Front office changes: UPDATE
Posted by on May 2, 2012 – 10:32 amIn the NFL, the week or so after the draft is the time when personnel changes happen. The rules are such that personnel men can’t move from team to team as the draft approaches for obvious reasons. But new jobs are offered and teams make moves with scouts and the like right after, in that month or so when the scouting finally gets a break before gearing up for another marathon of work before the next draft.
So today comes a couple of reports concerning the Cardinals. A report first came out of New England, where Shalise Manza Young tweeted Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht was leaving the Patriots to take an unknown role with the Cards. Then Adam Caplan tweeted out Cardinals director of pro personnel T.J. McCreight was leaving to take a job with the Colts (which I have since confirmed.) The Cardinals have not announced anything officially.
If Licht sounds familiar, it’s because he worked for the Cardinals in 2008, hired away from the Eagles and was with the Cards for the Super Bowl year. He left after the Super Bowl to take the Patriots job, and McCreight was the one hired to replace him.
(Here’s a story I wrote about McCreight and fellow pro personnel guy Quentin Harris, for those wondering about what the job entails.)
UPDATE: It was all true and now official: Licht has returned to Arizona. McCreight, as I noted earlier is working for Indy. And on top of everything, Steve Keim — who was in the mix to be the Rams’ GM earlier this offseason, has been promoted to VP of player personnel. Read all about it here.
Tags: draft, front office, Jason Licht, Steve Keim, T.J. McCreight
Posted in Blog | 14 Comments »
By ringlaterra on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Wahoo! Sounds like a good deal, getting someone back that did well for us before plus has a few additional years of experience with very good teams to add to their resume…Hopefully Jason has learned lots in his past few years.
By kauaicardsfan on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Aloha Darren,
Can you break down the job duties for this position? Is it more on a personal side for the players? Does this position have any influence on the drafting of players as well? IDK thats why I’m asking. Thanks!
By Darren Urban on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Kauai –
RE: director of pro personnel
It has been involved in multiple aspects of personnel, but mostly it is about tracking pro players — free agents to be — and scouting other NFL teams.
By kauaicardsfan on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Mahalo for the break down Darren!
By Ezz on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Not really much we can say either way since we have no idea how these guys work. It’s probably a positive that we got back a known commodity though.
By Rich on May 2, 2012 | Reply
as long as Keim doesn’t leave……..he is the key to our productive drafts
By Rich on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Darren,
I’m very excited. Just got word from the Cards office that our application to upgrade season ticket location was approved and we love the new seats !! We are now behind the Cards side of the field.
By cdubbbbbbb on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Sounds like we downgraded to me….. Think about the FA players brought in during this guys time here in AZ and then again with NE, now think about the players we had brought in after this guy had left and the other guy who is now with the Colts was leading the way. Seems to me like we had far better FA signings with the guy that just left…
By SteveG on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Worked for New England? Then he learned with one of the best….(of course, Tom Brady does help that team look mighty good)
By Jzoully on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Keim is a man who knows how to draft the right guy…
By Eazy E on May 2, 2012 | Reply
McCreight was ok with us. Some hits and misses. Keim deserves his ascension, dude is great at evaluating talent with Whiz and Rod.
By Andy Kwong on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Hey Darren,
Who is Colin Parker from ASU? What stands out about him?
By Darren Urban on May 2, 2012 | Reply
Andy Kwong –
RE: Parker
He’s a linebacker. I can’t say what stands out. I haven’t seen much of him.
By Chris Hughes on May 3, 2012 | Reply
We must do what ever we can to Keep Kiem!!! GREAT PROMOTION!