The Cleveland Browns have requested to interview Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton for their GM position.
It is best to keep all of their options open. That is what the Cleveland Browns are doing in regards to finding their next general manager. The Browns have requested to interview Minnesota Vikings assistant general manager George Paton.
The connection here is obvious. Paton is from Minnesota, the same place that Kevin Stefanski is from. There was a report earlier in the day that Andrew Berry could end up elsewhere, so expanding their options makes sense. Although, Paton might not even interview. Per Tom Pelissero, Paton has turned down interview requests from the Browns in the past.
Paton turning down the Browns in the past is hardly a surprise. Cleveland is not a place where long term success exists and willingly walking into a flawed organizational structure is unwise.
What cannot happen here is the Browns be prepared to hire George Paton or Andrew Berry and have them both turn it down. Part of the plan with this alignment was do get everyone on the same page. That process included discussing potential general mangers in the coach search. If they are unable to hire one of the agreed upon GM candidates that align with the hire of Stefanski, they are already off on the wrong foot.
A trio that involves Kevin Stefanski, Paul DePodesta and one of Andrew Berry or George Paton is their plan. If they are unable to make that happen, this group may be stuck trying to make something work that just won’t. The analytics crew is getting their chance. Can’t blow it now.