In Houston, John McClain notes there "won't be any changes" to the Texans current management structure, as coach Bill O'Brien will continue as the GM "without the title." Texans Exec VP/Team Development Jack Easterby is the Assistant GM "without the title." Nobody is being "brought in over them." As long as O'Brien is "coaching the Texans, he'll also have the general manager's responsibilities," so team Chair & CEO Cal McNair "might as well give him the title." McClain: "While he's at it, McNair should go ahead and add assistant GM to Easterby's résumé because that's what they are" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/14).
COST OF COMPETING: NBCSPORTS.com's Peter King wrote the "anger" coming from NFL owners over the seven-year, $62M contract that Panthers Owner David Tepper gave to coach Matt Rhule is not "well-placed." The Panthers "weren't hiring an NFL coordinator" working on a two-year, $4M contract. They were "competing against the Monopoly money of college football, and they were hiring someone to become the front-facing CEO of the football operation, not just the titular head of the team" (NBCSPORTS.com, 1/13).
