NFL
Vikings GM Search Raises Eyebrows as Rival Execs Ask: “Why Not Just Promote Rob Brzezinski?”
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Divisional Round - New Orleans Saints v Minnesota Vikings by Adam Bettcher | Getty Images
The Vikings ownership group formalized their plans to begin an exhaustive search, led by an outside search firm, for their next general manager.
The question being asked in some rival front offices is pretty simple: Why?
The Vikings may end up doing what these general managers and execs believe makes a lot of sense, especially already this deep in the offseason, which would be promoting longtime contract negotiator and salary cap guru Rob Brzezinski to the position.
It could be that the use of outside help is somewhat for optics, and to oversee a process that requires adherence to The Rooney Rule in terms of interviewing a diverse group of candidates.
But plenty of people who are already doing the GM job at the NFL level and have no reason to fabricate their feelings about the situation think there is a streamlined structure that could save Minnesota a learning curve and potential issues down the road.
“Why wouldn’t they just promote Rob?” one general manager asked?
“He understands the job and he’s respected there. He has a working relationship with (head coach Kevin) O’Connell. He has relationships with the agents. Make some hires to build up the personnel department under him, but don’t overthink it.”
Another longtime personnel executive said: “They’re going to promote Rob, right? I understand wanting to talk to other people, and that’s a great job and I think anybody would want to work with Kevin O’Connell. Great coach and we hear he’s pretty easy to work with. Rob can handle so much of the administrative stuff, and you can bring in football people to help with the scouting and evaluations.”
Coveted Job?
With the draft behind them, and training camp still months off, the Vikings could in theory take their time with the hire. Perhaps the process will end where it began.
The team took a significant step back last year, due in large part to the limitations of recent first-round pick quarterback JJ McCarthy, and the moved on from former GM Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah after four season, making that decision back in January.
La Canfora has covered over 20 Super Bowls and League Meetings and NFL drafts, building a wide network of sources throughout all aspects of the game. He was an award winning print journalist as well, working at The Detroit Free Press and The Baltimore Sun prior to his first stint at The Washington Post. He has covered sporting events around the world, including two Winter Olympics and all of the 2006 World Cup. He attended his first NFL game in 1978, and would soon kindle what has become a lifelong love and appreciation of the sport. La Canfora is also a professional handicapper, specializing in the NFL, creating a daily sports wagering game show - "Wanna Bet?" He also hosts nationally broadcast NFL radio shows in the US, as well as a daily sports radio show in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.