Kent Babb currently covers the Redskins and used to cover the Chiefs. http://deadspin.com/kent-babb-is-here-to-talk-screwed-up-nfl-franchises-1501160501
Jamnjamal: What went on between ex-GM Mark Dominik and ex-coach Greg Schiano in Tampa Bay? Was their relationship dysfunctional or did they actually get along? Who was actually in charge? Asking because of the Josh Freeman situation, of course, who was Dominik's pick but who was kicked to the curb by Schiano. And also because the Bucs hired a new coach, Lovie Smith, without having a GM in place. I know the Glazers had to grab their coach as soon as possible, but are the owners creating the same instability that has hurt the team since Jon Gruden pushed out Rich McKay? Kent Babb: I don't know the specifics because I haven't been around the Bucs very much at all, but it became a huge mess this year. I blamed it on Schiano, but others I know and trust had bad things to say about Dominik. About the coach-before-GM thing: I think this is the way to go nowadays. I don't believe even the best GMs know who they're scouting/picking most of the time, and although they'd never admit this, luck plays a HUGE role in building successful NFL teams. See: Russell Wilson, who never would've dropped to the third round if anyone even thought he might possibly be what he has become. So bring in the best head coach, who's the unquestioned face of the team, and allow him to help bring in a GM who he can work with and shares a philosophy with. The Chiefs, who got it way backward in 2009, did it right last year when they brought in Andy Reid and allowed him to push out Scott Pioli, the former golden boy, and bring in John Dorsey, who he could at least get along with and work alongside.
TheNeutralFan: As far as the relationship between dysfunctional front offices and losing, which would you say causes the other? On balance at least, I realize there are many other factors Kent Babb: I definitely think it's the dysfunction/disorganization/star culture. In a previous answer I named a few of the more screwed-up NFL franchises: Washington, Cleveland, Dallas, Miami, Tampa, Jets, Raiders, etc. The other thing they have in common is that they haven't won a Super Bowl in a very long time, and I don't think they hire unqualified people because they haven't won. I think they haven't won because they've hired unqualified, mostly strange people.
TurningOverRyanLeaf: In terms of front-office personnel that you've worked with/covered, who have you found to have the best "football mind?" Also, who is your all-time favorite interviewee?Kent Babb: Probably as a result of the franchises I have covered — KC and Washington — none immediately comes to mind. I have only casually covered the 49ers and Ravens, but the Harbaugh boys are brilliant and don't get caught up in BS. They are among the disappearing minority who seem to realize that football is a sport. A high-level sport inside billion-dollar businesses, yes, but a sport nonetheless. They at least seem to understand that nobody cares about every little detail that other teams stupidly try to protect.
twicedoneovereasy: Is there a common denominator for dysfunctional franchises?Kent Babb: At least in my experience, they try to control every little thing, and in the process, they learn the hard way that this is impossible. Most are born of the fertile Belichick coaching womb, and I don't think it's a coincidence that none of these has worked (outside of, I guess, Saban, who I don't really count). Weis? Crennel? Mangini? McDaniels? The list goes on and on, and like old sea turtles that eventually return to live out their final days on the same beach where they were born, so many of these failed coaches make the long, slow return to Foxborough.
BrendanKennedy: What's the biggest thing common fans would be surprised to know about how NFL front offices work? Kent Babb: I think how disorganized and insecure so many of them are. Someone asked me a couple weeks ago, the day the Redskins fired Shanahan, if there are other teams with such dysfunction. My reply was that I think there are WAY more messed-up organizations than most fans realize, maybe even more than the functional ones. Off the top of my head: Washington, Cleveland, Dallas, Jets, Browns, Raiders, Dolphins, Lions. An argument could be made for Tampa Bay in 2013, Jacksonville most of the time. Others are in the conversation, and you know what those oddball organizations also have in common: No Super Bowls in a long, long time.
nacho26: What percentage of "anonymous sources" do you believe to be partially or entirely fabricated? Is there any way to verify a reporter's story if much of what they print is hearsay by a single source they refuse to identify with information or an opinion nobody else can corroborate? Kent Babb: I don't think much is fabricated at all. I do think there are agendas in play. Sources most of the time are very good and probably surprisingly close to the central players. Meaning they often ARE the central players. But as such, they are not unbiased and almost always have something to gain — whether it's a player, coach, exec, agent, whatever. This is high-level politics, baby, only with facemasks and thigh pads.
Andrew Daisuke: Is it massive ego that causes the dysfunction, or is it complete ineptitude? Or both!? Kent Babb: The NFL is like a lot of corporations, in that it gives people lots of power and strokes their egos. Unlike other billion-dollar corporations, though, there's a public side to this job that I don't think most executives and coaches ever really prepare themselves for, and this leads to some serious insecurity. The mix of arrogance and insecurity is what ties a stick of dynamite to these franchises, because these guys both think they can do no wrong AND are terrified of screwing up their opportunity, causing them to panic. Kansas City under Scott Pioli was the worst I've ever seen it, which I'm sure we'll go into more during this chat.
Notorious P.A.T.: To follow up on one of your answers: why are there so many messed-up NFL franchises? Is that a sad commentary on the state of American business (the Lions are owned by a US auto company, and look how well those are doing) or is it from people who know nothing about football being able to buy and run football teams (take for example, oh I don't know, the Lions)? Kent Babb: I think it's more just people who want instant gratification and/or don't understand what makes a good GM or coach. The Lions picked Millen because he was good on TV and therefore sounded like he knew football. That was idiotic from the start, and they're still paying for that. It's a tough job, especially now, to run an NFL team, whether as a coach or executive, but it's not impossible.
Lots more if you click the link.
Good stuff. Thanks!
Interestingly, when he notes dysfunctional franchises, he says an argument could be made for Tampa in 2013, which would indicate that we weren't seen as dysfunctional before that.
Nice find, FRG.
