Browns Exec VP/Football Operations Sashi Brown during his introductory press conference Thursday "stressed that although he'll have final say over the roster, it will be a collaborative effort," with Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, coach Hue Jackson and the new personnel chief "having major input," according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Brown said, "I do ultimately have the decision-making authority over the 53. I think anybody who has worked with me understands I want to listen, I want to make sure everyone's input is weighed as we make the decisions that will be Browns organization decisions.'' Brown is entering his 12th season in the NFL, and he said, “I've been involved in a lot of the decisions in terms of 'how do you build a roster?' We think that's as strategic as it is important to have the evaluations of players. ... That really is my role to bring all the information together and make the best strategic decision each and every time." He acknowledged that he will “watch more film." Brown said film study “will become an increasing part of my role.” More Brown: “The one thing people will say about me is I do work across departments well and I'm able to keep them aligned strategically and get to a consensus and the best possible decisions" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/22).
THE UMBRELLA APPROACH: DePodesta said despite the team’s reliance on analytics, there are still going to be some “picks that don't work out” and the team will “try some things that don't work out.” DePodesta: “That's the reality of it. This isn't about having some system that's a crystal ball that tells us exactly what's going to happen. ... I think about analytics, I think much more broadly than others do. To me it's not really about numbers or algorithms. For me it's really just about a mindset." In Cleveland, Dan Labbe notes DePodesta on Thursday did not come across as someone who is going to "look over the shoulders” of Jackson and the forthcoming personnel exec and “override them at every turn based off of a spreadsheet" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/22). In Akron, Ryan Lewis writes DePodesta "shared some of his insights into that analytical approach, clarifying that it’s a top-down, umbrella-like approach rather than being singular examples of smaller applications." DePodesta is still "planning to continue to commute from California to Ohio, at least in the early going, as he begins his work with the Browns" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 1/22).
WHAT'S NEXT: In Cleveland, Mary Kay Cabot cites sources as saying that the Browns "won't hire" a GM, but they "have interviewed former Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey and former Lions GM Martin Mayhew for their top personnel job." Instead of GM, the new exec will be VP/Player Personnel. Brown said that he "expects to make the hire within a week or two." Brown: “We do feel like we want someone here who's focused primarily on personnel and talent evaluation. It is critical to what we'll be doing. So stretching him into other things was not something (we wanted to do)” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/22).
BRAVE NEW WORLD: In Cleveland, Kevin Kleps adds the Browns "keep coming back to a simple starting point: This is about making smarter, better-informed decisions." Sashi Brown said of DePodesta, "Paul for us isn’t really about analytics. We’ve got a very talented analytics group that is already in place. Paul’s strength to us was the ability to think about, build and execute on putting together a championship-caliber organization. That’s our goal here. He’s been successful at it. He understands people, he understands processes, he understands standards and accountability. His talents aren’t limited to analytics. That’s really what Paul’s role is here -- to help us set a vision, set strategies, execute on those, keep us on strategy and aligned" (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 1/21). Also in Cleveland, Bud Shaw writes Brown and DePodesta "aren't trying to reinvent the wheel." The impression "is they're trying to upgrade the Browns' research and development and the quality control so the tire doesn't blow out time and time again." The Browns' "new world order" is all about "reducing the chance for error" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 1/22). In Cleveland, Terry Pluto wondered why he is “intrigued by the Brown/DePodesta front office?" It is "partly because they are humble." Pluto: "I have no clue if this will work, but I'm anxious to see them get started. Because so far with the hiring of Jackson and some others, there is some reason for hope" (CLEVELAND.com, 1/21).
