Please note that I qualified my statement by saying "From where I am sitting it appears". The statement is a conclusion drawn from the same publicly available sources that anyone on this board can read. Now how did I reach my conclusion:
a. Teams generally want to have new GMs and head scouts in place before the Shrine game and the Senior Bowl. Not having the position filled before these games puts the new GM at a serious disadvantage in his first draft.
b. The Dolphins have now interviewed more candidates than is usually the case in a GM search.
c. There are published reports that people who should have no part of a GM search (Dawn Aponte) are involved in the process.
d. Ross has publicly stated that the new GM will not have the power to fire/hire a head coach.
My logic:
a. Candidates who are exceptional already know that they are exceptional.
b. These candidates also know that they will have more than one opportunity in the future to receive an offer for a GM position.
c. Truly exceptional candidates can afford to turn down a job if the situation is not optimal for their success.
d. The Dolphins have exceeded the normal amount of time and candidates interviewed for this type of position.
This implies that either :
(1) The Dolphins have failed to interview an exceptional candidate for the position,
(2) The Dolphins have interviewed an exceptional candidate but have failed to identify that candidate as exceptional,
(3) Exceptional candidates for the position are not making themselves available to be interviewed,
(4) The internal politics of the Dolphins front office have made it impossible for the organization to agree on a candidate and make an offer, or
(5) None of the exceptional candidates that have been identified and have had discussions about an offer have been willing to take the job under its current political constraints.
Viewing the various options above I judge option 5 to be most likely.
