This is a long post. But if you're interested in Rick Spielman and his potential as a personnel man in the NFL, you must read this and you will not be disappointed. There is great historical information in here pertaining to Rick and his "supposed" ties to Wanny. You will be surprised to see some of things that are brought up.
St. Nick said:
Right back atcha....... 4-12!! 4-12!!! Do you understand that?
Let me point out something to you. Do you know what Wannys record was in his last season with Chicago? 4 - 12. We went 4 - 12 due to Wanny's poor personnel management (as will be pointed out below). Not only that, but his poor coaching was as much to do with it as well. We were 3 - 4 with Bates. That was with no feature back, not even a steady back, a mediocre Oline, a developing QB, and no run stopping DT's. What was Wanny's record? 1 - 8. With the same exact roster. Can't you guys realize where the single point of failure is here??!! Who was in "charge" in Chicago? Who was in "charge" in Miami? It blows me away that after I've shown you this, that, and the other each time pointing to one guy that was the cause of the failure and you still cannot see it. WANNSTEDT, WANNSTEDT, WANNSTEDT, WANNSTEDT, WANNSTEDT! Say as often as you need to drill it in.
Why would someone who worked for Wanny (remember the Bears) and had such terrible results do it again if Wanny didn't take his input seriously?
Let's put this in perspective as I've seen many inaccuracies on the firedavewannstedt website. Spielman was assigned to Director of Pro Personnel in June 97 in Chicago by Mark Hatley NOT Dave Wannstedt! Let me say that again, Rick Spielman was brought in by MARK HATLEY not WANNSTEDT. Wannstedt was fired at the end of the season in 98. So, Rick was MARK HATLEY's Director of Pro Personnel guy for essentially one full season with Wanny as HC where he went through a draft and FA in 98. Rick still held the Director of Pro Personnel title in 99 with the Bears before he joined Wanny with the Dolphins in 2000 as Vice President of Player Personnel. Here's a little excerpt that needs to be mentioned about both Dave and Rick. The
article pertains to the late Mark Hatley who was VP of Player Personnel with Spielman as Director of Pro Personnel in Chicago but makes a critical point worth mentioning:
"His time in Chicago will be analyzed incorrectly by many. At the time he was brought in, the Bears’ personnel department was in the midst of its longest streak in history without producing a Pro Bowl player. Dave Wannstedt was a head coach with
significant involvement in personnel moves, Michael McCaskey was a very active owner and Hat was put in charge of evaluating talent but never given a general manager’s title or authority. But I never heard Hat complain  not once.
Instead, he put together a brilliant staff by hiring Bill Rees, currently the 49ers’ personnel director, to oversee college scouting,
and Rick Spielman, the current Dolphins GM, to handle pro scouting. Then Hatley started bringing in football players. After the club went five years without a Pro Bowl selection, Hat drafted or signed seven players who would make multiple appearances over the next five seasons. While he will always be remembered in Chicago as the guy who lost on the Curtis Enis pick in 1998 and blew the Cade McNown pick in ’99, those were two of the better drafts of any NFL team in the 1990s.
There wasn’t a person in football who didn’t think the Bears should have taken Enis, and he was having a standout rookie campaign in 1998 when he blew out his knee at midseason  an injury from which he never recovered. The Bears’ next pick after Enis was Tony Parrish, who, as a member of the 49ers, is one of the best safeties in the NFL. The third-rounder was three-time Pro Bowl C Olin Kreutz, and in later rounds came Falcons LB Chris Draft and Patrick Mannelly, the Bears’ stalwart long-snapper.
Following McNown in ’99 were two more Pro Bowlers, Marty Booker and Jerry Azumah, along with Rosevelt Colvin, Warrick Holdman, Rex Tucker, Rashard Cook, Jim Finn and D’Wayne Bates."
Here's another interesting summary:
"Dave Wannstedt, whose coaching reign in Chicago to this day remains an enigma. To Michael McCaskey's credit, Wannstedt was the most highly sought-after coaching prospect in January of that year. He was at the time Defensive Coordinator of the Super Bowl Champion Dallas Cowboys, in charge of the number one defense in the league. That Cowboys defense featured zero pro bowlers, so one could figure that regardless of talent, Wannstedt would assemble a tough, highly-ranked defensive unit in Chicago. This obviously never occurred. McCaskey barely was able to hire Wannstedt away from the New York Giants by promising control of personnel. This personnel control was Wanny's achilles' heel. It was never given to Ditka even though he sought it, Wannstedt was terrible at it, and even though he negotiated for it, to this day, he denies ever wanting control. Possibly many people in Chicago could forgive him at this point if he would only fess up to the damage he caused. He continually denies major responsibility for fiascos such as Rick Mirer, John Thierry, Marcus Spears, Bob Sapp, Patrick Riley, the list goes on. Much as he is doing in Miami right now, Wannstedt started fairly strong in Chicago. His team went 7-9 in 1993, and won a playoff game in 1994 with many of the same players Ditka had assembled. By 1995, there were fewer than 10 Ditka players left on the roster, and the "Wannstedt death spiral" began. The team endured three losing seasons from 1996 to 1998, after which year Wanny was finally released. During the press conference held to announce his firing, Wannstedt attributed his lack of success to "bad personnel moves made by "everyone", and the fact that he "hung on to Ditka's players too long". This last comment was interesting in that he wouldn't have won his single playoff game if it weren't for Ditka's players."
Well, well, since Rick Mirer was mentioned as one of Wannstedt's failures above, let's expound on that. Let's point out a GLARING error in firedave's "assumption".
If Rick was not even brought in till June of '97, how in the world did he have anything to do with bringing in Rick Mirer using the 11th pick in the '97 draft!!! From what I recall, NFL drafts are held in April. Could you PLEASE explain that to us firedave!!! We would LOVE to hear it!:roflmao:
So, let's make some points here:
1) Wannstedt had significant involvement on personnel in Chicago since joining the team in 1993 as Head Coach and before Hatley arrived, did not produce a Pro Bowler in 5 years with his GM authority.
2) Rick was brought in
by Mark Hatley, Chicago VP of Player Personnel, in June of 1997 to serve as Director of Pro Personnel. Rick's connection to Chicago is NOT Wannstedt but Mark Hatley.
3) Dave Wannstedt was fired at the end of the season in 1998.
4) Wannstedt brings Rick to Miami in May of 2000 to serve as VP of Player Personnel. Again, Rick is brought in too late to participate in a Draft or FA this time for the 2000 season.
5) In 2002, Rick is promoted to "Senior" VP of Football Operations/Player Personnel.
6) In 2004, Wannstedt is stripped of his GM authority. Rick is given title as General Manager.
Now, let's put all of that in perspective. Why did we have a horrible 2004 season? Because, after years of neglect in personnel management by Dave Wannstedt who also had a FRIGHTENINGLY similar venue in Chicago where he failed as a personnel manager. Rick Spielman was not even a factor till essentially the '98 season where success was beginning to be seen personnel wise but was Wanny's last season as the Bear's Head Coach. If you look extensively through Wannstedts years as a Head Coach/GM, you will see that he is solely responsible for driving 2 Franchises into the ground with, again, frighteningly similar situations and results. I really hope all of this is starting to sink in where the failure actually lies.
So, now I hope you see why Rick came to Miami. It was a promotion for him from Director of Pro Personnel to Vice President of Player Personnel. His association with Dave in Chicago was essentially one full season where Hatley was Rick's good friend and the sole reason Rick was there.
Now, I would like to go over the drafts where Rick and Dave were actually working together:
2001 - Rick's first participation in a draft with the Miami Dolphins. Wannstedt releases Dan Marino and brings in Jay Fiedler as his starting QB in 2000. Jay Fiedler's first season as the Dolphins starter finishes season with a 74.5 rating. Rick is immediately aware that Jay Fiedler is NOT the answer at QB.
1 26 Fletcher, Jamar CB Wisconsin -
Rick and Dave's first fallout. Rick wants Drew Brees to replace Jay Fielder. Dave overrides Rick and takes Fletcher even though Rick's scouting had him rated the lowest in the CB class.
2 52 Chambers, Chris WR Wisconsin
3 85 Minor, TravisRBFlorida State
3 88 Greenwood, Morlon OLB Syracuse
5 156 Draper, Shawn TE Alabama
6 164 Winey, Brandon T Louisiana State
6 177 Heupel, Josh QB Oklahoma
6 187 Leverette, Otis DE Ala.-Birmingham
6 188 Crowell, Rick LB Colorado State
2002 -
Following the close of the 2001 season, Ricky Williams has a fallout with New Orleans as Duece McAllister shows starting RB potential. Seeing William's potential. Spielman initiates a trade for the embattled RB. Trading 2002's 1st round pick and conditionally lost their 2003 first round pick as well. Spielman also goes after Chicago's Pro Bowl Center Olin Kruetz and offers a very lucrative contract. Kruetz surprisingly decides to stay in Chicago. Spielman also landed DT Larry Chester in 2002 FA.
3 90 McKinney, Seth C Texas A&M -
Rick's attempt to get Kruetz doesn't pan out so he takes the best Center available with their first pick in the 2002 draft.
4 114 McMichael, Randy TE Georgia
5 161 Lowe, Omare CB Washington
5 170 Simmons, Sam WR Northwestern
7 241 Henry, Leonard RB East Carolina
2003 - Rick's trade seems to pay off as Williams takes the rushing crown in his first year with the dolphins. Randy McMichael proves to be quite a value for a 4th round pick. This is another draft where Rick and Dave argue over the first pick.
2 49 Eddie Moore LB Tennessee -
This is the 2nd fallout between Dave and Rick. Rick wants Anquan Boldin, Dave overrides him again and takes Eddie Moore with their first pick in the 2003 draft.
3 78 Wade Smith T Memphis
3 87 Taylor Whitley G Texas A&M
5 156 Donald Lee TE Mississippi State
5 169 J.R. Tolver WR San Diego State
6 181 Corey Jenkins OLB South Carolina
6 209 Tim Provost T San Jose State
6 213 Yeremiah Bell DB Eastern Kentucky
7 248 Davern Williams DT Troy State
Now let's look at Rick's draft as GM in 2004.
2004 - Wannstedt is stripped of personnel decisions. Rick is finally in charge and more than happy to replace Jay Fiedler from the starting lineup and after extensive research of available QB's, trades for AJ Feeley. Tells Fiedler's agent to seek a trade. Oline is in complete disarray and needs to be rebuilt. Roster depth is major question mark. Rick goes to work.
1 19
Carey, Vernon G 6-4 363
Miami (Fla.)
4 102
Poole, Will CB 5-10 193
Southern California
5 160
Bua, Tony SS 5-11 218
Arkansas
6 174
Hadnot, Rex C 6-2 323
Houston
7 221
Pape, Tony G 6-6 323
Michigan
7 222
Pope, Derrick ILB 6-1 226
Alabama
Rick's 2004 draft, for all intents and purposes, equals New England's rookie statistics. Carey shows good potential in starting against New England and Buffalo. Poole puts up good stats in limited role. Bua shows some potential to be a good special teamer making an ESPN Jacked UP highlights reel taking out 2 guys in which one was a DE weighing in at over 270lbs springing Welker for a 20 yd punt return. Rex Hadnot shows starting quality play in playing RG for 6 games to end the season. Pope shows some star potential replacing Pro Bowl MLB Thomas for 4 games pulling in some great stats including a fumble recovery for a TD.
Rick is a talented scout and respected by NFL people. His only mistake was tying himself to a failure of a coach named Dave Wannstedt. This has tarnished his image to those ignorant of the facts concerning his past. As you should now see, Rick had "no chance" of looking good with Dave Wannstedt in charge of personnel. I hope this has brought some light to what apparently is muddied waters due to assumptions made by emotional and amateur people.
