be in charge of the salary cap.
President Jamey Rootes would continue to run the administrative side of the organization. He’s always answered to the McNairs.
The third option — and the least likely at this point — would be to interview other candidates. Last week, former general managers Ray Farmer (Cleveland) and Martin Mayhew (Detroit) — were the first to interview.
Considering what’s transpired since Gaine was fired, any legitimate candidate contacted by the Texans would be suspicious about the position because of the Caserio situation.
If the Texans still want to go that route, they could consider former general managers like Scott Pioli and Reggie McKenzie.
Pioli, who was Belichick’s long-time right-hand man until he was hired as Kansas City’s general manager, resigned as Atlanta’s assistant general manager in May.
McKenzie, who interviewed with the Texans when he was still working at Green Bay, was Oakland’s general manager until Jon Gruden wanted to hire Mike Mayock last year.
Or the Texans could pursue two of the best personnel experts who have yet to become general managers, such as Cleveland vice president of player personnel Alonzo Highsmith and Browns’ assistant general manager Eliot Wolf.
Highsmith played for the Oilers and spent years in the Packers’ personnel department under former general manager Ted Thompson. Former general manager Rick Smith tried to hire Highsmith twice, but Thompson wouldn’t let him interview either time.
Wolf, the son of former Green Bay general manager Ron Wolf, grew up with the Packers under Thompson before going to Cleveland with general manager John Dorsey, another Thompson protégé.
The Texans knew they were going to need to replace Gaine. He was going to be fired after McNair determined he was a better personnel man than a general manager.
The Texans knew there was a chance they wouldn’t get Caserio when they put in the formal request after firing Gaine.
Teams don’t have access to other teams’ contracts. Assistant coaches’ contracts have to be filed with the league office. The language must be approved by the league or sent back to the team.
The league approved or missed the clause in Caserio’s contract that said he couldn’t interview with other teams without their permission. Without him being classified as a “high-level employee” who has full control over personnel and answers only to his owner, he shouldn’t be prevented for interviewing for a promotion.
Obviously, Caserio signed the contract with the unusual provision that must have meant a lot of money to him. And the NFL approved it.
Until the NFL told the Texans about a clause that had been approved by the league, there was no way for them to know. If they had known, that meant they would have tampered with Caserio.
So now the Texans have important decisions to make, decisions that could affect the franchise for years — try to trade for Caserio, pursue him when his contract expires or hire another general manager.
Considering what’s happened over the last 10 days, think about how interesting the Texans’ game is going to be Dec. 1 when they play the Patriots in a nationally televised Sunday night game.
Can’t wait for the hype leading up to it.