NFL Hot Seat: Thomas Dimitroff Starting To Sweat

Sep 3, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff on the field before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Head coaches won’t be the only ones feeling the sweat trickle down their faces on the NFL hot seat with January approaching.  Several general managers also sit at risk of losing their jobs.  Who among them should be the most nervous?

Thomas Dimitroff (Atlanta Falcons)

At one point this team was yards away from going to the Super Bowl back in 2012.  It’s amazing to see how far the Atlanta Falcons have fallen in just three years.  Matt Ryan looks like a shell of the player he was and their defense hasn’t shown enough improvement under Dan Quinn.  This has brought up a question of diminished talent, putting the crosshairs squarely on Thomas Dimitroff.

Seat:  Hot

Ray Farmer (Cleveland Browns)

One of three outcomes are expected with the Cleveland Browns as the team hurtles towards yet another top 5 pick in the draft.  Either head coach Mike Pettine goes, GM Ray Farmer goes or they both go.  Farmer has had a tumultuous tenure in Cleveland ranging from questionable picks at questionable times as well as the texting to the sideline incident that got him suspended.  Faith in him has hit rock bottom.  Could a new head coach rescue him or is it too late?

Seat:  Hot

Ruston Webster (Tennessee Titans)

The only thing that needs to be said about Tennessee Titans GM Ruston Webster is that the team has not made the playoffs once in four seasons.  In fact things have gotten steadily worse since he took the job in 2012.  Last year they bottomed out at 2-14 and they’re just 3-10 so far this season.  While the drafting hasn’t been terrible, the lack of superstar talent is evident.  Webster will have to answer for that unless his team can finish strong.

Seat:  Hot

Rick Smith (Houston Texans)

On paper, it doesn’t make much sense.  The Houston Texans are supposed to have a pretty strong roster yet continue to falter against good teams.  That reflects poorly on GM Rick Smith primarily due to one reason:  mismanagement at the quarterback position.  Since taking over in 2006, the Texans have had no fewer than nine different starters at QB.  They have two playoff victories in that span to show for it.  Smith can’t hide forever.

Seat:  Warm

Ryan Grigson (Indianapolis Colts)

For the second-straight week, the Indianapolis Colts were humiliated on the field by more than 34 points.  Despite their three-straight playoff runs, it’s become apparent that their roster lacks the talent and depth to survive the injury turmoil happening at quarterback.  Without Andrew Luck they’ve begun to get exposed.  They can run.  They can’t play defense.

That inability to even hang in games falls on the shoulders of GM Ryan Grigson, who has made a number of iffy personnel decisions over the past couple seasons.

Seat:  Warm

Jerry Reese (New York Giants)

Where would the New York Giants be right now without Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr.?  It has basically been the play of that duo that keeps this franchise afloat in an ugly NFC East.  The once loaded rosters this team boasted seven or eight years ago has slowly deteriorated to mediocrity.  GM Jerry Reese deserves blame for that.

Since taking over for Ernie Acorsi in 2007, his team has gone from winning double digit games every year to finishing under .500 back-to-back years.  They’re in danger of doing so again.  The only way Reese avoids the glare of blame is if they somehow make the playoffs.

Seat:  Warm