Browns Interviewed Doug Whaley

Prior to hiring new GM John Dorsey, the Browns also formally interviewed former Bills GM Doug Whaley, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). They also informally touched base with a few other possible candidates. Doug Whaley

A cynic might look at the Whaley interview as a cheap ploy to satisfy the NFL’s “Rooney Rule,” which stipulates that a minority candidate must be interviewed for every GM and head coaching job. As soon as Sashi Brown was shown the door, it was reported that Dorsey was the frontrunner for the job. Less than 24 hours later, Dorsey was hired. It seems unlikely that Whaley ever had a real chance of landing the position.

Before news of the Whaley interview came out, John Wooten, the head of Fritz Pollard Alliance, said he was “livid” over the Browns’ immediate hire of Dorsey.

I think John Dorsey is a very top quality GM,” Wooten told Jarrett Bell of USA Today Sports. “I am livid that the Browns would totally ignore the work all of us to make the Rooney Rule meaningful.”

With multiple GM vacancies expected to open up this offseason, it’s possible that Whaley will get some real bites. Then again, he might have to rebuild his reputation before landing another NFL GM job. The Bills’ best record during Whaley’s tenure was 9-7 and they did not qualify for the playoffs in any of his four seasons at the helm.

View Comments (3)