Intriguing news today as we learn that the Cleveland Browns have lured away Paul DePodesta from the Mets to be the team’s new chief strategy officer. It is expected he will report directly to owner Jimmy Haslam.
DePodesta you may recall got his big claim to fame working alongside Oakland GM Billy Beane and helped form the “Moneyball” strategies. He was portrayed by Jonah Hill in the film of the same name. DePodesta was also the Dodgers GM from 2004-2005 and was most recently the Met’s vice president of player development and amateur scouting and was largely credited with helping return the Mets to their current playoff standing. Additionally, he has worked for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians, and has won a division title with all five teams he’s worked for.
“Cleveland and football have always held a special place in my heart,” said DePodesta. “It was 20 years ago this month, after pursing my first love of football and looking at every possible job in the NFL, that I got the biggest break I could imagine — a job offer from the AL champion Cleveland Indians. As excited as I was then, I am even more excited now to return to Cleveland and to try to help the Browns.
“My focus is to bring whatever experience and perspective I can to collaborate with the team, with the intent of helping us make more informed and successful decisions. Admittedly, there will be an awful lot for me to learn, but I want nothing more than to help bring consistent, championship caliber football back to Cleveland.”
Fan Interference 
Football? My God, is he crazy?
Boy, and I thought he was smart. Maybe he hasn’t heard of this owner. In a dead heat with Jerry Jones at Dallas for the worst in the league.
Maybe Podesta likes hopeless causes.
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Can’t deny it doesn’t get much better than second in command to the owner though. Plus, what greater challenge is there in sports at this point? Maybe he lost a dare of some sort?
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Having multiple chains of command with one of them ending @ the owner is a real good way to have a division and infighting in your front office. If the Browns are to have any chance at success, Haslam should grab and Manziel and flee to Mexico like the last prominent affluenza victim and his enabler.
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Yep. If he is the new “Chief Strategy Officer”, his first recommendations should be.
1) Hire someone that knows about football and have that person run the team. The owners knows nothing about football or running a football team and his involvement should be limited to signing checks and cheering.
2) Having multiple lines of authority is self defeating. Hire someone you trust to run the team and have everyone, including me, report to that person.
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I’m pretty sure that’s his job. Running the team and everyone reports to him. I don’t think this is creating an additional chain of command, simply he’s jumping to the top of the organizational chart.
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Jimmy Haslam commissioned a $100,000 study to determine who was the best quarterback for the Browns to select in the 2014 Draft. The result said choose Teddy Bridgewater of Louisville. Of course the Browns pick Manziel. They’re looking to hire their sixth head coach in nine years. Haslam has no idea how to run a front office and shouldn’t be involved in any aspect of the day to day running of the team. He especially needs to stop hiring people who do little but get in each other’s way like the ridiculous Joe Banner hire a couple years ago.
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His most recent job was with Mets (Wilpon) and previously was GM for Dodgers (McCourt). I doubt the owner being a jerk would stop him.
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Strategery No. 1: Trade Johnny “Counterfeit Money” Manziere to the CFL. The Cleveland dogcatcher’s office. Back to A&M. Wherever.
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Jerry Jones is broadly hinting that he is all over Manziel. Go for it, bubba! You two were made for one another.
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Don’t the Texans also need a QB?
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I would be very surprised if Bill O’Brien opens his doors to Manziel.
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Off topic, but hilarious as hell. Deadspin notes that the NY Times may be insinuating that Jeets has some connection to that al Jazeera doping story: http://deadspin.com/new-york-times-not-quiiiite-ready-to-tie-derek-jeter-to-1751204988
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