I could be wrong but think it was in response to the rumors that BoB would quit outright. Agree about Smith though.
The irony is...I don't know if I'm to credit Smith with the JJ Watt pick. I seem to recall reading that it was Wade who wanted him...over the objections of the others. Other decisions, that didn't turn out well, I'm told that we can't really hold Rick accountable for, because they weren't really his decisions. I have no idea what he's accountable for.
As a general rule, if the pick or FA move was popular you are to credit one of the coaches, if the pick or FA move was unpopular you blame Smith. Also, if the unpopular pick or FA move ends up being a good pick or FA move, you then credit one of the coaches for the pick or FA move.
I still don't buy it. It sounds like something that fits a lot of narratives that have been pushed by fans for years, but not something that is likely true. Smith pushing for BOB to be fired is the type of thing that would get Bob McNair to overrule him and finally fire him.....which we know that certain groups have been pushing to happen for years.....and they just so happen to be the same people pushing this type of narrative. We'll see what happens, but I think there is a very small chance that BOB actually gets fired because you don't dismantle a team that is on the rise.
I don't LZ just makes up a fake conversation. Now who the NFL exec is and can he be trusted who knows. But how is that different from trusting Glazer?
The Texans are not on the rise. Three consecutive 9-win seasons does not constitute growth. And the offense has gotten worse in each of those three seasons. That's a categorically silly thing to say.
The conversation with the exec is about the rumors and the exec provides nothing new, it's just a response to what LZ is saying. Basically it takes him at his word exactly what is happening and asks why those things would happen. IMO LZ doesn't have that kind of credibility.
Well if you are looking at it in the most simple minded way possible, I could see how you would think that. In fact, I'm not even going to spell things out for you, I'm going to let you roll with that take. Whatever you do, don't consider context at all, it'll destroy your hot take.
I think the leaks that OBrien isn't a "culture fit" for the team and that he clashes with management and wants total control are Rick Smith leaks. I think Team Obrien responds with "Obrien didn't pick Brock, forced on him, etc."
But you just agreed that they're not a team on the rise. Wade has been credited with the Watt pick more than Kubiak and Smith, and no "save my ass" front office member has ever denied that. Also, this franchises most successful overall draft (2006) was with Kubiak and a lame duck Casserly running things.... Smith only came on board as a GM/cap manager in 2007. Smith has never been qualified for the job title he was handed. Initially just a liaison/cap guy between the coaching staff and owner... and now has become the virtual CEO of the team, as the owner won't ever handle things directly. Its a problem when he never really had the sort of qualifications to ascend to that title in the first place... he's a nice guy, who the owner likes, and who has done a pretty good job of executing contract extensions and negotiations (not that all signings were good choices). I doubt he has his own visions on how to "build" a team... I highly doubt he'd be hired to rebuild another franchise should he ultimately be let go. And, seeing as he's likely been leaking this junk (which he did in almost the exact same fashion around the Kubiak departure), I don't see any major loss impending should they decide to clean house. Honestly, he never should have survived 2-14. There were zero good decisions from a coaching and personnel standpoint that occurred that year, and if he were truly the guy in charge... he would have been held responsible.
So, promote him? Pretty sure that was the company line after 2-14 when he somehow kept his job despite making bad football decisions... but here he is, still in a role of prominence, and able to manipulate the media to no end. Did the same mess at the end of the Kubiak era... except they weren't trying to prepare for a playoff game. And if he wasn't making those bad football decisions during the Kubiak era... who gave him leeway to start making them now? He reminds me of a squatter... a guy who really had no business being in the position he's in, but since he's there... and nobody has forced him to leave... he's continuing to impact everything.
