 Hickey (Courtesy Buccaneers) |
Dennis Hickey was selected general manager of the Miami Dolphins. Media reports arose Sunday of the decision that ended a protracted hunt to replace Jeff Ireland.
Coached by Joe Philbin, the Dolphins finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, the longest such stretch in franchise history.
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The campaign was marred by a bullying scandal involving guard Richie Incognito and tackle Jonathan Martin. Incognito was suspended in November for the alleged mistreatment of Martin, left the team in October.
Hickey's hiring now turns the team's attention to the 2014 NFL Draft, which begins on May 8. The Dolphins have the 19th overall pick.
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Hickey joins the Dolphins after being director of player personnel for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He spent 18 years with the team, but CBS Sports reported he might have been on the way out under new GM Jason Licht.
Owner Stephen Ross and his confidants had culled a list of about eight men for the Dolphins job. Hickey was the choice, the Miami Herald reported, after weekend interviews that included New England Patriots exec Nick Caserio.
Calling Hickey a dark horse candidate, the Palm Beach Post confirmed the hiring — but said he got the job only after other candidates, including Licht, turned it down.
Ray Farmer, once a front-runner, bowed out last week to stay with the Cleveland Browns. Caserio and Lake Dawson, both of whom had weekend interviews, also said no to Ross, the Post reported. Other candidates with more sterling credentials refused to meet with Ross and his crew, the Post said.
Among the rejected candidates: current assistant GM Brian Gaine, who worked under Ireland. Matt Higgins and executive vice president of football administration Dawn Aponte helping the owner with the screening process.
Hickey, 43, became the Bucs' personnel director in 2011.
Dawson, a Tennessee Titans exec, pulled out because he didn't see the Dolphins job as the right fit. passed on an opportunity to become General Manager of the Miami Dolphins because he didn’t think the job was an ideal fit.
Ross "is a great owner, he's passionate and he wants to win," Dawson told The Tennessean newspaper of Nashville. "But the details of the offer didn't align with my vision."
Caserio, the Patriots' director of player personnel, told the Dolphins no on Saturday after apparently being the hot choice, NFL.com reported.