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Franchises

Texans Add GM Title To Bill O'Brien's Role, Promote Easterby

The Texans have given coach Bill O'Brien the GM title, and promoted Exec VP/Team Development Jack Easterby to Exec VP/Fooball Operations, moves that "won’t change anything about the way the Texans operate on the personnel side of the organization," according to John McClain of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. O'Brien has "been the general manager without the title" since the team fired Brian Gaine last June, and Easterby similarly had "been assistant general manager without the title" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/29). Texans Owner Cal McNair said the team added GM to O'Brien's title to "more accurately reflect the way we have been operating for the past eight months." ESPN.com's Sarah Barshop noted the Texans "did not hire a replacement" after firing Gaine, though they "began a search" for one. Instead, they "operated with a general manager by committee approach" (ESPN.com, 1/28). NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said O’Brien was the GM "anyway" before the announcement and "had final say, he was the guy in charge of making so many of the moves which people thought he was crazy before the season and so much of it helped lead them to the playoffs" ("Super Bowl Live," NFL Network, 1/28).

RISKY BUSINESS: ESPN’s Adam Schefter said the Texans have made O’Brien "one of the most powerful men in the NFL" because when "you've got the head coach and GM titles you are the man in charge" ("Get Up,"ESPN, 1/29). In Houston, Brian Smith writes O'Brien "already had been given more power than every head coach in the league" before officially adding the GM title. The Texans are "entering a highly critical offseason." There is "no doubt" that O'Brien "has a plan." But "checks and balances exist" for a reason. The Texans just "gave their king more power than any coach in franchise history" after their "worst playoff defeat in franchise history." They either will be the "smartest or dumbest team in the NFL" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/29). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said "coaching a football team at the professional level may be the most difficult job in sports in North America … (so) what the hell makes you think you should add a job to that." ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said "history tells us" combining the two jobs "doesn't work hardly ever" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 1/28).

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