Win Or Lose, Samir’s Claim Could Limit His Future NFL Prospects

We pointed out on Monday, via a joint effort with Tom Curran of NBCSports.com, that former Rams executive Samir Suleiman (who might or might not be related to the Octomom) has filed a grievance with the league regarding the Browns’ failure to hire him for the job that ultimately went to Dawn Aponte, the team’s new Vice President of Football Administration. Suleiman’s claim, as we understand it, is that the team promised him a job, and then reneged. A February 28 item from Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer hints at in-house dispute that might have unfolded: “The Browns were poised to add Samir Suleiman in an unspecified front office capacity until owner Randy Lerner slammed on the brakes, according to two sources.” It’s possible, then, that coach Eric Mangini and/or G.M. George Kokinis “hired” Suleiman -- and that owner Randy Lerner vetoed the move. Regardless of whether this gives rise to any liability on the part of the Browns, the fact that Suleiman has pursued this claim could makes it very difficult for Suleiman to get another job in the NFL. His decision to proceed could be viewed by other teams as reflecting poor judgment, and his history doesn’t help him in this regard. In 2005, Suleiman left a voice message for Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who attributed to a source the concern that Suleiman was stabbing coach Mike Martz in the back. Said Suleiman, who presumably knew his words were being preserved for others to hear: “Tell your source I’m not a back-stabber, I’m a f--king throat-slasher, and he’ll know the difference before it’s all said and done.” Then there’s the May 2008 report that Suleiman was being considered for a job with the Raiders. We subsequently reported that Suleiman was not under consideration for any such position, and that the team hadn’t even spoken to him about a job. A source with knowledge of the incident told us on Monday that, at or about the time that the public link to the Raiders appeared, Suleiman was hoping to get his name into the mix for future employment under the thinking that, the more his name is mentioned in connection with some jobs, the more his name will come up as a potential candidate for other jobs. Now, his name is coming up in a capacity that possibly won’t make him a desirable candidate for employment in the NFL. But, hey, there’s always the UFL.