Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, I salute you

@"supafreak84" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: I think he brings a fresh perspective that is needed. He will get input from scouts.

Here are some examples of coaches and executives who played football. They didn't have much football experience. Also the experience was some time ago for a couple of them. 

Belichick has a Bachelors degree in Economics. He played football and lacrosse at Wesleyan University. Some seriously competitive football. He played in the early 70's. 

Shanahan caught 14 passes at University of Texas at Austin. 14 passes?

McVay had 34 receptions at Miami of Ohio. 

Polian played for the NYU Violets. Degree in History. Successful executive.

It depends on the personality regarding leadership. When it comes to coaching, football experience can be helpful. As an executive, not as much. 

This can be spun a million different ways. I can go on about the GM's of these coaches you mentioned having at the very least played at the college level (Lynch being a Hall of Famer). Mensah never played, went to Princeton and was a stock trader before getting on with the 49ers as a research guy and numbers cruncher. He may end up being the greatest thing since sliced bread but that's a huge leap of faith to put someone with a background like that in charge of building a championship roster. No personal experience playing the game and no real scouting experience. Wilfs would really be rolling the dice here. And again, I hope this is more about winning football games then the Wilfs receiving kudos and pats on the back from the commissioner and Stephen A Smith for the hire. I look at the resumes of some of these other people we interviewed for the GM job and someone like John Spytek's absolutely blows Mensah's out of the water completely. So really hoping this is about picking the best person for the job and not about skin color since we've had two "white guys" in those positions the last 8 years and now changing it up due to the political climate in Minneapolis. Hate to say it..but it smells like that is a possibility. 

@"AGRforever" said:

@"supafreak84" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: I think he brings a fresh perspective that is needed. He will get input from scouts.

Here are some examples of coaches and executives who played football. They didn't have much football experience. Also the experience was some time ago for a couple of them. 

Belichick has a Bachelors degree in Economics. He played football and lacrosse at Wesleyan University. Some seriously competitive football. He played in the early 70's. 

Shanahan caught 14 passes at University of Texas at Austin. 14 passes?

McVay had 34 receptions at Miami of Ohio. 

Polian played for the NYU Violets. Degree in History. Successful executive.

It depends on the personality regarding leadership. When it comes to coaching, football experience can be helpful. As an executive, not as much. 

This can be spun a million different ways. I can go on about the GM's of these coaches you mentioned having at the very least played at the college level (Lynch being a Hall of Famer). Mensah never played, went to Princeton and was a stock trader before getting on with the 49ers as a research guy and numbers cruncher. He may end up being the greatest thing since sliced bread but that's a huge leap of faith to put someone with a background like that in charge of building a championship roster. No personal experience playing the game and no real scouting experience. Wilfs would really be rolling the dice here. And again, I hope this is more about winning football games then the Wilfs receiving kudos and pats on the back from the commissioner and Stephen A Smith for the hire. I look at the resumes of some of these other people we interviewed for the GM job and someone like John Spytek's absolutely blows Mensah's out of the water completely. So really hoping this is about picking the best person for the job and not about skin color since we've had two "white guys" in those positions the last 8 years and now changing it up due to the political climate in Minneapolis. Hate to say it..but it smells like that is a possibility. 

Theres loads of people to choose from. Black, white, brown and orobably every shade in between. If we’re going to start not seeing color then we need to start not seeing it. I doubt the color of the guys skin had any difference in the choice. If he can bring a new spin to an old job, I rhink thats great. 

If Spytek is such a superior prospect, why didn't every team interview him?

Minnesota was the only franchise to bring him in.

I'm sure media praise is high on the Wilfs list for running a billion dollar enterprise.

Jfc.

@"supafreak84" said:

@"AGRforever" said:

@"supafreak84" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: I think he brings a fresh perspective that is needed. He will get input from scouts.

Here are some examples of coaches and executives who played football. They didn't have much football experience. Also the experience was some time ago for a couple of them. 

Belichick has a Bachelors degree in Economics. He played football and lacrosse at Wesleyan University. Some seriously competitive football. He played in the early 70's. 

Shanahan caught 14 passes at University of Texas at Austin. 14 passes?

McVay had 34 receptions at Miami of Ohio. 

Polian played for the NYU Violets. Degree in History. Successful executive.

It depends on the personality regarding leadership. When it comes to coaching, football experience can be helpful. As an executive, not as much. 

This can be spun a million different ways. I can go on about the GM's of these coaches you mentioned having at the very least played at the college level (Lynch being a Hall of Famer). Mensah never played, went to Princeton and was a stock trader before getting on with the 49ers as a research guy and numbers cruncher. He may end up being the greatest thing since sliced bread but that's a huge leap of faith to put someone with a background like that in charge of building a championship roster. No personal experience playing the game and no real scouting experience. Wilfs would really be rolling the dice here. And again, I hope this is more about winning football games then the Wilfs receiving kudos and pats on the back from the commissioner and Stephen A Smith for the hire. I look at the resumes of some of these other people we interviewed for the GM job and someone like John Spytek's absolutely blows Mensah's out of the water completely. So really hoping this is about picking the best person for the job and not about skin color since we've had two "white guys" in those positions the last 8 years and now changing it up due to the political climate in Minneapolis. Hate to say it..but it smells like that is a possibility. 

Theres loads of people to choose from. Black, white, brown and orobably every shade in between. If we’re going to start not seeing color then we need to start not seeing it. I doubt the color of the guys skin had any difference in the choice. If he can bring a new spin to an old job, I rhink thats great. 

Again compare his resume to Spyteks. I think the fact that Spielman and Wilf were white, George Floyd happened, and that Minneapolis is a hugely liberal state...it would be a huge coup for the Wilfs to hire only the 3rd black GM currently in the league. All the pundits will praise them for it for nothing more then skin color....but what will the results ultimately be on the football field? So yes I think the fact that Mensah is black played a role in him getting GM interviews at this relatively young point in his career because his actual football experience is limited. The league is pushing this exact kind of thing in the name of "inclusion." I just hope the Wilfs make the choice for what's in the best interest of the franchise and not in the best interest of what they view as social justice. 

Just when I thought it couldn't get any more grotesque.

@"JustinTime18™" said: If Spytek is such a superior prospect, why didn't every team interview him?

Minnesota was the only franchise to bring him in.

I'm sure media praise is high on the Wilfs list for running a billion dollar enterprise.

Jfc.

@"Rigby" said:

@"Caactorvike" said: God I hope so, VG!  He sounds like Ted Lasso to me. Loved that show but it’s a fantasy. I’m glad he has a sense of humor and good people skills but can he evaluate talent? The whole Poles-to-Bears thing reminds me of the year we got leaped over in the draft by a couple of teams and then drafted Kevin Williams —saying he was our choice all along. I hope Kwesi Adofo Mensah turns out to be just as great a choice. I’m totally willing to climb on board but it’s a great leap of faith!

Agreed.     P.S. We enjoyed your work on The Rookie this week.

@"Vikergirl" said: Just when I thought it couldn't get any more grotesque.

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"supafreak84" said:

@"AGRforever" said:

@"supafreak84" said:

@"Vikergirl" said: I think he brings a fresh perspective that is needed. He will get input from scouts.

Here are some examples of coaches and executives who played football. They didn't have much football experience. Also the experience was some time ago for a couple of them. 

Belichick has a Bachelors degree in Economics. He played football and lacrosse at Wesleyan University. Some seriously competitive football. He played in the early 70's. 

Shanahan caught 14 passes at University of Texas at Austin. 14 passes?

McVay had 34 receptions at Miami of Ohio. 

Polian played for the NYU Violets. Degree in History. Successful executive.

It depends on the personality regarding leadership. When it comes to coaching, football experience can be helpful. As an executive, not as much. 

This can be spun a million different ways. I can go on about the GM's of these coaches you mentioned having at the very least played at the college level (Lynch being a Hall of Famer). Mensah never played, went to Princeton and was a stock trader before getting on with the 49ers as a research guy and numbers cruncher. He may end up being the greatest thing since sliced bread but that's a huge leap of faith to put someone with a background like that in charge of building a championship roster. No personal experience playing the game and no real scouting experience. Wilfs would really be rolling the dice here. And again, I hope this is more about winning football games then the Wilfs receiving kudos and pats on the back from the commissioner and Stephen A Smith for the hire. I look at the resumes of some of these other people we interviewed for the GM job and someone like John Spytek's absolutely blows Mensah's out of the water completely. So really hoping this is about picking the best person for the job and not about skin color since we've had two "white guys" in those positions the last 8 years and now changing it up due to the political climate in Minneapolis. Hate to say it..but it smells like that is a possibility. 

Theres loads of people to choose from. Black, white, brown and orobably every shade in between. If we’re going to start not seeing color then we need to start not seeing it. I doubt the color of the guys skin had any difference in the choice. If he can bring a new spin to an old job, I rhink thats great. 

Again compare his resume to Spyteks. I think the fact that Spielman and Wilf were white, George Floyd happened, and that Minneapolis is a hugely liberal state...it would be a huge coup for the Wilfs to hire only the 3rd black GM currently in the league. All the pundits will praise them for it for nothing more then skin color....but what will the results ultimately be on the football field? So yes I think the fact that Mensah is black played a role in him getting GM interviews at this relatively young point in his career because his actual football experience is limited. The league is pushing this exact kind of thing in the name of "inclusion." I just hope the Wilfs make the choice for what's in the best interest of the franchise and not in the best interest of what they view as social justice. 

Interesting you say that, it is 1/2 true and how we're known across the country. 

Mpls/St Paul and their surrounding burbs (Hennepin and Ramsey Counties) are liberal and have the bulk of what little ethnicity there is here. Its the bulk of population too. 

Whites are almost 83%. I remember back in my corporate days, it was difficult to recruit and retain multicultural talent. 

The rural areas?  They're white as wonderbread and conservative as Pence.

@"Purplewhizz" said:

@"supafreak84" said: Its a huge leap of faith hiring someone who's never played pro football, never been a scout, and who's background is economics and analytics. Hoping the Wilfs are more interested in winning games then collecting pats on the back from the commissioner with this hire and they know what they are doing. I'll get behind whomever they end up hiring, but count me as super skeptical if it's Mensah. 

Matt Millen played a lot of football

@"Vikergirl" said: Just when I thought it couldn't get any more grotesque.

I haven't even looked to where it went political in this thread and don't care to. Back to the point....

Anyone wonder why nothing has been announced? 

Hard to say.

My guess is roles and responsibilities were laid out in the first interview.

$$$ perhaps?

@"JustinTime18™" said: Hard to say.

My guess is roles and responsibilities were laid out in the first interview.

$$$ perhaps?

Maybe not enough Pokemon cards in the nerd starter pack?

@"JustinTime18™" said: Maybe not enough Pokemon cards in the nerd starter pack?

@"StickyBun" said: I haven't even looked to where it went political in this thread and don't care to. Back to the point....

Anyone wonder why nothing has been announced? 

I couldn't get on here yesterday, but looking at all the posts/threads the fans be like this is a done deal...

It obviously isnt yet. 

@"StickyBun" said:

@"JustinTime18™" said: Hard to say.

My guess is roles and responsibilities were laid out in the first interview.

$$$ perhaps?

Yep, hard to know. I'd guess money.....its usually about the money. 

I really like this description of Kwesi 

I don’t read the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah possibility as a radical shift to analytics, but more a highly intelligent, collaborative leader who can blend data and scouting into strategic decisions. It isn’t just the data, it’s knowing how to leverage it.

— nfldraftnik (@KevinBrownNFL) January 26, 2022