The Dolphins were reportedly whittling down their list of general manager candidates to a group of finalists this week, but they may not be done adding names to the list.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio is interviewing with the team on Friday. Caserio, who has turned down other overtures, has been in his current post since 2008 and has been the top man on the personnel front in the front office since Scott Pioli left to join the Chiefs in 2009.
Of course, the Patriots have given coach Bill Belichick a great deal of control over personnel in New England so Caserio has some experience sharing responsibilities. It’s worked out well for New England, something Miami has learned firsthand, and that experience could come in handy in Miami. There have been many reports about the impact that uncertainty about a power structure including coach Joe Philbin and exec Dawn Aponte has had on potential G.M. candidates.
Dolphins assistant G.M. Brian Gaine and Titans exec Lake Dawson are believed to be finalists for the job and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins are still having discussions with Bucs exec Dennis Hickey. Armando Salguero of the Herald adds that Caserio will be added to the final round or the Dolphins will move on without him after Friday’s discussion.
If Caserio, who also served as an assistant coach in New England before moving into the personnel department, does leave New England, it would add to an offseason of change off the field for the team. Assistant coaches Pepper Johnson, George Godsey and Dante Scarnecchia have all left the team since the end of the regular season.
[Photo credit: Patriots.com]