Heckert to interview with Browns

by JasonB on Jan 7, 2009 12:30 PM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

Last week we reported that Tom Heckert was emerging as a possible candidate for a few jobs around the NFL, but his interest in some(cough Detroit) was very low. However it seems that he thinks Cleveland is more attractive than Detroit....

CLEVELAND -- Their coaching search on hold and seemingly locked on Eric Mangini, the Cleveland Browns plan to interview Philadelphia Eagles general manager Tom Heckert for their GM opening.

The meeting between Browns owner Randy Lerner and Heckert, who has been with the Eagles since 2001, has not yet been scheduled. The Eagles are getting ready for Sunday's playoff game against the New York Giants, but it is not known if Lerner will sit down with Heckert before or after the game.

Heckert has been the Eagles' GM since 2006 after originally joining the team as the director of player personnel. In May, he received a contract extension through 2011. Last year, he interviewed for Atlanta's GM job, a position that went to Thomas Dimitroff.

The Browns have also interviewed Scott Pioli from New England and wil speak with George Kokinis from Baltimore, who reportedly could be the frontrunner.

Since Heckert does not have final say in personell matters, he is allowed to interview for other GM jobs that would give him greater power.

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Comments

Hmm

Didn’t he interview for the Miami job last year too? I really thought he was gone last year.

by ajay on Jan 7, 2009 1:02 PM EST reply actions

ya know… i’ve often wondered what it is that he does… the GM is supposed to have say on personnel, and since that’s not the case here… does he just surf the internet all day?

But T.O. and his sideline histrionics wear on a quarterback. He's like the hot stripper you tried to clean up and convert into a real girlfriend. It's a lot of fun until the moment she has her second drink while out to eat with your parents. You unravel quicker than she does.

by foos05 on Jan 7, 2009 1:06 PM EST reply actions

He just doesn’t have final say. He does the work of any other GM, but Reid gets the final call.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jan 7, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

so it really wouldnt be a huge loss if we lost him?

by Manoovi on Jan 7, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

I think it could be … it is pretty impressive that teams want him knowing Reid makes the final call. I think he is a definite help to our team.

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Jan 7, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions

Hard to say

That’s always been the thing with this organization. No one really knows for sure who is doing what.

I do know that Heckert is credited with really having the pulse of the draft. I couldn’t find the article, but I read once that Reid wanted to take Desean Jackson with their first round pick but Heckert convinced him that Jackson would be there in the second round. In the end, the Eagles got their man and an extra first round pick.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Jan 7, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Dude!

Someone else mentioned this also. It looks brilliant now, but man what a risky move at the time. To give up a guy at 19 thinking he’ll be there at 47. And then trading away 47 and grabbing him at 49. DeSean was widely considered one of the best WRs in the draft so this was no sure thing. Heckert came out looking like a genius on that one…

by ajay on Jan 7, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions