Mark Dominik Puts Head On Chopping Block
April 16th, 2010
"I'm wondering, if my draft bombs next week, if Pawlowski would want to do a radio show with me?"
Joe has mentioned the following before, that the Bucs — specifically general manager Mark Dominik — have put so much emphasis in next week’s draft, that they have painted themselves into a corner.
If any of the first three picks next week turn out to be the bad Dexter Jackson-like flops, Dominik might want to start checking local high schools to see if there are any openings for an athletic director.
It appears even Dominik senses this. Speaking to Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune yesterday, Dominik spoke of how his job security may ride on what triggers he pulls next week.
Having staked the foreseeable future largely on how his team of talent evaluators performs, Dominik said he thinks he will face dire consequences should the Bucs fail to select successfully.
“If this draft class doesn’t succeed, I probably don’t either,” Dominik said Thursday.
Interesting statement from Dominik. More intriguing is that this is not the first time he’s talked about his job security.
Last fall, while appearing on “Movin’ the Chains” on Sirius NFL Radio with co-hosts Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan, Dominik admitted he thought he was out of a job when Bruce Almighty fell on his sword last year, refusing to follow Team Glazers’ orders to fire Chucky. Dominik noted how Bruce Almighty had trained him to be his right hand man.
During the same appearance, Dominik also confessed he was taking a huge “gamble” on re-signing blocking icon Micheal Clayton.
Could it be that Dominik’s decisions in the past year, many being costly swings and misses, have already resulted in a Come-to-Moses meeting with Team Glazer?
Even if Joel Glazer’s recent vote of confidence of Dominik was sincere, as many have pointed out, putting all your eggs in one basket (draft) is dangerous.
That’s why Joe still tosses and turns at night in disbelief Dominik wouldn’t send a fifth round pick for Santonio Holmes.
Here’s to hoping that Dominik putting all his chips into this draft is a far more successful gamble than the wager he placed on blocking icon Clayton.
April 16th, 2010 at 10:04 am
I think he’ll do fine, but as for the Clayton decision – my 8 yr old could see the man can’t catch. “Dad, why can’t he catch those? Did it hit him in a bad spot?” “Yes son, his hands.”
April 16th, 2010 at 10:17 am
he made so many bad moves last year im not sure of him hitting a home run on this draft , signing nugent to a 2.5 million contract when not one other team was after him and we could of signed him for 500 k , signing leftwich and trading mccown, crowell, clayton , ward not upgrading the d-line at all ill be shocked if dominik has a good draft im hoping but doubting it will happen
April 16th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Dominik also said money not an issue. Let the “liar” chorus begin!
April 16th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Have to give him credit for being straightforward about it.
Id be trying to glue something together in FA or trades to save my ass. But, it looks like we are dealing with a true believer.
April 16th, 2010 at 10:30 am
“Come-to-Moses meeting with Team Glazer”
nice one
April 16th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
That must be one of the most obvious statements in the history of mankind. Mark D. is hinging EVERYTHING on this draft. And he’s taking advice from some of the same scouting people that didn’t do that great for the Gruden/Allen regime. Yeah this is going to really turn out great.
I am both very excited and very fearful on how this draft will turn out. It is kinda like going to a horror movie. We will see.
April 16th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Mark has worked for this group of owners for a long time. Each G.M. that has come thru the door has kept him in place and advanced him in the organization. Sure he most likely thought that his job was in peril when they let Allen go….as did many others I would guess.
The fact that he was retained is a sign that the folks that write the check believe that he can do this job. Bruce and Chucky gambled on many a player and lost…It seem that Mark only stated the obivous when he said he is tied to this draft. I for one like the preperation he has put into this. I believe we are going in the right direction…Go Bucs !!!
April 16th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Eric S — there has been some reporting that the Bucs actually have fairly capable scouts and that Gruden/Allen ran the show, so the past picks fall on them not the scouts. Way to early to tell but the first draft without Gru/Allen lloked pretty good. Further, it has been reported that Dominik brought in a consultant that scout the Bucs current players (to get out outsider’s view of exisitng talent) and to independntly scout the top college players. So, probably not totallly accurate to say he is taking advice from the same people.
April 16th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Regardless, it’s an honest assessment of the situation.
At some point, it’s worth acknowledging it. Otherwise, do everything in your power to not make it so…
April 16th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
I think he is doing what he can with what he has, Player wise id say he is still looking for Players who fit what the bucs want. And to see what we have, in our locker from another’s perspective is very perceptive. Clayton well we will see when he gets cut, not a great move signing him. I’m looking forward to see what we do do on draft day, i think Dom/Rah will be fine, last years draft was not bad in my eyes we have a good DT in Miller he can play a good looking QB like we have not ever seen here on our team at least. If we are lucky enough to land another DT WR in 1st or 2nd round we will be much better.
we are getting younger and thats better to me.
Good luck
April 16th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
If we are taking the “eggs in one basket pproach,” Dummynick may not be around to see the end results hatch. I can’t think of one rookie WR (except for – believe it or not) Michael Clanghands come in to the league in thier first year and make a big impact. Same goes for defensive lineman. Warren Sapp didn’t blossom until his third year. We can expect to see more of the same on defense this year since the team has refused to go after any experienced DL and seem on the verge of letting our sack leader Jimmy Wilkerson go to an interconference rival. The Dummy made one good move last year due to Dungy disciple Lovie Smith being more stupid than the Dummy. How inept can you be. The Perter Principal of rising to the highest level of incompetence is surely at work here.