[sportscurmudgeon]

Anyone who tries to make this kind of list has to make assumptions about which GM candidates would demand what kind of autonomy before they took the job. That is what Parcells demanded in Dallas - - and actually got it for a short time - - and the lack of autonomy that crept into the team from above is why he packed it in and left.


If you think the word on "onerous ownership oversight" here in DC has not made its way around the league, you are kidding yourself.


Established "football guys" are NOT going to come in and live in a second-guessing enviornment. They don't need that; they can get jobs elsewhere. That is why the Raiders don't have top notch football people knocking down their doors to work there. Ditto the Cowboys. AND ditto the Redskins...


The way this will work out positively is for Danny Boy to find a young, upcoming guy who does not have "the reputation" around the league yet but really has the background to excel as a GM. Sort of like the GM equivalent of hiring a young assistant coach for the first time who becomes a really good head coach - - sort of like Vince Lombardi at Green Bay.


Who are the guys that might make it onto Danny Boy's radar screen? I have no idea at all because - - try as I might - - I have never been able to get myself to think the way he seems to think when he makes hiring decisions.


I will toss out one name of one guy who might be ready to move up the totem pole in the league and who is not a household name that can just go to about any team in the league if he wanted to:


Jon Sandusky: Pro Personnel Director for the Eagles.