Author's Note This is a new series that I am doing interviewing different GMs in the SFL. As this is the first edition, in the future questions and formats may change. Today we interview two familiar rivals from the NFC East. Our favorite commissioner, and owner of one of the youngest up and coming teams, Will Cook, and the reigning, defending, NFC EAST Champion, Bryan Mellon.
What is your biggest regret so far as your tenure as GM?
I had to think this one over because I didn?t want to blame my largest move without thinking of all the other. After considering everything though, I?d say it was the move to get RB Clinton Portis. I had RB Stephen Davis who was an absolute beast. He?d run guys over however he was getting long in the tooth. We sent picks 1.18, 2.10 & 5.30 plus our future 1st, 3rd & 5th in addition to our starting FS Bhawoh Jue WR?s and more importantly our two starting WR?s Darrell Jackson and Rod Gardner. We received Portis but also SS Tank Williams, WR?s Derrick Mason and Drew Bennet. SS Tank Williams was an important part of the deal for me and while we received two good WR?s we traded them for 2nd and 3rd round picks. While Portis has put up some great stats the team has struggled at times and I would be in just as good of a spot with Stephen Davis. The trade was so complicated it?ll probably never really be able to break it down the way I want. On top of that, a few days before the trade I reached out to AC the Chargers GM about LaDainian Tomlinson. I would have offered the same type of mega trade to land LT. AC?s response was ?Keeping him?. To make matters worse AC traded him to Will Cook and the Cowboys right before I did the Portis trade for much less than what I would have given. While I play the evil ?Dick? GM I didn?t really respond much when AC told me about the potential Dallas trade. Could I have made the move and offered more having LT be a Redskin and not a Cowboy, possibly but I did that once in the NAFL with QB Joe Flacco and sort of felt bad about it. I?m not sure Will Cook even knew the LT trade story until just now. So anyways that?s how complicated the Portis trade is/was and will continue to be for a couple season and why it?s my biggest regret.
What move that you've made has been the biggest WIN in your tenure as GM?
Some may not agree but signing free agent WR Eric Moulds to a max deal. In my opinion this was a great move. It gave me the much needed superstar WR1 and cost 0 draft picks. It made the team?s salary a bit rough this season but it was manageable. Next year is going to be the tough year as I have a big cap hit but so far Moulds have been great. I?ll also be able to have what amounts to a restructure on him as he?ll be my team?s restricted free agent in the off season. I?ll get him for the minimum contract as I doubt someone is going to give me a future 1st round pick in compensation for him. If they do, then my max deal for him was even better as it landed me a star WR for 1 year and a future first round pick.
What single player from your team do you have the biggest connection to and/or is your favorite. That?s an easy one; ?Big Daddy? Dan Wilkinson. He went to Ohio State and then was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, my home town team. He was drafted in the 1994 NFL draft. I went to a couple Ohio State lineman camps in Columbus while Wilkinson was there with Coach John Cooper. I got to know Wilkinson pretty well by his senior season which was my junior high school season. During the last camp I got to stay the night in his dorm room. We went to a party, an Ohio State party and I took part in doing what college happens at college party?s (got drunk, may have even took part in smoking of the Devil?s lettuce) and then went with a group of OSU football players for a late dinner at The Thurman Caf? which is a hot place to go right off campus. Wilkinson is a big reason I took the Redskins in the SFL team draft. It?s also a reason I restructured him to where he?ll retire a Redskin.
What are 3 words you would use to describe your season up to this point? Weather F?ing Matters
Who is your biggest rival in the SFL and why will you beat them next time you play them? Will Cook and the Dallas Cowboys. Yes.
If you had to root for one team that wasn't your own, who would your root for, and why It?s a tie: St Louis Rams and San Fran 49?ers. Justin has beat me twice in the playoffs in close games. A tackle here or there versus him in the playoffs and I could have been the 2002 Champion. Peter got screwed over in Flacco gate back in the NAFL and I?ve felt bad ever since. These are two of the newer guys in our community (along with Brandon of the Bills) however they had added so much to the league. I?m really impressed with them and what they?ve added. They are also two guys who I enjoy PM?ing back and forth. They hate Will Cook even more than I do. We talk a lot about Will behind his back. It?s great.
Now the stage is yours. Use this time to tell us anything you want. Thank you for your time.
I?ll take the time to say thanks to you Brady. You?ve done a great job with managing new thins with Discord. I?m an old guy who isn?t up to speed with the technology and never heard of Discord other than it had a City of Heros channel before the SFL. It?s made communicating much more efficient.
What is your biggest regret so far as your tenure as GM? (Release, trade, draft pick, etc) Not really many, so far. But, if I had to choose one, it would be giving up on Pisa Tinoisamoa after one season and trading him to Philadelphia. My strategy told me to, but looking back, I shouldn't have listened to the script on that one.
What move that you've made has been the biggest WIN in your tenure as GM? Acquiring LaDainian Tomlinson from a lower price than the Washington Redskins had offered a few days earlier. I'm not as bullish on him as a player as I was before, but knowing I got him for significantly less than other GMs, including division opponents, were willing to pay is a win in my eyes.
What single player from your team do you have the biggest connection to and/or is your favorite. Most would probably think it's Andre Johnson, as he was the start of our rebuilding process, but it's actually center Andre Gurode. I highly value the center position, as you can't position change into it and a young athletic center goes a long way in my books. It would take a lot for me to not re-sign him and/or ever trade him.
What are 3 words you would use to describe your season up to this point? We're there already?
Who is your biggest rival in the SFL and why will you beat them next time you play them? I mean, please, this one is obvious. It's Bryan Mellon and the Washington Redskins, because he talks a big game for being such a soft teddy bear. And why will I beat them next time? I can't guarantee I will -- but sooner or later I'll be beating him twice and year and will chase him out of the division because it's too tough.
If you had to root for one team that wasn't your own, who would your root for, and why? The New Orleans Saints. They're run by a veteran GM that rarely gets mentioned for awards and he's consistently gotten his teams to perform above the expected. I'd love to see him get a ring.
Now the stage is yours. Use this time to tell us anything you want. Thank you for your time. Make America's Team Great Again
