Alonzo Highsmith hired to front office

[TommyD4207]

From Athletic article:

Patriots to add Highsmith as front office executive

Highsmith has been working as the general manager of football operations for the University of Miami since 2022.

theathletic.com

"Highsmith, a Hurricanes great, was a valuable resource for coach Mario Cristobal for the last two seasons as the program’s general manager of football operations. He spent a lot of time evaluating transfer prospects and working with Cristobal on administrative functions including the budget, culture building and working with staffers both on and off the field."

Miami has signed back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes and picked up former Washington State starting quarterback Cam Ward via the portal this offseason. Highsmith ultimately accomplished what he wanted in helping bring talent to his alma mater and helping Cristobal change the culture. — Manny Navarro, Miami beat writer

On the job, Highsmith was the main guy for the Canes when it came to evaluating prospects. Inside the program, according to UM sources, he was seen as a big asset because he had such a keen, trained eye. Coaches and personnel staffers leaned on him. Everything filtered up to Highsmith, but ultimately Cristobal was the final decision-maker on that front which is different than the NFL world. — Bruce Feldman, senior college football insider

Highsmith was as described for the U. He was the guy everyone leaned on, the top recruiter guy, the top talent scouting guy, everything and everyone revolved around him (which is a little strange to me why he'd take this job specifically, I'll say more when I know more).

That said, he's had top-10 class after top-10 class, and keeps hiring duds at head coach which ****s them over every year. Hiring a coach is hard, and Miami isn't exactly a tippy-top program any more, so from my perspective anyway, he's taken lots of swings on coaches and just ended up missing. They were very close to bringing Kliff Kingsbury in last year before he decided to go on his Thailand walkabout instead, so there's that too - and also, if Highsmith was taking this job, that would explain why there was all the Kingsbury smoke from the NFL in the last week and a half too, when we'd heard basically nothing before that.

 

[Kdo5]

Everyone seems to prefer Wolf; why?

I think for me it’s just hearing what other people in the know have said. People generally speak positive about him, such as pessimistic Bedard for one. Plenty of experience and more connections than Groh. Seems like he is the one who managed to put together part of the coaching staff and much of the front office.

Things will be more clear when we see what Wolfe does with the roster.

 

[Thunderhead]

Love this hire from everything I've read. Former player, hilarious/great interpersonal skills, bridge builder (between execs and coaching staff), connects well with players, eye for talent, etc. Not going to pretend like I even knew who this guy was 48 hours ago, but he seems to be a good addition to the FO.

 

[Sect140]

Right. For example, Bobby Grier was the one who went on the intel trip to get info on Brady, even though Belichick was in charge at that point.

I believe it was **** Rehbein who scouted Brady, since he was the QB coach Bill asked him to find a QB they can draft later in the draft, he scouted all of them and came back and told Bill Tom was his choice. He passed away during the 2001 training camp due to a heart condition he was diagnosed with in 1988. He was able to see Brady get drafted but never saw him start his career.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

I believe it was **** Rehbein who scouted Brady, since he was the QB coach Bill asked him to find a QB they can draft later in the draft, he scouted all of them and came back and told Bill Tom was his choice. He passed away during the 2001 training camp due to a heart condition he was diagnosed with in 1988. He was able to see Brady get drafted but never saw him start his career.

Both were involved. See this story.
One NFL exec called Michigan about Brady

 

[Ross12]

From some stories I've read today, it sounds like Highsmith is essentially going to be above Groh in the pecking order and right below Wolf.

In regards to @venecol's question about the Rooney Rule - it's vague here. It's strict for the "General Manager" role specifically, but I am pretty sure that the Pats would use some other executive title and not "General Manager specifically. This is what the rule itself says:

1. - Clubs must conduct an in-person interview with at least two external diverse — minority and/or female — candidates for any GM or head coaching interview.
2. - Clubs must interview at least two minorities and/or women for all coordinator positions.
3. - Clubs must interview a least one diverse candidate for the QB coach position or any senior level executive position at the club.

I believe this would fall into the last, bolded point - take note that for this one, the "external" factor is dropped, so theoretically anyone who is a minority internally would be able to satisfy that rule. If Wolf himself has any kind of racial makeup that is non-white then I would suppose he would check the box himself and just be able to change roles with no fuss.

 

[mike_usagisan]

From some stories I've read today, it sounds like Highsmith is essentially going to be above Groh in the pecking order and right below Wolf.

In regards to @venecol's question about the Rooney Rule - it's vague here. It's strict for the "General Manager" role specifically, but I am pretty sure that the Pats would use some other executive title and not "General Manager specifically. This is what the rule itself says:

1. - Clubs must conduct an in-person interview with at least two external diverse — minority and/or female — candidates for any GM or head coaching interview.
2. - Clubs must interview at least two minorities and/or women for all coordinator positions.
3. - Clubs must interview a least one diverse candidate for the QB coach position or any senior level executive position at the club.

I believe this would fall into the last, bolded point - take note that for this one, the "external" factor is dropped, so theoretically anyone who is a minority internally would be able to satisfy that rule. If Wolf himself has any kind of racial makeup that is non-white then I would suppose he would check the box himself and just be able to change roles with no fuss.

Oh man, either Groh is perfectly fine being just in charge of the Pats' college scouts or he's at these League events actively networking for a job.

If they want to make it real with the GM title for Wolf, they'll do some sham interviews and then give Wolf the title.

 

[venecol]

From some stories I've read today, it sounds like Highsmith is essentially going to be above Groh in the pecking order and right below Wolf.

In regards to @venecol's question about the Rooney Rule - it's vague here. It's strict for the "General Manager" role specifically, but I am pretty sure that the Pats would use some other executive title and not "General Manager specifically. This is what the rule itself says:

1. - Clubs must conduct an in-person interview with at least two external diverse — minority and/or female — candidates for any GM or head coaching interview.
2. - Clubs must interview at least two minorities and/or women for all coordinator positions.
3. - Clubs must interview a least one diverse candidate for the QB coach position or any senior level executive position at the club.

I believe this would fall into the last, bolded point - take note that for this one, the "external" factor is dropped, so theoretically anyone who is a minority internally would be able to satisfy that rule. If Wolf himself has any kind of racial makeup that is non-white then I would suppose he would check the box himself and just be able to change roles with no fuss.

I think Highsmith would meet the external minority interview for GM. I agree with you that it's more probable that a GM title isn't given just like it's been for >25 years.

 

[venecol]

Both were involved. See this story.
One NFL exec called Michigan about Brady

Pioli said Grier was still the GM when they drafted Brady though.

 

[signbabybrady]

Pioli said Grier was still the GM when they drafted Brady though.

Who really cares their job was to feed info to Bill. Bill made the choice. Same goes for the last ten drafts. Mac's on him despite any of the dumb rumors that might be be out there.

 

[Sect140]

Both were involved. See this story.
One NFL exec called Michigan about Brady

Thanks, never heard that part of it.

 

[venecol]

Thanks, never heard that part of it.

Some of what's in that story differs a bit from Pioli's account.

 

[upstater1]

Who really cares their job was to feed info to Bill. Bill made the choice. Same goes for the last ten drafts. Mac's on him despite any of the dumb rumors that might be be out there.

Then what does it mean that Kraft announced we're not going to do it the old way any more? What aren't we going to do?

 

[Ross12]

I think Highsmith would meet the external minority interview for GM. I agree with you that it's more probable that a GM title isn't given just like it's been for >25 years.

Theoretically they could have interviewed Highsmith for both the role he has now taken, and also whatever role they give to Wolf, at the same time. Then promote Wolf.

 

[mgteich]

Theoretically they could have interviewed Highsmith for both the role he has now taken, and also whatever role they give to Wolf, at the same time. Then promote Wolf.

I'm sure our Sr VP in charge of compliance has made sure that all the ducks are in a row.

 

[n1997y]

I never understood this. If you are going to let a personnel guy go, presumably they are not good enough. Then why are they kept for the most important part of the role?

Because something is better than nothing. Let them go, you have nothing. Keep them through the draft you have their knowledge whatever it is. Even if they’re not a stellar performer it’s something.

Besides as far as I can see it’s not clear they’ll terminate Groh. IIRC he’s got the title of Director of College Scouting or something like that. That’s a job that they need filled. He might be the guy for that, just not to be promoted or elevated into a bigger role like Wolf is. It might well be that Groh will depart of his own volition, if he feels dead ended, not canned by the team, so timing could be whenever. Is he on an employment contract with a defined period of performance? If so that might determine Timing, if he’s not renewed. Otherwise we’ll just have to wait and see if he sticks around for awhile or not.

 

[n1997y]

Then what does it mean that Kraft announced we're not going to do it the old way any more? What aren't we going to do?

Have the GOAT HC making GM decisions.

 

[n1997y]

Theoretically they could have interviewed Highsmith for both the role he has now taken, and also whatever role they give to Wolf, at the same time. Then promote Wolf.

Or interviewed him once, for GM, then decided they liked Wolf better in that role but still wanted Highsmith on their team. I actually got a job once that didn’t exist when I interviewed. They waited until they filled the posted job that I’d interviewed for, then created a new position specifically to hire me for a different job. Meanwhile I knew nothing of what was going on and was wondering why I hadn’t heard anything at all, either yes or no. Real world isn’t always structured as neatly as we assume.

 

[signbabybrady]

Then what does it mean that Kraft announced we're not going to do it the old way any more? What aren't we going to do?

To me that could have meant a lot of things but in the end it was still Bill's call. Maybe he was trying to make Kraft happy with some of new ways but it still was his pick.

 

[Ross12]

Or interviewed him once, for GM, then decided they liked Wolf better in that role but still wanted Highsmith on their team. I actually got a job once that didn’t exist when I interviewed. They waited until they filled the posted job that I’d interviewed for, then created a new position specifically to hire me for a different job. Meanwhile I knew nothing of what was going on and was wondering why I hadn’t heard anything at all, either yes or no. Real world isn’t always structured as neatly as we assume.

Very true, could be. He actually doesn't even have a "real" title yet, all we've heard is "senior personnel executive". Seems like that's all being hashed out.