Sports: Raiders’ 2016 NFL Executive of the Year McKenzie is fired.
Departure of GM McKenzie could see new structure as well as new faces
ALAMEDA >> The Raiders search for a personnel executive is underway, and the first man to the plate is Shaun Herock.
Coach Jon Gruden seems to think so, anyway, and he’ll be the one making the call even if owner Mark Davis has the final say.
“I think Shaun Herock will be a big part of this,” Gruden said Monday at his weekly press conference. “He’s a very talented personnel man, he has a lot of Raider history. We’re going to lean on him … I expect him to be a big part of this organization going forward, honestly.”
Judging from the press release announcing the departure of general manager Reggie McKenzie, the job may have a new title:
“The Raiders will immediately begin a search for a new front office executive and will have no further comment until the process is complete.”
Notice there is no mention of “general manager.”
That’s the way the Raiders
operated for years when owner Al Davis made all decisions regarding the draft and free agency. The job title of general manager was non-existent.
In this case, the Al Davis role, as it pertains to personnel and the on-field operation, belongs to Gruden. He will be looking for someone to operate much as McKenzie did for the past year, running the pro and college scouting department, organizing free agent scouting and visitation, and basically serving as a conduit for the head
coach.
In Herock’s case, it would likely be strictly personnel, with another exec dealing with salary cap and financial issues. Herock has preferred to remain behind the scenes, declining interview requests since joining the Raiders.
Herock worked for 19 years with the Green Bay Packers, ascending to assistant director of college scouting before coming
with McKenzie to Oakland. His father, Ken Herock, was a Raiders personnel director under Davis as well as a Raiders tight end from 1963-67.
When Ken Herock was the Raiders personnel director, Shaun served as a ballboy.
Gruden said he hopes the new executive has “similar qualities” to McKenzie.
“A guy that works hard, loves football, loves this organization, that will scratch and claw and fight with the rest of us,” Gruden said. “It all starts obviously with expertise in personnel, great leadership skills, a number of things go into this job. It’s a tough position in this league.”
Gruden confirmed that Joey Clinkscales, McKenzie’s director of player personnel, was still on staff. Unlike Herock, he made no mention of Clinkscales’ role going forward. Dave Razzano, a personnel assistant brought aboard by Gruden, could have a bigger role although it’s likely to remain behind the scenes.
“I’m not revealing any candidates because I don’t have any,” Gruden said.
Gruden said Davis will be accumulating a list of candidates the two will discuss in the near future.
Some names that could be discussed include:
BRUCE ALLEN >> Currently in his ninth season as Washington’s general manager, there has been no indication Allen would leave owner Dan Snyder or that his job is in jeopardy, although the franchise is 58-82-1 under his watch. The Washington coach is Jay Gruden, Jon’s younger brother.
Allen was the “senior assistant” with the Raiders when Gruden was head coach. His role was to serve as a buffer between Gruden and Al Davis and manage the salary cap. Personnel executives such as Mike Lombardi and Chet Franklin did much of the draft and free agency prep with Gruden having input but Davis making the final call.
When Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay following the 2001 season, Allen was not consulted. He left for Tampa Bay at Gruden’s behest to replace Rich McKay as general manager. The two were fired together following the 2008 season.
In a Sirius XM radio interview last offseason, Allen said he was not interested in joining Gruden when the club moved to Las Vegas. MARK DOMINIK >> Dominik was the Tampa Bay director of player personnel through Gruden’s tenure with the Bucs, then took over as general manager when management fired Gruden and Allen and named Raheem Morris as head coach.
The former ESPN commentator is not currently employed on an NFL team, Dominik remained Tampa Bay’s general manager
since 2013.
JIMMY RAYE III >> A senior personnel executive for the Detroit Lions, Raye, the son of former Raiders assistant and veteran NFL coach Jimmy Raye, could be on the Raiders’ radar, according to the NFL Network.
Raye has been director of player personnel for the Chargers (200812), vice president of football operations for the Colts (2013-16), and an assistant G.M. with the Houston Texans (2017).
CHRIS POLIAN >> A former vice president and general manager of the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-11, Polian is in his fourth year as director of player personnel with the Jacksonville Jaguars and was cited as a name to watch in the Raiders search by the NFL Network.
Polian is the son of Hall of Fame executive Bill Polian.
LOUIS RIDDICK >> An ESPN commentator, Riddick has been a general manager candidate and worked in scouting for Washington and Philadelphia, serving as the Eagles director of pro personnel from 201013. He has been a general manager candidate for both the 49ers and New York Giants within the past two years.
Riddick played for the Raiders during Gruden’s first year as head coach in 1998, making the team out of a tryout camp. Has been critical on social media and on the air of the Raiders’ trade of Khalil Mack but has a great deal of respect for Gruden from his time as a Raider.