During a busy week of notable free agent player signings and losses, our Miami Dolphins also made a noteworthy addition to their front office. Miami added former Las Vegas Raiders assistant general manager Champ Kelly. Kelly is well-respected around the league and has been interviewed by several NFL franchises for their open GM positions in the past few years. Kelly’s new title with Miami is senior personnel executive.
We are all aware that much of the blame for the Dolphins’ recent failures by the fans has fallen at the feet of current general manager Chris Grier. A large portion of the fan base was calling for Grier, Mike McDaniel, or both to be fired after this past season’s failure to make the playoffs. There were also rumors that Grier might be looking to step down from his GM position to move into another position within the organization.
No one knows what owner Stephen Ross will do if the following season results in another round of disappointment. It is well known that Ross is fond of Grier, but if things are not working, changes will be made at some point. Grier might also turn the rumor of him stepping down to take a different position into reality in order to avoid unemployment if he senses that Ross is about to pull the trigger on relieving him of his duties.
I wonder if he was brought in precisely with the idea that he would move into Grier’s position after this upcoming season. Perhaps the rumors that Grier would step down and take a different position were true, and the person or people who initially leaked the news were just off on their timeline. Maybe that was the initial plan, but either Grier or Ross decided the timing was wrong.
I am all for them adding him to this front office with the idea of more help, and different viewpoints are always good. I do, though, wonder why other organizations did not hire him after the new Raiders GM let him go if he had interviewed with so many different clubs. I also wonder why the Raiders, an organization that has been promoted from within in the past, did not hire him or even keep him on the staff following the loss of their previous general manager.
So tonight’s Phinsider Question Of The Day is: If Grier steps down or is fired after this upcoming season, would you like the team to move Kelly into the GM position, making it a more effortless and smoother transition for all sides involved? Would you instead prefer to see the team look outside the organization for someone with an entirely different take on building a team versus what you have seen from the Dolphins and Raiders in the past?
Please give us your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-
