Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik Snubbed For Executive of the Year Award

Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik got consideration for NFL Executive of the Year, but that’s all.

The Falcons’ Thomas Dimitroff won the award for the second time in three years, somehow topping Dominik’s turnaround of the 3-13 Buccaneers from 2009.

Dominik’s notable offseason moves include snagging Syracuse wide receiver Mike Williams in the fourth round of the draft and claiming running back LeGarrette Blount off waivers. Williams fell just short of 1,000 receiving yards and Blount just topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2010 despite not receiving double-digit carries until Week 7.

Not only were the two riddled with red flags from previous behavioral issues—Williams' alleged quitting on his team as a senior and Blount’s infamous slugging of a Boise State player—they were also both Rookie of the Year finalists.

Eight of the Buccaneers’ nine draft picks started in 2010. Not to mention the Buccaneers sent eight starters to injured reserve this season, 13 total.

Many thought head coach Raheem Morris got snubbed for NFL Coach of the Year, which went to the New England Patriots’ Bill Belichick. And those who feel that way are likely right. But Dominik’s snub is equally puzzling.

After all, together, Morris and Dominik took a putrid 3-13 team and glossed them into a 10-6 team that just missed out on a playoff spot in perhaps the toughest division in football with the 11-5 New Orleans Saints and the 13-3 Falcons.

Oh, and by the way, a little team called the Green Bay Packers, now Super Bowl champions once again, claimed that last playoff spot just ahead of the young Bucs.

At least Morris and Dominik can take solace in this: Morris is 34 years old and Dominik is just 39. As one of the youngest head coach/general manager tandems in the league and with the youngest team in the NFL, they’ll both have plenty more shots at their respective awards.

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