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Happy trails Tom Heckert

Multiple sources are reporting that Tom Heckert will be named the general manager of the Cleveland Browns on Monday. From NFL.com

Tom Heckert is likely to be named the Cleveland Browns’ new general manager, league sources have told NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi. An announcement is expected Monday.

Heckert's departure is interesting. It's well known that Heckert has always been interested in a job where he has "final say" on personnel manners. In the Eagles organization, Andy Reid has that responsibility. Heckert has interviewed for several jobs over the past couple years and the Eagles have always seemed happy to give him permission.

The odd thing about this one is that it's hard to say whether the job is much of a step up for Heckert. Mike Holmgren was hired as president of football operations in Cleveland a month or so ago and it's hard to imagine that he won't have a major say in personnel decisions. I'd imagine Heckert will be allowed to do most of what he wants, but if Mike Holmgren liked a certain guy and Heckert liked another... does anyone actually think Holmgren won't have final say?

The fact that the Eagles let Heckert walk for what appears to be little more than a lateral move and the fact that they've let him interview for many jobs over the past 3 years makes you wonder exactly how interested they ever were in keeping him here? In fact, Eagles owner Jeff Lurie even recommended Heckert to the Falcons when he interviewed for their GM opening two yeas ago. At the same time, Heckert's constant wandering eye had to make you wonder how much he really wanted to be here?

More on Heckert and the impact of his departure after the jump.

Star-divide

The tough thing about evaluating Heckert as a GM is that the Eagles front office is so ambiguous about the way they do things. We know that Heckert is the GM but Andy Reid has final say on personnel matters. They claim to have always agreed on every move and draft pick... but can that actually be possible? Plus, there's the wildcard of Joe Banner. We know as team president he has a significant role in the front office but how much say does he have in personnel matters? He does control the purse strings after all...

The Eagles have always appeared to run a "front office by committee." Just a few examples... Andy Reid specifically said that he called Bill Belichick on draft day last year and did the deal for Ellis Hobbs. We know that Joe Banner is the guy who initially contacted the Bills and negotiated the deal for Jason Peters. Check out this story from back then...

"The thing that really caught our eye in here is that he was holding out," Reid said. "He wanted a new contract, so I'm telling our people, 'We better really know this guy.' "

The next step was for Eagles president Joe Banner to contact Bills general manager Russ Brandon. The first contact was made last summer, when Peters was in the midst of a holdout. Banner let Brandon know that if the Bills ever wanted to trade Peters, the Eagles would be interested.

Isn't that contact supposed to be what a GM does? This is what has always confused me about Heckert and the Eagles front office.

In fact, owner Jeff Lurie was the guy who placed the call to Jerry Jones for the draft day trade with the Cowboys that brought Stewart Bradley & Kevin Kolb here. Just as a note, Lurie had no hand in the decision but Andy and co knew he had a relationship with Jerry Jones and thought he'd be a good guy to make the initial contact.

Ironically, Heckert leaving may be the only way for us to really find out what his role truly was in this front office. Honestly, I always wanted to hear Heckert answer this question from the Bobs...

Bobs_medium

No one should take this to mean that Tom Heckert didn't play a major part in the Eagles successful player procurement process over the past few years. It's just hard to pinpoint exactly how much. Either way, he always seemed like a good guy and we wish him well.


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Hmmm. < That pretty much sums up my thoughts. Their whole system has been an enigma. Guess it’s better that way.

by joetimek on Jan 8, 2010 11:55 PM EST reply actions  

Wow

I didn’t see that happening, considering it’s extremely unlikely he gets the final say he so desires. But the Eagles must have some back-up plan ready.

P.S. Who’s Ms. Walker?

by ajay on Jan 9, 2010 12:39 AM EST reply actions  

maybe he feels he needs to broaden his resume to get the job that he really wants?

by bula412 on Jan 9, 2010 12:57 AM EST reply actions  

scratch nick cole

just max

"Why do you step onto the field...? I don't believe in pressure. I don't believe in what may be said on the outside. Why do I step out onto the field? To Prove That I Am The Best!"
-Donovan McNabb

by anuj on Jan 9, 2010 8:39 AM EST up reply actions  

Heckert

Has always played 2nd fiddle to Reid when it comes to player personnel decisions whether it was as the GM since ‘06 or as the VP of Player Personnel before that. Frankly given the current structure of the organization, he likely won’t be missed that much at all in the decision-making process.

I would be curious to see not only if he gets an actual final-say in player personnel but also gets a better paycheck in Cleveland. My bet is that he got a nice little bump there too.

by MG77 on Jan 9, 2010 1:42 AM EST reply actions  

Quite frankly

The guy in waiting is better, Roseman has been part of the decision making process for the past couple years and in the past few years the Eagles offseason and the occasional in season moves have been better than ever. Roseman was the guy who targeted Jason Babin and Will Witherspoon this season and I’m sure that Andy Reid, Jeffery Lurie and Joe Banner have trained him well.

by d-jackfan10 on Jan 9, 2010 2:02 AM EST reply actions  

More cash and more responsibility probably made the decision.

Andy is very hands on and that works here in Philly. Maybe Holmgren is going to take more of the Bill Parcels route as in Miami.

by Trade Kolb on Jan 9, 2010 2:44 AM EST reply actions  

noooooooo!

how will we ever win now?

by awd777 on Jan 9, 2010 7:32 AM EST reply actions  

is he eligible to leave before the season ends? isn’t he under some sort of contract that would prevent that?

by tat167 on Jan 9, 2010 8:57 AM EST reply actions  

As a GM he probably doesn’t have any real responsibility right now, so I imagine he could leave whenever.

by JasonB on Jan 9, 2010 9:17 AM EST up reply actions  

yea, that makes sense. it’s not like he is physically involved in tonight’s or any future playoff games.

by tat167 on Jan 9, 2010 9:24 AM EST up reply actions  

Challenge

I agree with the reasons above. I also think that he might want a challenge. Let’s face it, Cleveland’s been a mess for a while. I know that Holmgren is the main guy there now, but if they turn things around it’s a feather in Heckert’s cap too.

I wish him luck.

I'm a Cowgirls Cockroach Troll - Beware

by MRPH on Jan 9, 2010 9:09 AM EST reply actions  

Agreed in that

this “could” be one of the reasons he is leaving!

"... You play to win the game. Hello? You play to win the game. You don't play it to just play it. That's the great thing about sports: you play to win..."

by Realtalk32 on Jan 9, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions  

the eagles have generally been good about letting personnel go (front office, coaches) to get promotions

by nyeaglesfan on Jan 9, 2010 1:22 PM EST reply actions  

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