As we now know, the Detroit Lions have their man at GM in Bob Quinn. Not much is know about Quinn outside of New England.
So naturally after we got my opinion out there, Jeff Risdon’s opinion, Kent Platte’s opinion and of course the opinion of Twitter, it seemed like the perfect time to get the opinion of the guys that spend their time enjoying clam chowder and covering the New England Patriots. I got in touch with Cyrus Geller, the editor over at Musket Fire and Pats Pulpit Editor Rich Hill to get his thoughts on Bob Quinn. Here’s what they told me.
What’s the overall feelings on the job Bob Quinn did in New England in the 15 years he was there?
CG: 15 years, 6 Super Bowl appearances, 4 wins, the most consistent team in the league? I think those numbers speak for themselves. Obviously Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are the main reasons why New England has been so good, but Belichick values Quinn’s opinion, and he has certainly had a hand in producing the most winning NFL franchise of the 2000’s.
RH: Quinn definitely understood the Patriots system and he really did a wonderful job since becoming the Director of Pro Scouting in 2012. While he wasn’t deemed irreplaceable, he was definitely within the inner circle and had the full trust of Bill Belichick. There probably wasn’t much scouting necessary to bring in a player like Darrelle Revis, but the Patriots build their depth by adding underappreciated veterans and putting them in a position to succeed, like a Brandon LaFell or a Rob Ninkovich.
What are some of the highlight moves that Quinn helped make for the Patriots?
CG: I don’t know if you can highlight any specific moves Quinn has made, not only because he was only the director of scouting, but also because Belichick is king in Foxboro. He has the final say-so in everything the Patriots do, so while Quinn helps Belichick make these decisions, the hoodie rightfully gets most of the credit.
RH: I think his promotion in 2012 really opened up the Patriots to acquiring players from other teams in the middle of the season. The Patriots picked up cornerback Aqib Talib in 2012, linebackers Akeem Ayers and Jonathan Casillas in 2014, and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and wide receiver Keshawn Martin in 2015. All of these players have had to adjust on the fly, but they seem to take like ducks to water.
Do Patriots fans believe that Quinn will bring Josh McDaniels or Matt Patricia with him to be the head coach of the Lions?
CG: I highly doubt McDaniels or Patricia will follow him to Detroit. I think Patricia still needs a year or two before he makes the jump to head coach, and after McDaniels’ disastrous first head coaching stint in Denver, he is going to wait for the perfect situation. And to be frank, Detroit is far from that.
RH: Definitely, and I think that’s what McDaniels and Patricia would want. While Patricia probably won’t leave the organization for another couple of seasons, McDaniels knows that he only has one more shot and he wants to be in the best possible scenario. He also decided that he wasn’t going to take interviews, so he either didn’t like any of the coaching options, or he felt confident that he had an opportunity lined up. McDaniels would love to join an organization that would have a familiar front office perspective, which Quinn could provide.
Did the Lions make the right move?
CG: I believe they did. Quinn was never in the spotlight here in Foxboro, but then again, who is? He obviously knows a good player when he sees one, and now that he is on his own, hopefully everything Belichick taught him can help Quinn turn the Lions around.
RH: I think so. He’s a smart and hard working team player who was looking for a new challenge. He was considered the potential heir to the Patriots throne if Nick Caserio left to be a general manager for a different team, but the Patriots signed Caserio to a major extension to keep him around. Since that blocked any upward mobility, Quinn had to leave to get his chance. He should do a wonderful job.
I’d like thank Cyrus Geller and Rich Hill for their help on these questions. Be sure to check out Musket Fire and Pats Pulpit for all Patriots news.
