PATRIOTS NEWS Ryan Cowden to join front office

[Ross12]

Do you understand that if they bring in someone over Wolf they need to do Rooney Rules, but a lateral guy or below Wolf avoids it? It's day one of the new regime. Wolf is not in charge anymore, Vrabel is. Vrabel brings in his guy...day one.

I thought they'd still need to fulfill the Rooney Rule for a role like this... let me look up the rule again... It says the rule must be followed "for any senior level executive position". Does VP of Player Personnel somehow not qualify because there is an Executive VP above it? Confusing.

 

[Family]

Do you understand that if they bring in someone over Wolf they need to do Rooney Rules, but a lateral guy or below Wolf avoids it? It's day one of the new regime. Wolf is not in charge anymore, Vrabel is. Vrabel brings in his guy...day one.

And Wolf will stay on as a respected #2/scout.

 

[Steve102]

And Wolf will stay on as a respected #2/scout.

So? Everything is filtered thru Cowden now.

 

[Family]

So? Everything is filtered thru Cowden now.

Who knows the dynamics, but I don't get the feeling Wolf cares, and Wolf's status might have always been more interm than we believed.

 

[Ross12]

So? Everything is filtered thru Cowden now.

Yeah none of it really matters. Vrabel is in charge.

Vrabel worked with Jon Robinson in Tennessee and set the vision of his roster. Robinson worked towards that, although hit issues eventually, with the biggest issue being the AJ Brown trade (which you may be able to blame on the owner for not wishing to pony up on a contract for). Robinson got fired, and Vrabel wanted to tab Cowden to replace him to have a continuance on the same roster-building vision. Owner said F that, I am hiring Ran Carthon and he's gonna follow his own vision. This led to a bad year and Vrabel took the fall. Then Carthon hired "his guy" in Callahan and it was an even worse season. Then Carthon got fired.

So, essentially it will be the same idea here with Cowden following that same vision which Vrabel wanted to follow in Tennessee, but Vrabel will have more control over things going on in the front office than he did there.

Wolf's role will be to work with Cowden to understand and help fulfill that vision. It does not really matter who is "over" who as neither is over Vrabel.

 

[condon84]

Do you understand that if they bring in someone over Wolf they need to do Rooney Rules, but a lateral guy or below Wolf avoids it? It's day one of the new regime. Wolf is not in charge anymore, Vrabel is. Vrabel brings in his guy...day one.

Why is Wolf still with the team? It would be like demoting Mayo but keep him on as staff for Vrabel. If Vrabel wants Mayo, then sure. If Vrabel wants Wolf, sure. Do you think Cowden wants Wolf on the staff? I doubt it. It's more likely Kraft wants to keep him on the team. Get rid of everybody that was part of last year's disaster and start fresh. When and if things go awry, then people will speculate if it's because of Wolf, if Vrabel/Cowden is getting undermined from within etc. Just remove all that nonsense and start over that way if things go bad, Vrabel can stand on his own and no one else gets the blame.

 

[Steve102]

Who knows the dynamics, but I don't get the feeling Wolf cares, and Wolf's status might have always been more intern than we believed.

I agree Wolf seems amenable to not uprooting his family and staying in Foxboro. Can't spend titles. As far as the dynamics go, it seems very clear with the addition of Cowden that he's Vrabel's right hand, otherwise he would not have been the first move made.

1. Get the job.
2. Get your guy in place.

 

[bakes781]

He's only been with the Giants one year.

And everyone has raved about their draft. The obvious qualifier is talk to me in 5 years and maybe it's the Patriots who had the best draft but for the here and now it seems like they hit a homerun.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Happy that Vrabel is steering the ship. Krafty Bob needs to step aside.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Why is Wolf still with the team? It would be like demoting Mayo but keep him on as staff for Vrabel. If Vrabel wants Mayo, then sure. If Vrabel wants Wolf, sure. Do you think Cowden wants Wolf on the staff? I doubt it. It's more likely Kraft wants to keep him on the team. Get rid of everybody that was part of last year's disaster and start fresh. When and if things go awry, then people will speculate if it's because of Wolf, if Vrabel/Cowden is getting undermined from within etc. Just remove all that nonsense and start over that way if things go bad, Vrabel can stand on his own and no one else gets the blame.

read this and tell me if you see this situation trending in that direction.

Patriots GM Grier fired by Belichick

The veteran's ouster consolidates power for the team's new coach. FOXBORO - Bobby Grier, whose "grocery shopping" led to the departures of New England Patriots coaches Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll…

www.capecodtimes.com

 

[Thunderhead]

I don't care if Mayo has the GM title...Vrabel is calling all the shots. One reason Wolf might still be around is for his scouting / drafting grading system which has not been used yet.

I sure am glad the maiden voyage of Wolf's grading system will be this pivotal draft for the Pats. What could go wrong?

 

[condon84]

read this and tell me if you see this situation trending in that direction.

Patriots GM Grier fired by Belichick

The veteran's ouster consolidates power for the team's new coach. FOXBORO - Bobby Grier, whose "grocery shopping" led to the departures of New England Patriots coaches Bill Parcells and Pete Carroll…

www.capecodtimes.com

Bob gave Bill the GM/HC power and has remarked recently how that was a mistake. I don't think Vrabel has that type of authority here.

 

[Ross12]

Bob gave Bill the GM/HC power and has remarked recently how that was a mistake. I don't think Vrabel has that type of authority here.

I think it's more like he thought it was a mistake until he lived through the Year of Mayo. I'd reckon he feels a little differently about it now.

 

[Family]

I agree Wolf seems amenable to not uprooting his family and staying in Foxboro. Can't spend titles. As far as the dynamics go, it seems very clear with the addition of Cowden that he's Vrabel's right hand, otherwise he would not have been the first move made.

1. Get the job.
2. Get your guy in place.

This has been pretty much scripted as I would have hoped so far.

Suddenly we have QB and management.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Bob gave Bill the GM/HC power and has remarked recently how that was a mistake. I don't think Vrabel has that type of authority here.

I think either he thought it was a mistake Bill had that power- especially at the end when the winning stopped or he doesn't know what the hell he wants.

It's obvious a) Vrabes and Kraft had the conversation around personnel control and b) Kraft was comfortable with it.

As a result of those discussions, Cowden is here as VP of Personnel.

 

[Pape]

What could go wrong?

Exactly.

 

[condon84]

I think it's more like he thought it was a mistake until he lived through the Year of Mayo. I'd reckon he feels a little differently about it now.

Based on Vrabel's press conference, it appears this is gonna be a 'collaborative' effort in the FO.

 

[Brotherblues]

I don't care if Mayo has the GM title...Vrabel is calling all the shots. One reason Wolf might still be around is for his scouting / drafting grading system which has not been used yet.

Agreed, it's just... what about the extremely likely scenario in which Cowden has his own grading sysem that aligns perfectly with what Vrabel wants? It seems like things are being set up to involve different "camps." I've hated that word coming out of Gillette for the last few years. Bill's camp. Mac's camp. Mayo's camp. Wolf's camp. Kraft's camp. That ****ing word = dysfunction.

Maybe there's nothing to it but I can't help that the ptsd kicks in.

 

[Steve102]

Based on Vrabel's press conference, it appears this is gonna be a 'collaborative' effort in the FO.

Do you think that Vrabel's level of collaboration is on par with Mayo's?

Mayo was given a roster, like @RobertWeathers said. Vrabel will be given information to make decisions.

 

[Zuma]

Agreed, it's just... what about the extremely likely scenario in which Cowden has his own grading sysem that aligns perfectly with what Vrabel wants? It seems like things are being set up to involve different "camps." I've hated that word coming out of Gillette for the last few years. Bill's camp. Mac's camp. Mayo's camp. Wolf's camp. Kraft's camp. That ****ing word = dysfunction.

Maybe there's nothing to it but I can't help that the ptsd kicks in.

Yeah he might have his own grading system but I think it's too close to the draft to train all the scouts and get on the same page. I think they will roll with Wolf's and if it sucks...then time for more change. I like the addition of Cowden with Vrabel having the final say with personnel. Wolf and Cowden will provide input and Vrabel with make the decision. IMO Wolf won't make waves and what could he possibly do anyway? Run to Kraft? Kraft will tell him Vrabel makes the final decision.