In DC, Liz Clarke noted new Redskins GM Scot McCloughan "laid out a philosophy of building an NFL team Friday that differs sharply from the approach the team has taken" previously under Owner Daniel Snyder. McCloughan "spoke with clarity and conviction about the merits of constructing rosters with carefully chosen draft picks and cultivating young talent over time rather than cherry-picking established stars on the free agent market." McCloughan: "We’re going to draft these guys, we’re going to draft them and mold them as Redskins. We’re not going to have to go out to other organizations and bring in 32-, 33-year-olds who have different plans." Clarke reported McCloughan's interview with the Redskins was the "first time" he had met Snyder. He said, "I left there saying, 'This owner has it. He knows what he wants. And he's not going to waver'" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/10). Also in DC, Jason Reid noted McCloughan "wisely wouldn't put a timetable" on rebuilding the team (WASHINGTON POST, 1/10).
TALENTS TO SOUTH BEACH: New Dolphins Exec VP/Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum said that his job "is to be an administrator with GM Dennis Hickey in charge of picking players." But in West Palm Beach, Andrew Abramson notes Tannenbaum is "expected to have a major role in all aspects of football operations and holds the same title" the Dolphins gave to Bill Parcells seven years ago. The Dolphins have "added a major voice to the front office without giving him ultimate authority over personnel decisions." Tannenbaum will "not directly oversee coach Joe Philbin but is expected to have a lot of influence" with Owner Stephen Ross (PALM BEACH POST, 1/12).
JUST PASSING THROUGH? THE MMQB's Peter King wrote of the Browns, "The past two times I have spoken to owner Jimmy Haslam, he has used the word 'continuity' several times in each conversation." If Haslam "used it once, he used it 10 times." But he has "owned the team for 27 months," and in that time, the Browns "have had three head coaches and 53 assistant coaches -- soon to be 56, when the Browns hire a new offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and wide receiver coach." King: "If I were that new coordinator, I’d rent. I might rent month to month, actually" (MMQB.SI.com, 1/12).
