2012 NFL Draft: 6 Teams That Need to Change Decision-Makers Before the Draft

Yes, I realize that the Seattle Seahawks squeaked into the playoffs last season and beat the then-defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. I also realize that crazy things happen in the NFL and that Marshawn Lynch had one of the more memorable rumbles down the field in recent memory.

But come on now, first Charlie Whitehurst and now Travaris Jackson as his choice for starting quarterback? Explain to me why he would opt for Travaris Jackson over Matt Hasselback.

Pete Carroll tried to transition to the NFL once and failed. Now on his second stint at the pro level, he has consistently been mediocre during his first year-and-a-half in Seattle.

The Seahawks are 4-6 and would probably be tied for first place if it weren't for the San Francisco 49ers ruining the worst division in football legacy from 2010.

Carroll's draft picks and decisions to deal picks have been questionable at best during his two years. The positive spin on his draft history thus far is that he has concentrated on the offensive line early in the draft. However, his middle-to-late round draft picks haven't produced a game-changer yet.

Although it may be premature, Carroll's teams and decision making do not illustrate the look you'd expect to see in this league. Even with the small sample size, Carroll just doesn't seem to fit.

7. Buffalo Bills: Buddy Nix

The Buffalo Bills started off hot in September and have since cooled down. A weak-armed Harvard grad at quarterback, late-round draft picks and undrafted free agents are littered throughout the starting lineups on both sides of the ball.

Give credit to Buddy Nix for putting together a competitive squad on a shoestring budget. There's a reason why the Bills sit atop the league as one of the teams with the most cap room going into 2012: they're cheap.

Then, after just under two months of football and a handful of wins, Nix and the Buffalo Bills decide to give Ryan Fitzpatrick a contract extension. The deal is worth $59 million total with $24 million guaranteed. So much for being frugal with the salary cap.

That deal pretty much sums up the definition of being short sighted. Yes, Fitzpatrick has had a productive start to the season, but that shouldn't warrant a six-year contract extension. This deal will not live up to its face value for the Buffalo Bills.

Fitzpatrick has had a decent year and played well in 2010, but by no means should he have been given that deal so soon. Now, the Bills will be tied into the deal, and even if they could get out of the contract, they still must write a $24 million dollar check.

It may seem harsh to suggest a move after one deal, but the Bills' GM made an egregious error on this one that should have fans questioning its timing.

6. Dolphins: Jeff Ireland

If you're a Miami Dolphins fan, more than likely you 100 percent agree with this choice. The Dolphins front office personnel has come under heat over the last year, and rightfully so.

Jeff Ireland took over after Bill Parcells stepped down from his position in 2010. Whether you believe that Parcells was squeezed out or not, Ireland become the beneficiary of Parcells' departure.

He has been in the draft "war room" for the Dolphins for half of a decade now, yet the Miami Dolphins still have not drafted a starting caliber quarterback. The last quarterback to be drafted by the Dolphins was Pat White in 2009 during the second round. Yeah, let that sink in.

For those of you who are wondering who exactly Pat White is and why he isn't on the Dolphins, White was a small, spread-offense quarterback from West Virginia. He got rudely introduced to the NFL with a vicious hit that led to his early retirement.

Why would you take a small, spread-offense quarterback in the second round? Would the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers or Green Bay Packers make such an erroneous error?

He was never going to be a starting quarterback in this league, and to draft a quarterback just for the wildcat system in the second round is borderline idiotic.

Ireland is not the only person in the Dolphins front office that needs to go—we'll get to another one later—but he certainly needs to be one of the first.

5. Indianapolis Colts: Chris Pollian

The Indianapolis Colts remain winless through their first 10 games of the NFL season. All because one man is not playing.

Do you see something wrong with that last statement, or is it just me?

Growing up, your mother or father would constantly remind you to explore different options in life and to not "put all your eggs in one basket." Well, apparently, Chris Pollian and the Colts didn't listen well.

We continue to witness week by week the results of building an entire team—offense and defense—around one guy. If only it were that simple.

The Colts have shown that their personnel has no character, heart or determination without their leader on the field. They still receive paychecks and call themselves professionals, yet when you watch them play, it's quite disingenuous.

The main thing that 2011 has shown the NFL is that the Colts personnel are not as talented as they seemed. That goes for both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Not a single player has raised his game to the next level and responded to the challenge.

That speaks volumes about the type of players they have drafted, and that blame must go to the Colts' GM Chris Pollian. With the nature of this violent game we all love, you cannot plan your entire team and organization around one player.

We're seeing the repercussions now. 

4. Seattle Seahawks: Pete Carroll

Yes, I realize the Seattle Seahawks squeaked into the playoffs last season and beat the then defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. I also realize that crazy things happen in the NFL and that Marshawn Lynch had one of the more memorable rumbles down the field in recent memory.

But come on now, first Charlie Whitehurst and now Travaris Jackson as his choice for starting quarterback? Explain to me why he would opt for Travaris Jackson over Matt Hasselback.

Pete Carroll tried to transition to the NFL once and failed. Now on his second stint at the pro level, he has consistently been mediocre during his first year and a half in Seattle.

The Seahawks are 4-6 and would probably be tied for first place if it weren't for the San Francisco 49ers ruining the worst division in football legacy from 2010.

Carroll's draft picks and decisions to deal picks have been questionable at best during his two years. The positive spin on his draft history thus far is that he has concentrated on the offensive line early in the draft. However, his middle-to-late round draft picks haven't produced a game-changer yet.

Although it may be premature, Carroll's teams and decision making do not illustrate the look you'd expect to see in this league. Even with the small sample size, Carroll just doesn't seem to fit.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Gene Smith

I was researching Gene Smith and the decisions he has made over the past few years only to uncover some interesting news. Smith agrees with me. He should leave the Jacksonville Jaguars after 2011.

The Jaguars offered him a contract extension and he declined it. Smith stated that

"

A contract was extended to me and I declined it...I feel like I work for one of the best organizations. I've invested a good part of my life here, but I also realize transition is a way of life in the NFL.

"

That's a nice way of saying, "Thanks, but no thanks."

Early indications seem to point toward the Jaguars taking a huge whiff drafting Blaine Gabbert in the 2011 draft. They took Gabbert as the third quarterback in the draft with the 10th overall pick.

Simply put, the Jaguars got caught up in the fear of a run on the quarterback in the first round and plucked Gabbert from the remaining pool of quarterbacks. With Andy Dalton and Cam Newton showing their NFL accolades, the Jaguars remain inept at quarterback. Gabbert does not look comfortable in the pocket whatsoever, and he has yet to show glimpses of what he could become in the future.

That's not the only reason Gene Smith should leave either. As a GM, your job is to put a winning product on the field and a product that will attract fans and fill seats. Neither of those take place in Jacksonville on a weekly basis, and Smith has realized on his own accord that it's probably best to part ways before things get worse.

2. San Diego Chargers: Norv Turner

Ah, where do you start with Norv Turner?

He took over a 14-2 team and has slowly driven that team into the ground. With three winning seasons and four seasons at .500 or greater, Turner has won three of his six playoff appearances, which is quite misleading if you only look at it on the surface.

The San Diego Chargers have the personnel and the quarterback in place to make deep runs during the playoffs, but it seems that once they progress past the first week, they stall and drop out prematurely.

There's more to the story than a few playoff losses. The Chargers play in arguably the weakest division in the AFC year in and year out. They remain the odds-on favorite every year to win it, yet they still have trouble securing a first round bye and progressing.

Phillip Rivers is the only quarterback that's considered "elite" without a Super Bowl ring, and as long as Turner is in charge, that's not likely to change.

Why?

Norv Turner's teams cannot put together a complete season. During his five-year reign in San Diego, Turner's teams have either started slow or sputtered at the end of the season, or both.

San Diego needs to part ways with its head coach and put someone in charge that can utilize the personnel adequately and make a Super Bowl run.

1. Miami Dolphins: Tony Sparano

In case you didn't know what a dead man walking looked like, just take a glance at the picture above. The entire league, the Miami Dolphins and my nine-year-old cousin could tell you with certainty that Tony Sparano's days are numbered.

Give the man some credit: he has his team fighting and playing hard for him despite a miserable start. That being said, he, along with some of his players, is auditioning for his next destination.

Sparano's teams just didn't get it done. Predictable play-calling, lack of personnel and bad game management all hampered the Dolphins ability to win games.

The only positive thing for Sparano is that the Dolphins haven't already fired him. Miami's three-game winning streak probably secured his job until the end of the season barring a catastrophic meltdown.

The bad part about a three-game winning streak is that they have now fallen behind in the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes, which remains a catch-22 for several Dolphins fans.