NFL Notes: GMs, Cowboys, Redskins, Saints

GMs

Jason La Canfora writes that the archetype of an NFL general manager has changed from the  “super-scout” type to a more of a business-like CEO.

La Canfora cites an anonymous high-ranking NFL executive that agrees about the culture change of general managers.

“These owners want to have a guy leading football operations who they can relate to,” said an NFL executive. “They want someone who looks the part and is comfortable interacting with every department in the building. They want someone who looks like they came from the corporate world and who can speak their language and who is willing to meet sponsors and help on the business side. They want someone who is smooth with the agents and has more of a background in negotiating and the cap. They want a personality that isn’t too volatile and doesn’t make waves with the players or the media. I’m telling you, things are changing. I’m not saying it’s for the better, but look at who has been let go this year.”

The executive added that the “days are over” for “road scout” GMs.

“They don’t want a road scout as their GM,” said the executive. “I really think those days are over. That blue-collar guy who spent all of his time looking at players and eating at Applebee’s or Chili’s or whatever — who had his spots in each college town to eat or drink and that’s what they talk about. That’s not what they’re looking at anymore. That’s not what they relate to.”

Cowboys

• News surfaced Wednesday night that Cowboys QB Zac Dysert is scheduled to have back surgery Friday and will likely miss the 2017 season. (NFLTR)
• Todd Archer reports that the Cowboys are now looking at bringing in a quarterback, but have no plans to sign either Colin Kaepernick or Johnny Manziel.
• Instead, Archer says they’ll be looking for more of a “camp arm, developmental type” as they’re still happy with Kellen Moore serving as Dak Prescott‘s backup.
• Peter King reports that Cowboys LB Jaylon Smith’s has 80 percent nerve regeneration in his left leg/ankle/foot.

Redskins

• JP Finlay of CSN Mid-Atlantic, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, reports that Redskins OLB Trent Murphy underwent surgery this offseason to repair a broken bone in his foot.
• According to Finlay, Murphy is completely healed and a full participant at training camp.

Saints

Although Saints HC Sean Payton confirmed that DT Nick Fairley (heart) is expected to miss the entire season, he would not rule out a return to the NFL for Fairley at some point.

“I would never sit at this table and use that word never,” Payton said, via Joel Erickson of The Advocate. “As we sit here today, though, we’ve prepared ourselves for him not playing this season. … The good side to that is, fortunately, this was discovered not the hard way.”

Payton added that Fairley’s heart condition is not something that can improve over time and there is no surgery that could repair it.

• Payton said Saints C Max Unger (foot) returning late in the preseason remains his goal and emphasized that the team will be smart with his recovery. (Herbie Teope)
• According to Payton, Saints LT Terron Armstead (shoulder) will return to play at some point this season. (Josh Katzenstein)
• Payton confirmed that first-round OT Ryan Ramczyk will start in place of Armstead at left tackle during training camp. (Joel Erickson)
• The Saints decision to release LB Dannell Ellerbe came down to “availability,” said Payton. Ellerbe has notably missed 17 games in two seasons and was expected to miss the first two weeks of training camp with a foot injury. (Mike Triplett)