Ray Farmer passed up the Dolphins GM job because Cleveland Browns are poised to redefine the history books Browns assistant general manager Ray Farmer, viewed as a rising star by his bosses, passed up a chance to become general manager of the Dolphins last month because hes confident the Browns are poised to take off. I think Cleveland is primed and I think were in a position to redefine the history books, Farmer told cleveland. I think change is on the horizon and I didnt want to miss whats going to happen in Cleveland. Farmer, 39, was a finalist for the Dolphins GM job which ultimately went to former Bucs director of player personnel Dennis Hickey. The Dolphins wanted Farmer to interview a second time, and if he did, he likely wouldve gotten the job. The Miami Herald identified Farmer early on as the frontrunner for the job. I didnt finish the process, said Farmer. I assume they wouldve given me the job. Thats the way it was articulated to me. If I took the job, I wouldve reported directly to (Dolphins owner) Stephen Ross and it was a tremendous opportunity. It still is a dream of mine to become a general manager and run my own program and put together my own team, but it wasnt the right time for me. I knew what I had here. I know what I think is going to happen here, and I know what we have in place. So to that degree, the known is better than the unknown. Farmer, who joined the Browns in March after seven seasons as the Chiefs director of pro personnel, stressed that the Browns didnt promise him a promotion to stay. No, and I wouldve balked at that, he said. I will never hunt anyones job that I work with. Thats not what Im inclined to do. Im not really motivated by money, and Im not motivated by power. For me, its more predicated on what can I learn from the people that Im with to make myself better in the long run. Besides, Farmer has developed a close, working with relationship with general manager Mike Lombardi, and would never do anything to jeopardize that. I love Mike Lombardi, said Farmer. A lot of people in this city dont, but those people dont know him. Hes one of my dearest friends at this point. Hes intelligent, hes smart, hes witty, he challenges me every day to be better, so I like where Im at and I like him. There are no assurances in the NFL and coming off a 4-12 season people are skeptical, people dont understand why some decisions were made inside the building, but again I think inevitably, I trust the process were going through. Browns CEO Joe Banner also said he didnt have to persuade Farmer to stay. No, he turned down the job primarily because hes extremely happy here and hes extremely optimistic and he enjoys the people hes working with, said Banner. Hed have to find exactly the right situation because hed be leaving something that hes very, very happy with. Banner re-iterated that the Browns were lucky to keep him. Weve previously called him a rising star in the league and I still believe that, said Banner. Im not surprised that other people are recognizing it. Hes extremely hard-working, smart, totally trustworthy loyal and a great evaluator. He understands the elements of character, personality and drive (in prospects) and he integrates them into the grading of what you see on the film. Farmer said the things that initially drew him to Cleveland are some of the same reasons he stayed. First and foremost Id say that (owner) Jimmy Haslam for me is phenomenal, Farmer said. Hes one of the main reasons I chose to come to Cleveland. Joe Banner is a confidante of mine and treats me in a way that a lot of people mightve second-guessed. I could go on and on whether its Alec (Scheiner) our president or Sashi Brown (executive vice president) -- I have so much respect and trust for the people Im working with and their ability to produce a winning team. Ultimately thats on the horizon and thats why I want to be here. Banner said Farmers decision to stay is consistent with other top employees choosing Cleveland over other destinations -- and is contrary to the national perception of the Browns during the coaching search. NFL Network quoted an anonymous source as saying the Browns job was radioactive and it became the mantra of the search in the national and local media for 25 days. The voice of one became the voice that got quoted in every story that was written, said Banner. It had nothing to do with reality. Some of the most desirable people in all of sports have come to Cleveland since Jimmy and I took over, including Rob Chudzinski, Norv Turner, Ray Horton, Mike Pettine, Alec Scheiner and Sashi Brown. Players like Des Bryant and Paul Kruger chose us over others cities, not to mention all of the people that desperately wanted this head coaching job. The evidence -- which nobody wanted to bother with -- is that this is an extremely desirable place and all of the actions by so many people are proof of that. Farmer said he ignored the persistent chatter of Berea as a toxic workplace. People in Cleveland have their issues with the Browns and some people say rightfully so, he said. Some people would say its new regime, time to give them a new, clean slate. But I didnt come to Cleveland to re-live the negative history. I came to help write a new chapter. I think thats why a lot of us came here. Despite Farmers star status within the walls of Berea, Banner has no plans to make him a face or voice of the team. Likewise, Lombardi is still being kept off limits. Ive never seen a sports team have more than one voice other than the head coach that speaks for the organization, Banner said. Thats what we do in Cleveland, but somehow thats become controversial. Teams dont put out multiple layers of people and usually the media doesnt want to speak to anybody other than the kind of decision-makers and as high up in the organization as they can get -- so no, Ray wont be any more of a public face than hes been. He said the local media calls for Lombardi because they want to bash Mike. Youd like to think people would rise above that, but it just doesnt happen. I never heard of the media that can speak to the higher level executive or to the lower level executive and theyre clamoring to speak to the lower level executive. Nevertheless, he said Farmer and Lombardi have a great working relationship and that the personnel department and coaching staff are working hard to prepare for free agency and the upcoming critical draft, one that features the No. 4 and No. 26 overall picks in the first round. I feel very good about it and I feel good about the work thats been done the last four months that will be the foundation for us making good choices, he said. Farmers decision to stay instead of taking the GM job was even supported by the Fritz Pollard Alliance, whos mission is to place minority candidate in high level NFL coaching and personnel jobs. Fritz Pollard Chairman John Wooten, the former Browns guard, helped the Dolphins identify Farmer as a candidate and encouraged him to interview a second time. Ray is extremely ready to be a GM in the NFL, said Wooten. But he feels good about whats going in Cleveland, and were happy that Ray is going to be there to help the Browns get back to being one of the premier teams in the NFL. We wouldve loved to see him become the GM of the Dolphins and he wouldve been tremendous, but Ray is a man of character and integrity, and he loves what theyre doing there. We respect and support the decision. - PD
Posted on: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 03:34:44 +0000
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