I'd rather fire him, but he seems to have become part of the McNair family so we're probably stuck with him. Put him with whatever Cal is doing. I think Rick usually isn't involved in personnel decisions but then occasionally wants a big move and gets McNair's blessing, making all this messier.
If you're that willing to accept the fact that the Texans are "stuck" with him... then there's no helping you. You'll continue to be a fan of a franchise that will continue to make the same mistakes over and over again... basically, you're trusting the same person to help hire a head coach, make the same draft day trade decisions, make the same bone-headed free agent signings... Smith is the tumor that needed to be excised a long time ago. Its metastasized now... and that usually portends only one prognosis.
Anytime a GM is potentially running off coaches, that is a terrible sign. Hopkins is going to get run off too. Then the Texans will become one of those "I dont ever want to coach/play there" teams like the 49ers are becoming. This is not good.
It looks like that's the only way to get him out of the GM job. The Dilbert Principle in full effect: "leadership is nature's way of removing morons from the productive flow".
Bob McNair loves Rick Smith and thinks he has done a great job. The telling thing you should consider is that prior to Rick Smith getting here, McNair always brought in outside counsel to evaluate the team. He talked with both Bill Parcells and Jimmy Johnson about decisions before hiring Casserly and he brought in Dan Reeves to evaluate the organization before he fired them all. Since then he has relied on Rick Smith. The other owners and execs are also fond of Rick Smith the man and speak very highly of him in their circles which McNair values. Rick Smith holds prominent positions within the league now. He is EXTREMELY close to the COO who also happens to be McNair's son and he is close to the President of the Texans Jamey Rootes. This isn't a situation where he just has this job and he is ceremonial, or bypassed, or not valued, or no one can figure out what he does. I won't say it's impossible that he gets ousted, but it would be a SHOCKER.
No, no, no, Bob - I would LOVE for you to explain how the Texans are "on the rise"... what, with the $19MM they owe Osweiler, the uncertainty around JJ Watt, the likelihood of at least two, possibly three defensive starters being cap causalities, their ever-devolving offense with a porous and ineffective OL that, as of right now, is locked in for $30MM next year - yeah, it's a team on the rise. OK.
Could see a Harbaugh-49ers situation coming. If O'Brien wins a game this Playoffs this season will be a success so no changes will be made. Next year if O'Brien starts showing signs of losing the team, or if the results are disappointing, I can see him being fired.
Not entirely true. Kubiak brought in Rick Smith a year after he was basically the GM all by himself. And you're confusing being well liked and entrenched/connected... with actually doing a good job.
Not sure where I said anything different than that? In fact, I never commented on who brought in Rick Smith. ???? Nope, I think you are confusing what you think I typed and what I actually typed. Never did I say Rick Smith has done a good job, I said Bob McNair thinks Smith has done a good job. That's not even debatable. That has come from Bob McNair's own mouth to many people. Bob McNair believes Rick Smith is a good general manager of the organization.
For those of you who are still in disbelief, there is too much news out about it for it to not be a real possibility.
Yes, I remember the consultants. Why can't McNair build a competent front office on his own? it's mind boggling that Rick has gotten to that position when he hasn't done anything to deserve it. I mean it at least makes sense that Reeves, Parcells and Johnson would be comnsulants
I don't think you get the point I'm making. I'm trying to draw a parallel between how close they are. He is not McNair's son, but he might as well be. Kubiak likewise felt that way about Shanny. He didn't fire Kyle, Kyle left to go work for his father. Shanny could have worked for Kubiak for his entire life just like Kubiak could have worked for Shanny Sr his entire life and just like Rick Smith can work for Bob McNair for his entire life.
How can Bob McNair (and the McNair family) be ok with the situation he's created here?? Rick Smith has continuously flubbed up the cap, made terrible FA acquisitions throughout his tenure here, has been mediocre at best in terms of overall drafting, and shows absolutely zero acumen in brokering deals with other GMs in terms of trades. Don't you have to be good at some of those things to be considered a serviceable GM??
You presented it as if Rick Smith was equivalent to the consultants, and was hired to help serve in that role. In reality, Kubiak hired him to manage the cap... and he sort of weaseled his way into whatever his job description is now. Well that's where we can all hope that the outside counsel McNair routinely brings in (and yes, they did have consultants brought in prior to BOB) makes recommendations to the effect that they eliminate potential power struggles between a GM and a new coach. I'm pretty sure the consultants advised to move Smith to a 'different' role in the front office at the time of the last regime change.
