Dolphins pick Chris Grier as their new GM

[ONole1]

The Miami Dolphins were not without a general manager very long.

Chris Grier, who has been with the Dolphins 16 seasons, has been tapped as the general manager to succeed Dennis Hickey. The only thing remaining from this becoming official are contract details that are expected to be ironed as early as Monday.

Grier has been the team director of college scouting and is widely respected in NFL personnel circles. Grier joined the Dolphins after spending five years with the New England Patriots.

The list of successful personnel men and NFL general managers that vouch for Grier is ample. Among these: Jerry Reese of the New York Giants, Dave Gettleman of the Carolina Panthers, Rick Spielman of the Minnesota Vikings and Hall of Famer Bill Parcells.

Grier just completed his 21st NFL season and is no stranger to talent evaluation because he basically grew up in it. Grier's father Bobby Grier was in the New England Patriots front office from 1982-99. Bobby Grier is currently the senior personnel advisor with the Houston Texans.

The Dolphins moved quickly on this matter. Only Saturday they parted ways with Hickey after the former GM declined a reassignment within the organization.

Once the Grier contract is signed, he will immediately become a voice within the organization. Aside from being the top talent evaluation officer within the organization, he is expected to join the club's search for a head coach.

The Dolphins will begin that search immediately with executive vice president Mike Tannenbaum being the point man on a committee that includes vice chairman Matt Higgins, president and CEO Tom Garfinkel and owner Stephen Ross.

Ross obviously will weigh the recommendations of his advisors and be the final authority on who is hired as coach.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/

[VAIDER5120]

Omar Kelly @OmarKelly 12m12 minutes ago Steve Ross said Miami is negotiating with Chris Grier to become the Dolphins next GM, but stressed that no deal is made. Offer is made. Armando Salguero @ArmandoSalguero 15m15 minutes ago Owner Steve Ross confirms team is "finalizing something" with Chris Grier. I've reported they're finalizing his contract as new GM.

[cuchulainn]

Yeah, we noted yesterday that Grier, Tbaum, and Marino were sitting together in the press box at the game.

Interesting that Hickey declined reassignment and opted to leave. I'm curious to see where he goes.

[VAIDER5120]

I watched Tannenbaum and Grier on NFLN and Grier SAID all the right things. He addressed the elephant in the room as in the passed decade has been UNacceptable. He said the dysfunction in the organization is OVER. Tannenbaum mentioned that Grier will not have control of the 53 at this time because Mike wants to have flexibility in the coaching search and Grier seems fine with that. This SOUNDS good IMO but I want to SEE it and that'll take TIME.

[DolphinsFreak]

Wait and see approach for the fans. We have seen decades of lip service so we need to wait and see if they are telling the truth. If true this makes me happy because I was worried about Tannenbaum not wanting to give up any control but we will have to wait to see if that is true.

[HndRkyaBong34]

He can't do much worse than Irish or Hickey....Can't wait for the draft.... We will either be jumping for joy or throwing daggers....

[Dolfan1]

Omar Kelly @OmarKelly 12m12 minutes ago Steve Ross said Miami is negotiating with Chris Grier to become the Dolphins next GM, but stressed that no deal is made. Offer is made. Armando Salguero @ArmandoSalguero 15m15 minutes ago Owner Steve Ross confirms team is "finalizing something" with Chris Grier. I've reported they're finalizing his contract as new GM.

Guess Armando wins this round.

[Dolfan1]

He can't do much worse than Irish or Hickey....Can't wait for the draft.... We will either be jumping for joy or throwing daggers....

I'm gonna get me the balanced ones, you know, the ones that stick in the door when you throw them.

[VAIDER5120]

Guess Armando wins this round.

Nah they said the same thing just the site was going(still is) through some work when I posted it. Deal wasn't done just offered and was being finalized. Deal wasn't done until Grier dotted his I.

[Idahomer]

Funny because both Tennessee and Cleveland fired their GM's. Both were guys we were screaming to get in Miami but chose not to come here.. Farmer was a guy we were all excited about. I think you can argue that Hickey did as well or better than both of those guys. lol

[Alpha]

I personally was pleasantly surprised by Hickey. No, he wasn't Ozzy Newsome....but he did a decent job. Wonder what "reassignment" he was offered?

[DolphinsFreak]

I agree. With that said, whomever it was that did not want to sign Evan Mathis should be fired. I don't know who was standing in the way of that signing but that person should be gone. ( Maybe they already are)

[Alpha]

Definitely agree there, Freak. Passing on Mathis was a huge error that unquestionably impacted our season.

[cuchulainn]

I personally was pleasantly surprised by Hickey. No, he wasn't Ozzy Newsome....but he did a decent job. Wonder what "reassignment" he was offered?

I think they were looking at putting Hickey back into the Scouting Dept in some capacity.

Hickey's 2014 FA acquisitions busted for the most part and aside from Landry there were no difference makers in his draft class. He and Philbin did a terrible job managing the roster in-season. He had chances to sign both Eric Winston and Chris Clemons (twice) to mitigate the Albert and Delmas injuries, and instead stood pat.

His 2015 draft class provided contributor's, but no starters at the start of the season. Love the Parker pick, but he was injured and didn't contribute meaningfully until the end of the season, and Coyles didn't play/start Phillips early on. Hickey rolled the dice on the OL with Branden Albert coming off an ACL, Dallas Thomas at LG, 4th round rookie at RG, and Jason Fox as his best backup/swing tackle. No solid depth at OL, Safety, CB, or LB. On defense, we mostly ignored the LB position each of the last 2 seasons.

Again, he was also Philbin's buddy and was not going to go against whatever Philbin wanted. While he made some good moves and picked up some good talent in each of the past 2 drafts, it wasn't enough.

Expecting for much more from Tbaum and Grier this off-season to fix this roster and find a solid coaching staff.

[Alpha]

Was it Hickey that rolled those dice - or was it Tannenbaum? I'm not sure....

[cuchulainn]

Hickey and Philbin... TBaum only took over as VPO last Feb/Mar. Hickey and Philbin were responsible for the roster and FA/draft acquisitions.

If there'd been more former players from GB that were cronies of Philbin, we'd have signed them instead. lol...