The NFL Network reported Monday it’s unlikely Ryan Pace will accept any interviews to leave his position as the Saints’ Director of Player Personnel.
The Chicago Bears and New York Jets had requested permission to speak with Pace about vacant general manager positions, Ian Rapoport of the league network had reported recently. But Rapoport followed up Monday morning by saying that Pace is most likely not going anywhere as he gets promoted within the Saints’ organization and General Manager Mickey Loomis handles more duties with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.
New Orleans billionaire Tom Benson owns both the Pelicans and the Saints, who were 7-9 and missed the playoffs this year. In fact, Rapoport reported, Pace shouldered more day-to-day Saints responsibilities in 2014 as Loomis did more than usual with the Pelicans.
Pace is in his 13th year of employment with the Saints, and it’s his second as the player personnel director. Coincidentally, he played football as a defensive end from 1995 to 1999 at Eastern Illinois, which is Saints coach Sean Payton’s alma mater.
Payton credits Pace frequently in news conferences whenever veteran free agents arrive and make a positive impact, and Loomis said it’s inevitable other NFL teams would attempt to poach him given his value to the Saints.
Without referring to any specific position in the NFL, while giving a media interview at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, in January 2014, Pace indicated not just any job would tempt him to leave the Saints. He cited the close relationship between the Saints’ scouting department and coaching staff as the primary reason for that, and he said such a situation doesn’t exist just anywhere in the league.
The Dolphins last year tried to interview Pace for a general manager job but weren’t granted permission to. Pace’s contract is due to expire this year, so the Saints couldn’t block any interviews he’d want to happen. However, he does have the option of choosing not to sit down with any teams seeking to interview him.
Panthers coach’s house catches fire
Carolina Panthers’ Ted Ginn (19) is knocked out of bounds by New Orleans Saints’ Kenny Vaccaro (32) as they run into Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, back, in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera’s home in Charlotte caught fire early Monday morning, two days after his team (8-8-1) defeated the Arizona Cardinals (11-6) to advance to the divisional round at No. 1 seed Seattle (12-4), according to numerous media reports. Rivera, his wife, his two brothers and their wives were all in the house at the time the blaze began but got out unharmed, and the pets in the home were all rescued safely, media reports said.
That all occurred only a few weeks after Panthers quarterback Cam Newton was hurt in a car accident near the team’s stadium and administrative offices.
The Saints split their two meetings with Rivera and the Panthers in 2014, winning 28-10 at Charlotte on Oct. 30 and losing 41-10 in New Orleans on Dec. 7.