DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns Asst GM Farmer to Interview for Dolphins' GM Job

Cleveland Browns assistant GM Ray Farmer will interview to be Miami Dolphins GM | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2014/01/cleveland_browns_assistant_gm.html


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns assistant general manager Ray Farmer has been granted permission to interview for the Dolphins GM job, former Browns guard John Wooten told cleveland.com today.

Wooten is chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which promotes minority hiring in the NFL.

Farmer was named assistant GM in March after spending the previous seven seasons in Kansas City as Director of Pro Personnel. Before that, he was a pro scout with the Falcons for four seasons.

The Dolphins' interest in him was first reported by Aaron Wilson for nationalfootballpost.com.

"Ray is more than capable,'' Wooten said in a phone interview. "He's ready to be a general manager. He needed a little more experience, and he got that in Cleveland. He's ready to go.''

With the Browns, Farmer assistant general manager Mike Lombardi in all aspects of pro and college scouting.

"Ray loves his job in Cleveland,'' said Wooten. "He's very happy there. But this is also a good opportunity for him.''

Wooten said Farmer is an excellent talent evaluator.

"They make the best general managers,'' said Wooten. "Ray is outstanding.''

Wish it was lombardi going and farmer getting promoted here.

I still say Lombardi is going to be asked to accept a reduced role. I could be wrong about that.

And unlike some.........I will actually admit it if I am.

jc

Man I hop we don't lose Farmer, a great judge of talent and another voice in the decision making process and imo the more, different views the better.

Still he will have a chance to control his roster in Miami so it would be a great opportunity for him.

If he goes, I wish him luck

There is always a chance that we promote him.

That would be a great move, move him up and move ML back a little.

I am not a big fan of Lombardi, but I have no problem in a reduced role.

In the interest of continuity and keeping good folks, I hope they try.

Marla Ridenour of the ABJ agrees with you.

Marla Ridenour: Browns need to promote Ray Farmer, not let him leave - Browns - Ohio
http://www.ohio.com/sports/browns/marla-...-leave-1.458234

The Browns are poised to make a mind-boggling gaffe even before they hire their next coach.
They’re prepared to lose Assistant General Manager Ray Farmer and keep General Manager Mike Lombardi.

I’m flabbergasted by that possibility because it should be the other way around.

I can’t believe the Browns would choose Lombardi over “one of the up-and-coming stars in the NFL,” as Browns CEO Joe Banner described Farmer in September.

I can’t believe owner Jimmy Haslam hasn’t realized the folly of what he said at the NFL owners meeting in March. “I’ll be surprised if Ray’s not a GM in the next few years, which will be good and bad news for us,” Haslam said, conceding that one day Farmer would work for an opponent.

That doesn’t have to happen.

Haslam is in charge. After a disastrous 2013 draft, a supposedly bad coaching hire in Rob Chud­zinski and a worthless trade for wide receiver Davone Bess, Haslam has every right to change who’s making the football decisions in Berea. (The only things I see on the plus side of the Banner/Lombardi ledger is the Trent Richardson trade and the signing of quarterback Brian Hoyer, a no-brainer considering Lombardi’s love for anything Patriot.)

Haslam could tell Banner he’s running the day-to-day operations and overseeing stadium upgrades, but not picking the players. He could tell Lombardi to head back to the NFL Network. He could hand Farmer those 10 selections in the May draft, those two first-round picks to find a quarterback of the future and a reported $46 million in salary cap space and let him go to work.

I’d have much more faith in where the Browns are headed if Haslam and Farmer were leading them.

The chance Farmer could leave the Browns arose Wednesday when the Browns gave him permission to interview for the Miami Dolphins GM vacancy. A league source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the two teams had yet to comment, confirmed that for the Beacon Journal.

Farmer has all the credentials to be a GM. A linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles for three years, Farmer joined the Browns last season after spending 2006-12 with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he was director of pro personnel. He worked four years as a scout for the Atlanta Falcons. A four-year letterman at Duke, Farmer served as the Blue Devils’ football academic coordinator after ankle and knee injuries ended his career with the Eagles.

Farmer’s mentor is former Browns guard John Wooten, now chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which advocates the hiring and promotion of minority candidates in the NFL.
Wooten said Farmer is ready for the next step. He called Farmer’s talent evaluation skills “excellent” and lauded his people skills.

“That’s why we put him in Cleveland last year,” Wooten said in a telephone interview Thursday. “He’d done the college, he’d done the pro. We wanted him in a situation where he could learn the nuances of office administration, how you communicate with the league, all of that. We know that he’s more than ready.

“He represents everything we want to see. We want the hard work, the dedication, the commitment, above all the ability to study and make yourself better all the time. He has all that. He’s not a selfish person, he’s not an I-I guy.”

Per league rules, the Browns could not deny Farmer the chance to interview for a general manager position because it wasn’t a lateral move. Although Banner approves all player transactions, the Browns gave Lombardi the GM title less than two months after he was hired so they could bring in Farmer last March.

Now Wooten wants Farmer “to have the opportunity to run his own show.”

That doesn’t mean Farmer’s departure from Cleveland is a certainty. Wooten has issues with the Dolphins’ organizational structure that might keep him from recommending Farmer take the job if offered.

“You’ve got to bring in more cohesive people in terms of the coaches working together with the personnel department and the front office and the ownership,” Wooten said. “All of that has to be working together. There’s a reason why certain teams win and certain teams don’t win and it’s not always because of the players they have on the field.”

Wooten was speaking about the Dolphins, but he might as well have been talking about his old team.

If the Browns elevated Farmer, it would strike a chord on two fronts. It would be a bold move by Haslam to show that more than the coach was responsible for a 4-12 season. But it would also be lauded in a league where only six of 32 teams have black GMs.

Banner continually refers to the fact that he discovered coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia. This could be Banner’s chance to find the next Ozzie Newsome.

There is no certainty Farmer will be as successful as the Ravens’ Newsome, the Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and former Browns player who was named the league’s first African-American general manager in 2002. Newsome is the man Farmer and his peers hope to follow.

But what if Farmer does possess some of Newsome’s talents? Are the Browns prepared to let him walk while they stick with their poor structure and bad decision-makers?

As much as it disturbs me, I suspect they are.

If the Browns let Farmer go they are 10 times dumber than they appeared when they let Chud go. What happens now will determine weather I calm down and give the front office a chance or just say the hell with it and bash them at every turn.

GM:

They're on the clock....and there is soooo much they need to get right- right now.

The Chud firing put into motion an avalanche of "unintended consequences," and is dropping an entirely new (and additional) set of problems in their laps. Instead of focusing upon the draft, this FO is now faced with hiring a new HC while also dealing with any other personnel changes that occur as a result of the Chud firing.

How many balls can they juggle, as they are trying to hit on at least 4-of-5 big decisions... in one offseason?

IMHO, I'm with Marla on this one. Do what's needed to keep this man at 76 Groza. His role would be pivotal during this new (same old) turnaround. There is venom dripping off every word she wrote about Mike Lombardi, but her basic premise is as valid as any other course of action they might take. Her basic message: keep this guy in your system- at all costs." If that means shoving Lombardi into a janitor's 2nd floor closet, so be it.

I agree. This guy is simply too valuable to The Browns Organization to not keep.

He has every bit of data that was compiled for this offseason.
He knows not only who we are targeting, but why (moot point, if we don't find a HC that's willing to jump on board the 'Broke Compass Express')
He already knows this team from a player POV.

In my humble opinion, you simply do not allow an asset like this to leave.

You do what you must to retain this person's service. He's more important to you now than he was during the season, because he's your only solid link to 2013-14's draft board. If 'consistency' is something a team truly believes in, this position is a great place to start.


Promote this guy.
Drop-kick others to make a place for this guy.
Keep this guy.






Her last line:

Quote:

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"But what if Farmer does possess some of Newsome’s talents? Are the Browns prepared to let him walk while they stick with their poor structure and bad decision-makers?

As much as it disturbs me, I suspect they are."

---

Pretty much sums up my reasons for not trusting this FO to perform any better than previous Browns' FO's. I don't hate them, bro-

-I just think that they're in over their heads....


...and that it's gonna take multiple 'lightning strikes' in rapid succession, for us to see any real improvement in 2014.


.02,
Clemmy

Quote:

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"But what if Farmer does possess some of Newsome’s talents? Are the Browns prepared to let him walk while they stick with their poor structure and bad decision-makers?

As much as it disturbs me, I suspect they are."

---

I would assume the FO doesn't believe that they themselves have a poor structure or are bad decision makers...

So that thought process is moot.

Former Dolphins GM "alliance" is warning minority candidates to stay away from the Dolphin's GM opening.

Not going to happen. There is no way Haslam steps on Banner at this point in time. As much as it makes sense. No matter that Ray Farmer could be way more qualified than Lombardi.

Haslam already has so much egg on his face that he would never further the perception that he is incompetent by replacing either Banner or Lombardi.

There are just so many balls in the air right now that it seems almost impossible that the Browns can move in a positive direction.

Finding the right head coach. Staffing the management team. Pending free agency and the draft.

Back to square one again. Players and management unknown to each other. New schemes to implement to players. New language to learn. Holes to fill by players yet to be drafted.

Not a good picture going forward. It will take a least a year or more just to get where we should already be.

Haslam should become a writer. First publication: "How not to run a NFL franchise an expert opinion".

Stopped paying attention to Marla after she called out 2013 draft "disasterous"

Mingo flashed talent but needs to improve size to not get washed out of plays. Everyone knew he was a bit of developmental guy. McFadden was slow to start but improved in the latter part of the year. Armonty Bryant saw the field as a 6th round guy and Gilkey is on the roster as a 7th round guy. PLUS we gave picks up in last years draft which was pretty weak to move up in this one which is much stronger.

2013 draft was just fine and dandy.

If I was a part of the Browns organization I would leave at the first opportunity. We struggle with personal from top to bottom in large because we are a train wreck year after year. Who would want to work in that environment?

Farmer the next Ozzie?

Really?

My only knowledge of Farmer is the KC Hard Knocks series. I'm not claiming to be an expert, or even really know what I'm talking about, but Farmer did not come off, in anyway, as being impressive. When I watched it, I remember thinking repeatedly that he was the weak link of the entire staff. Maybe he's really turned around and polished his people, communication, and admiinistration skills. I just know what I saw and it was reinforced throughout the episodes.

Really Olskool? Like that, you remember what Farmer was like from a show that aired in 2007? How much did they even focus on him?

As for the thread topic, I find all the people amusing that are hating on Banner & Co., declaring them incompetent, & looking at this as another possible big goof to add to the list. But who was it that declared Farmer so great and destined for greatness in the first place? BANNER! Seems to me that you should all not have any faith in what the man says about who anymore.

Just an observation. And I am in no means a big Banner fan. Just sitting quietly, cautiously optimistic, going insane, etc . . .

Ohhhhh-K. Just went to PFT a second after posting aaaand . . .

Report: Ray Farmer “leading candidate” for Dolphins’ G.M. role

In the Dolphins’ G.M. search, one AFC evaluator looks to be the favorite.

According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Browns assistant G.M. Ray Farmer is the “leading candidate” to replace Jeff Ireland as the Dolphins’ general manager, according to multiple sources.

Former Chiefs president Carl Peterson, a consultant in the Dolphins’ search, is very fond of Farmer, Salguero reported Friday. Farmer and Peterson worked together in the Chiefs’ front office.

Farmer joined the Browns’ front office in 2013. He interviewed for the Browns’ G.M. job last offseason.

In a statement released Thursday, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said the club’s new G.M. will have the final call on the 53-player roster and report to the owner.

if farmer goes to Miami, i really wanna pay attention to who miami drafts compared to us.

a newblet GM verse an experienced(eh...didn't say he was good, just experienced) GM on the draft boards.

should be interesting.

Very interesting!

It would be a smart move for both Farmer and Miami.

If he goes to Miami, Moe has even a bigger hole to dig himself out of. Curly and Larry will be happy tho.

Ok, I guess someone is gonna have to get me up to speed....

Since when is Ray Farmer been considered the next up n coming, superstar front office executive? I mean the guy must be doing the right things to be moving up the chain of command in his career from KC to Cleveland to potentially Miami, but to call him the next Ozzie Newsome? Why, because he's big, black, and a former NFL player?

Look, nothing would pleasure me more than to replace Lombardi but I don't understand where all of a sudden the suggestion to boot him for Farmer comes from. But anyways, like I said....if Lombardi is replaced..

If I am not mistaken, Farmer did work under w/ Carl Peterson in KC before Pioli arrived. That may bode well for him as Peterson is now a consultant there. Perhaps it would help Farmer for a few years if he got the job.

One more thing.... wasn't it Farmer in all the PD news articles that was out-n-about traveling to scout Manziel?

it could be as simple as him scouting and meeting other CEO's, Owner's, GM's, etc. and them guys just talking to other guys about his potential.

Great argument.

Quote:

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The Browns are poised to make a mind-boggling gaffe even before they hire their next coach.
They’re prepared to lose Assistant General Manager Ray Farmer and keep General Manager Mike Lombardi.

I’m flabbergasted by that possibility because it should be the other way around.

---

Another thought just occurred to me.

If losing Farmer is such a "mind-boggling gaffe," why didn't Marla put promoting Farmer and demoting Lombardi in her "Ten Things I Would Do if I Were the Browns" article?

Yes sir.............another great, logical, rational, unbiased article that is based on facts and not emotion.

Never cared for Farmer. Never understood the hire to begin with. What was his role again? Wasn't it on PRO personnel? Wasn't impressed with the Chiefs drafts or FAs under Pioli and him….and wasn't impressed with our draft and FA with him here. Goodbye.

He can go and make room for, hopefully, a real FO guy.

Good luck in Miami if they really want him

yeah, I agree from asst. GM to the next Ozzie is a bit of a stretch

I want Farmer to stay first to give us a little stability, the last thing we need is more turnover at a higher position.
Secondly, I like most of the personnel decisions made by the FO over the past year and (while I do not agree with the Chud firing, I am also not ready for fire and pitchforks either), that said I can only assume that Farmer had some input in those decisions.
Thirdly, IMO he would make a nice replacement over ML, who I have never been a fan of.