Eric DeCosta - NFL Franchise's annual quest to lure our heir apparent

[balfan23]

It is that time of year again ... Black Monday arrives and the blood flows freely among the ranks of the head coaches and in some cases their general managers. As always, among the top of the list for every franchise in search of a new GM is our own Eric DeCosta. 

 

I've read numerous articles and Eric is always mentioned. Most writers include the caveats about Eric and his position with the Ravens. However, periodically, a writer will state that, while it is unlikely that he would leave, it is always possible that some team somewhere could make him an offer he can't refuse. 

 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d825af414/article/ravens-exec-decosta-in-running-for-available-gm-openings

 

Could another team steal away our heir apparent? How much longer will he have to wait to take the lead with the Ravens? Could there be some understanding between Eric and the organization as to the basic time frame on what Ozzie will hand over the reigns? 

 

What are your thoughts? 

[Ravenslifer]

Why would he leave - he's basically GM in all but name at this point.  And I happen to think we're a franchise where everyone's opinion on a player matters.  Honestly I think Eric understands he has more power here than he would in just about any other franchise, mainly because Steve is a very hands-off, very patient owner.  Think about this - John Idzik lost his job after 2 seasons, one of which he went 8-8 in, largely with players that Rex Ryan had accumulated over the past 5 years.  They always say a regime change deserves 4 years to really see what the players they brought in have done, and he got just 2 with a terrible roster and a lackluster head coach.  The kind of stability and trust that this organization has is something maybe a handful of other teams in the NFL can boast, and those jobs are never open for exactly that reason.  I see no reason for Eric to go anywhere, ever really.  I don't think he wants to, and I don't think he will.

[rmw10]

It's that time, but none of the currently available jobs seem to be all that enticing, so I imagine he stays for now.  I don't see him going to a team with cap issues or a complete lack of talent.  If he's leaving, I tend to think he'll choose a job with a great base already set.

 

If one of the more enticing jobs opened up (say, the 49ers), I think DeCosta would strongly consider it, but ultimately stay.

[Tank 92]

Eric has been co GM for some time and I'm sure he is well compensated. He'll be here when Ozzie retires and hopefully many successful years to come.

[PuRock]

Paid very well, job security, learning from the best, excellent owner, and a team that is consistently competitive.

Why would he want to leave? To be the next lame duck in NY, etc?

[ludy51]

we see this every year and every year it's the same. he will not leave, he will be taught the art of drafting and building and will be taking over at some point.

[baltimorefan328]

Not sure if this is possible with GMs but I know you can trade coaches (a la rumors with Jim Harbaugh to Cleveland last year), we should tell a team we'll trade them Decosta for a first, second, and third this year and a first second and third next year and a first the year after that. If any team is crazy enough to take that, if its even possible, then hell I'd have to let him go. Those kind of picks with the Ravens usual drafting prowess would be unreal. 

[codizzle]

Not sure if this is possible with GMs but I know you can trade coaches (a la rumors with Jim Harbaugh to Cleveland last year), we should tell a team we'll trade them Decosta for a first, second, and third this year and a first second and third next year and a first the year after that. If any team is crazy enough to take that, if its even possible, then hell I'd have to let him go. Those kind of picks with the Ravens usual drafting prowess would be unreal.

That sounds like the greatest idea ever

[Mt. Crushmore]

I was actually thinking about this earlier.  I read an article that mentioned him as a potential candidate and I almost laughed.  Every year he comes up and every year it is always a resounding no.

 

Not sure if this is possible with GMs but I know you can trade coaches (a la rumors with Jim Harbaugh to Cleveland last year), we should tell a team we'll trade them Decosta for a first, second, and third this year and a first second and third next year and a first the year after that. If any team is crazy enough to take that, if its even possible, then hell I'd have to let him go. Those kind of picks with the Ravens usual drafting prowess would be unreal. 

 

Imagine how pissed DeCosta would be having to run a team without all those picks

[K-Dog]

I dont know the guy from Adam, but I dont think he would want to go to any "fixer upper" team. Between that and they way things are run here and the rumors of his pay.

I am not worried.

[pitchblack_20]

Not sure if this is possible with GMs but I know you can trade coaches (a la rumors with Jim Harbaugh to Cleveland last year), we should tell a team we'll trade them Decosta for a first, second, and third this year and a first second and third next year and a first the year after that. If any team is crazy enough to take that, if its even possible, then hell I'd have to let him go. Those kind of picks with the Ravens usual drafting prowess would be unreal.

Lol wow. We'd be able to grab all stars with those numbers. 2 picks in the first 4 rounds depending on comps. Wild and very unrealistic but fun to think about the players we could get.

[Gtown Purple]

He'd be an idiot to leave here.

[rmw10]

And it officially begins...

 

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet  4m4 minutes ago

#Jets are expected to make a significant push for #Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta, per source. Many have tried for the respected executive

[Ravenseconbeast]

And it officially begins...

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet 4m4 minutes ago

#Jets are expected to make a significant push for #Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta, per source. Many have tried for the respected executive

Jets = where all people go to kill their career

[PuRock]

And it officially begins...

 

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet  4m4 minutes ago

#Jets are expected to make a significant push for #Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta, per source. Many have tried for the respected executive

 

They can make their push all they want.  But it will be fruitless.  They'll have a better shot at Kubiak for HC.  

[Static]

Jets wannabe us so badly.

[izvoodoo]

His wife and wife's family is from here.  It just seems like he'd have to upend his whole life 

[ellicottraven]

It really depends on the understanding he has with Ozzie and Bisciotti. If Ozzie wants to stick with the Ravens interminably, then I wouldn't be surprised to see Eric leave, which would be a real shame for the Ravens!

[The Mom Gene]

His wife and wife's family is from here.  It just seems like he'd have to upend his whole life 

This is what he has stated time and time again...  that and his kids are school aged and he didn't want to uproot them either.

[Canadian_Raven]

It really depends on the understanding he has with Ozzie and Bisciotti. If Ozzie wants to stick with the Ravens interminably, then I wouldn't be surprised to see Eric leave, which would be a real shame for the Ravens!

 

Well, the three go hand-in-hand with one another, not to mention they get a LOT of input from Harbs. I highly doubt Eric will take off to join the Jets. They would have to make a crazy deal just to take him from us.

[Bruce_Almty]

Devil's Advocate says Eric is in a no-win situation. Yes, he's well compensated but succeeding a future HOF GM of a highly successful organization is going to be a killer. He's not going to out Ozzie Oz and any organizational downturn on the field will be attributed to him by the fickle fans. Yet going to any of this years needy teams offers a whole new set of risks and challenges. In the end, what's DeCosta want and how long is he willing to wait for it? No one wants to see the organizations talent cherry-picked away but it is inevitable.

[The Mom Gene]

Devil's Advocate says Eric is in a no-win situation. Yes, he's well compensated but succeeding a future HOF GM of a highly successful organization is going to be a killer. He's not going to out Ozzie Oz and any organizational downturn on the field will be attributed to him by the fickle fans. Yet going to any of this years needy teams offers a whole new set of risks and challenges. In the end, what's DeCosta want and how long is he willing to wait for it? No one wants to see the organizations talent cherry-picked away but it is inevitable.

There actually are some people who are just happy where they are sometimes.

[Gordo52]

Have a gut feeling his time as GM here will be soon....I'd imagine Ozzies been steadily giving him more responsibility and influence over the years in major decisions.

Ozzie has hinted at retirement recently. I think the boat has sailed regarding a team able to pry him away from us.

Unless he has a problem with the way the Rice situation was handled by upper management...:Which I hope/don't think will impact his future here.

[Tiz]

Devil's Advocate says Eric is in a no-win situation. Yes, he's well compensated but succeeding a future HOF GM of a highly successful organization is going to be a killer. He's not going to out Ozzie Oz and any organizational downturn on the field will be attributed to him by the fickle fans. Yet going to any of this years needy teams offers a whole new set of risks and challenges. In the end, what's DeCosta want and how long is he willing to wait for it? No one wants to see the organizations talent cherry-picked away but it is inevitable.

Maybe he has the drive and belief that he can emulate Ozzie and have success in his place.

Not everyone pulls an ellerbe and sights a strong tradition as to why they leave to start their own elsewhere.

I also think Phil savages Cleveland debacle is a reason why decosta won't simply go anywhere he doesn't feel ownership is supportive of the gm.

In the end I think what was done previously (raise and named heir to Ozzie) is enough for him at this time

[rmcjacket23]

There actually are some people who are just happy where they are sometimes.

Entirely possible.

 

But there's also people who after being told how great they are, compensated for being great, but yet still always kind of being the "second guy", always have that thought in the back of the mind that they'd like to run things 100% their way.

 

Think of it is ego if you will. Everybody, no matter who you are, has one. And the more the Ravens keep giving him raises, guaranteeing him his job, etc., the more that ego is fed.

 

At some point, I wouldn't blame him one bit if he decides that he wants to see just how good he is and become the top guy. Not saying its happening this season or even in the near future, but at some point playing the waiting game to see when Ozzie is going to retire might become tiresome, and it could ultimately become costly.

 

GMs, like many other positions in the NFL, are generally linked to on-field success. If the Ravens suddenly become a less-successful franchise, DeCosta's stock probably drops, and he may never get a GM job. People take for granted certain things, and sometimes it comes back to bite them.

[rmw10]

Have a gut feeling his time as GM here will be soon....I'd imagine Ozzies been steadily giving him more responsibility and influence over the years in major decisions.

Ozzie has hinted at retirement recently. I think the boat has sailed regarding a team able to pry him away from us.

Unless he has a problem with the way the Rice situation was handled by upper management...:Which I hope/don't think will impact his future here.

 

I'm with you.  I think DeCosta will take the reigns in the next few years.  It's clear that he already has a very large influence on all decisions we make.  I think it's clear that the job is his one day, and he's quite content where he is.  Hell, he's practically a co-GM already.

[The Mom Gene]

Entirely possible.

 

But there's also people who after being told how great they are, compensated for being great, but yet still always kind of being the "second guy", always have that thought in the back of the mind that they'd like to run things 100% their way.

 

Think of it is ego if you will. Everybody, no matter who you are, has one. And the more the Ravens keep giving him raises, guaranteeing him his job, etc., the more that ego is fed.

 

At some point, I wouldn't blame him one bit if he decides that he wants to see just how good he is and become the top guy. Not saying its happening this season or even in the near future, but at some point playing the waiting game to see when Ozzie is going to retire might become tiresome, and it could ultimately become costly.

 

GMs, like many other positions in the NFL, are generally linked to on-field success. If the Ravens suddenly become a less-successful franchise, DeCosta's stock probably drops, and he may never get a GM job. People take for granted certain things, and sometimes it comes back to bite them.

That's very true...  I know a few people like that.....  They wouldn't be happy unless they are "running the show".

[izvoodoo]

This is what he has stated time and time again...  that and his kids are school aged and he didn't want to uproot them either.

Yeah, a lot of time we see people only in terms of football and not in terms of the rest of their life.  I think he's really happy here, and working for Steve Bisciotti is a lot better than having virtually no job security in NY.  I'm not saying it's impossible but I don't think he's really feeling it.

[52520Andrew]

Jets making a push for him, hopefully we can keep him around

[rmw10]

And the speculation is over...

Albert Breer ‏@AlbertBreer 20m20 minutes ago

Both Ravens asst GM Eric DeCosta and Vikings asst GM George Paton have told teams they are staying put. So 2 off the market, for now.