Post by scorpion42 on Jan 10, 2010 8:36:14 GMT -7
Eagles' Heckert apparently headed to Cleveland
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Eagles returned to Cowboys Stadium last night for their first-round playoff game against Dallas, but general manager Tom Heckert did not accompany them.
That's because Heckert is about to become general manager of the Cleveland Browns, opening the door for Howie Roseman to replace him.
Attempts to reach Heckert yesterday were unsuccessful, but a team source indicated that multiple reports about the general manager's decision to take the job in Cleveland were correct. The source said as of yesterday afternoon that Heckert had not officially notified the Eagles of his departure.
Heckert, 42, will likely have a role in Cleveland similar to the one he has had with the Eagles. Since joining the team in 2002, Heckert had been Andy Reid's top personnel adviser, but the head coach always had final say in the team's draft and free-agent moves.
The final say in Cleveland will belong to Reid's mentor, Mike Holmgren, who returned to the NFL last week as the Browns' president. Heckert grew up rooting for the Browns because his father, Tom Sr., was a scout for the team in the early 1980s.
During Heckert's tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles won four NFC East titles, and went to four NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. His first draft, in 2002, when he did not yet have the title of GM, produced Pro Bowlers Brian Westbrook, Lito Sheppard, and Michael Lewis, as well as cornerback Sheldon Brown.
Fourteen of the Eagles' 22 starters last night were drafted during Heckert's tenure, and three others were undrafted free agents signed on his watch.
Heckert had interviewed with several teams over the last four years, including Cleveland last year, but he pulled out of consideration after the Browns hired Eric Mangini as their head coach.
What was different this time?
Perhaps the fact that Heckert was in the final year of his contract and Howie Roseman's influence in the personnel department has been on the rise the last two years.
Roseman joined the Eagles in 2000 as staff counsel and salary-cap manager and was promoted to director of football administration in 2003, with the title of vice president added in 2006. A team source indicated that Roseman is in line to be the next GM.
In 2006, he started to become more involved in the personnel side of things and was instrumental in the Eagles' free-agent signing of Juqua Parker, who has been a starting defensive end the last three seasons.
After the Eagles fired Jason Licht, who was hired by Heckert, from the personnel department after the 2007 season, Roseman was promoted to vice president of football administration. According to the media guide, Roseman manages the college scouting staff, organizes and runs draft meetings, and serves as a scout for the top college prospects.
Pretty soon, Roseman is going to have the title of general manager.
www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100110_Eagles__Heckert_apparently_headed_to_Cleveland.html
My thoughts: What will the Eagles do?
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Eagles returned to Cowboys Stadium last night for their first-round playoff game against Dallas, but general manager Tom Heckert did not accompany them.
That's because Heckert is about to become general manager of the Cleveland Browns, opening the door for Howie Roseman to replace him.
Attempts to reach Heckert yesterday were unsuccessful, but a team source indicated that multiple reports about the general manager's decision to take the job in Cleveland were correct. The source said as of yesterday afternoon that Heckert had not officially notified the Eagles of his departure.
Heckert, 42, will likely have a role in Cleveland similar to the one he has had with the Eagles. Since joining the team in 2002, Heckert had been Andy Reid's top personnel adviser, but the head coach always had final say in the team's draft and free-agent moves.
The final say in Cleveland will belong to Reid's mentor, Mike Holmgren, who returned to the NFL last week as the Browns' president. Heckert grew up rooting for the Browns because his father, Tom Sr., was a scout for the team in the early 1980s.
During Heckert's tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles won four NFC East titles, and went to four NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. His first draft, in 2002, when he did not yet have the title of GM, produced Pro Bowlers Brian Westbrook, Lito Sheppard, and Michael Lewis, as well as cornerback Sheldon Brown.
Fourteen of the Eagles' 22 starters last night were drafted during Heckert's tenure, and three others were undrafted free agents signed on his watch.
Heckert had interviewed with several teams over the last four years, including Cleveland last year, but he pulled out of consideration after the Browns hired Eric Mangini as their head coach.
What was different this time?
Perhaps the fact that Heckert was in the final year of his contract and Howie Roseman's influence in the personnel department has been on the rise the last two years.
Roseman joined the Eagles in 2000 as staff counsel and salary-cap manager and was promoted to director of football administration in 2003, with the title of vice president added in 2006. A team source indicated that Roseman is in line to be the next GM.
In 2006, he started to become more involved in the personnel side of things and was instrumental in the Eagles' free-agent signing of Juqua Parker, who has been a starting defensive end the last three seasons.
After the Eagles fired Jason Licht, who was hired by Heckert, from the personnel department after the 2007 season, Roseman was promoted to vice president of football administration. According to the media guide, Roseman manages the college scouting staff, organizes and runs draft meetings, and serves as a scout for the top college prospects.
Pretty soon, Roseman is going to have the title of general manager.
www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20100110_Eagles__Heckert_apparently_headed_to_Cleveland.html
My thoughts: What will the Eagles do?