Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio was a late addition to the Miami Dolphins' general manager search Friday, and by Saturday, after two interviews, he was offered the job over the other "finalists" the Dolphins had rounded up for weekend meetings.
Caserio respectfully declined, via multiple media reports. But that doesn't mean he didn't get anything out of it.
The Miami Herald's Adam Beasley tweeted the following late Saturday night:
"Person in the know I just got off the phone with told me Caserio was underpaid by the Patriots -- and presumably just got himself a raise."Beasley's report confirmed skeptics' suspicions regarding Caserio getting thrown into the "finalist" mix at the 11th hour. He was basically using the Dolphins' interviews as a bargaining chip with the Patriots, and he probably didn't really consider leaving New England to begin with.
It's not an uncommon tactic, but it's another slap in the face of an organization that can't even give the job away (five declined interviews and one offer turned down, per Armando Salguero).
The Dolphins, who still stand as the only team without a general manager, are now reportedly down to Tennessee Titans vice president of player personnel Lake Dawson, Dolphins assistant general manager Brian Gaine and Tampa Bay Buccaneers director of player personnel Dennis Hickey as the last men standing -- or at least the last men willing to stand.
We'll see where this goes in the next day or two.
Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily
