In the days after the Browns fired G.M. Tom Heckert, word emerged that the Browns requested permission to interview Vikings assistant G.M. George Paton.
But an interview never happened.
There are two different versions in league circles as to what happened. One source says that Paton passed. Another source says that the Vikings declined permission.
The latter suggests that the Browns’ General Manager position won’t entail, at least on paper, final say over the roster. If it did, the Vikings couldn’t have blocked either the interview or the hire.
There’s a chance, we suppose, that both the Vikings declined and Paton wasn’t interested.
Still, there’s now a valid question in Cleveland, especially since new coach Rob Chudzinski doesn’t have personnel experience: Who will have final say when it comes to picking players?