Video How long will Jeff Ireland Continue his Role as Assistant Gm/College Scout Director with the Saints? (1 Viewer)

Honestly, I think he likes his position being behind the scenes and focusing only on football and he's shown he's really good at it. He's getting paid really well, doesn't have to worry about contracts, player grievances, etc., and gets to work for one of the coolest organizations in sports.

His gaffe that cost him his GM job in the first place can't really happen in his position now and I don't think he misses that part of the job.
Yeah. They actually hate the man down here in S Florida. They are mad about his success with Saints too. I laugh so hard at them.
Maybe he realized that he fulfilled the Peter principle. Everyone rises to their level of incompetency. He is great in his role here and I hope he is happy.
 
Not everyone wants to climb all the way to the top of the ladder. Some people find something they like doing along the way and are just content to stay there. In his case he's already been to the top and it didn't work out. I think he's happy doing what he's doing now.

Happiness is not defined by others, only by you.
 
I think he'll stick around as long as he's paid well.

I guess the question for me is if the organization can keep competitively paying Loomis, Payton and Ireland. Most teams only have to pay 1 GM and Head Coach to fill those roles. No cap on the front office though. It's up to Mrs. Benson.
 
I think he'll stick around as long as he's paid well.

I guess the question for me is if the organization can keep competitively paying Loomis, Payton and Ireland. Most teams only have to pay 1 GM and Head Coach to fill those roles. No cap on the front office though. It's up to Mrs. Benson.
He's worth more than we could ever have to pay him considering that as long as he keeps doing his job as well as he is the Saints will continue to be relevant year after year which only makes Mrs. B more money in the end. They seem to have finally found a front office structure that most of the league envies.
 
Sports Talk 365's New Orleans Saints Section talks about the possibility of losing Assistant General Manager/College Scout Director to another team offering him the opportunity to become a General Manager once again.


The GM role has no clear definition in the NFL and varies from team to team. Ireland enjoys a lot of leeway and carte Blanche that a lot of people with his job title do not enjoy. I don't know if he's the kind of guy that likes to chase titles, but he seems pretty content with his role and the people with whom he works. Some people work their entire careers and never get that.
 
My impression was that Payton was much more active in our drafts than setting forth the types of players we want for the systems we run. Rather, Payton singled out players he wanted regardless of the cost of acquisition. I am not in the draft room so I don't really know. But again my impression is that Ireland at times has counseled patience during the draft whereas when Sean likes a player, he favors trading up to get the player.
 
My impression was that Payton was much more active in our drafts than setting forth the types of players we want for the systems we run. Rather, Payton singled out players he wanted regardless of the cost of acquisition. I am not in the draft room so I don't really know. But again my impression is that Ireland at times has counseled patience during the draft whereas when Sean likes a player, he favors trading up to get the player.

I think the main problem was just that the scouting department sucked. We are still aggressive when we want a player, but now we have become really good at picking out these guys that are better suited for our team.
 
My earlier post did not give Ireland enough credit. He has greatly improved our college scouting. My point, perhaps poorly stated, is that he is not the ultimate decision-maker in the draft room when we make early draft picks. But he seems to have the trust of Payton and Loomis and, with one exception, seems to be on the same page as Payton. My sense is the one difference is that Ireland does not favor trading up as aggressively as Sean does (and I largely favor the more conservative approach). The case against trading up so often is that drafting is so difficult and risky that teams should want to spread their risks by drafting more players. That we have successfully targeted players in the draft (though the jury is still out on Davenport and on this forum seems to be deadlocked) is a tribute to the job Ireland has done.
 
I hope for a loooonnngggg time, to me Ireland is the main reason for the Saints turnaround. He completely revamped the scouting department....where it not for that I really believe we would have continued down the 7-9 or 8-8 path....SP has no business making the personnel decisions alone....
 
I think the main problem was just that the scouting department sucked. We are still aggressive when we want a player, but now we have become really good at picking out these guys that are better suited for our team.
Ireland retooled the scouting department, if I'm not mistaken. Another sign that he has the skills to be "the main guy" for a team. The Saints have to realize how valuable to the team's recent successes. Hopefully they do what it takes to keep him around for the long haul.
 
I hope for a loooonnngggg time, to me Ireland is the main reason for the Saints turnaround. He completely revamped the scouting department....where it not for that I really believe we would have continued down the 7-9 or 8-8 path....SP has no business making the personnel decisions alone....

I totally agree. If I had to point to one thing that has led to this turnaround it would be the hiring of Ireland. The '16 and '17 drafts are the reason the Saints have one of the most talented rosters in the league. Just look at the talent that was added in just two years:

2016

1 - Sheldon Rankins (Starter)
2 - Michael Thomas (All Pro x2, Pro Bowl x3)
2 - Vonn Bell (Starter)
4 - David Onyemata (Starter)
7 - Daniel Lasco

2017

1 - Marshon Lattimore (ROY, Pro Bowl x2)
1 - Ryan Ramczyck (All Pro x2)
2 - Marcus Williams (Starter)
3 - Alvin Kamara (ROY, All Pro, Pro Bowl x3)
3 - Alex Anzalone (Starter when healthy)
3 - Trey Hendrickson (Quality depth but has started 3 games)
6 - Al-Quadin Muhammad

So out of those 12 players drafted 10 have started games for the Saints. 11 of the 12 are still in football and 9 are still on the roster. 5 of the 12 are recognized as being a top 5-10 player at their position.
 
Not everyone wants to climb all the way to the top of the ladder. Some people find something they like doing along the way and are just content to stay there. In his case he's already been to the top and it didn't work out. I think he's happy doing what he's doing now.
They also like where they are doing it. In 2012 when New Orleans hosted the Superbowl between SF and Balt, he was still with the Dolphins, I was driving a cab at the time and he was my customer one night. IIRC I think his wife has family here. I know for sure he talked of loving the city and wanting to settle here one day either while still in FB if the oppurtunity arose (which it did) or after retirement.
 
I thought the last time this was discussed is that he essentially ran the football side of the organization while Loomis had become overseer of the whole thing? Ireland’s great skill is player acquisition and he’s being paid GM money to do just that. Loomis is smart enough to get out of the way and let the man do his thing. Payton has less control than I think a lot of people assume he does. The people involved have a good relationship, and work together well, but I always got the impression that Payton makes it very clear exactly what kind of player he needs, the skill and talent set then Ireland and the talent side find those players that fit Payton’s wants, rather than just oh you need a WR ok we will grab whoever rather than exactly what type of player the coach wants.

Sounds like a well-oiled machine to me. For older fans, it's night and day from the Mora-Kuharich-Miller days.
 
It depends on what he wants. If he wants money, then give him as much as he wants. If hes hung up on a job title, then promote him to whatever he is aspiring towards. If he wants notariety and prestige, then the Saints have a decision to make.
 

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