BY SEAN DONOVAN
The Miami Dolphins have seen top candidates turn down first interview requests, second interview requests, and job offers in their search for a new general manager.
In the end, the Dolphins settled on someone not even considered for his own team's general manager opening.
As first reported by The Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, Tampa Bay Buccaneers director of player personnel Dennis Hickey has been hired as the Dolphins' next general manager. Tampa Bay last week hired Jason Licht, who earlier interviewed with Miami, to be their general manager.
Widely believed to be the result of a murky power situation between owner Stephen Ross, vice president Dawn Aponte and the next personnel executive, Miami's opening has failed to garner interest among league-wide favorites and apparently scared away finalists.
Earlier Sunday, Tennessee Titans director of player personnel Lake Dawson turned down Miami's offer for the position. New England Patriots executive Nick Caserio did the same Saturday in an apparent play for leverage with his own team.
The Titans' Brian Xanders, Cleveland Browns' Ray Farmer, Philadelphis Eagles' Tom Gamble, Seattle Seahawks' Scot McCloughan, Baltimore Ravens' Eric DeCosta and the Dolphins' Brian Gaine have all been named in connection with the vacancy, but withdrew from consideration. Hickey was mentioned as a dark horse candidate late in the process.
Hickey worked within the Buccaneers organization for 18 seasons and as director of player personnel for the past three under then-general manager Mark Dominik. In that timespan, Tampa Bay made big splashes in free agency and amassed a respectable, although underachieving, talent base.
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