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The rising level of criticism against Ran Carthon is weird.
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The Titans fired Mike Vrabel last month, but current Titans GM Ran Carthon and Amy Adams Strunk are still receiving some heat — and a multitude of questions — for making the decision.
Well, maybe not the decision itself, but Carthon and Amy’s attempt to describe the process of firing Vrabel and how they came to a decision that can typically alter the course of an organization.
It’s understandable, since these type of decisions are obviously major and play a big part in a team’s future success.
It’s the same level of let’s say some major political power brokering over terms relating to some conflict, with the ramifications being significant either way. Or a couple of rich, power hungry corporate board members mulling over whether to fire some loser CEO.
Okay, maybe not that big, but you get the point.
We know the drill here, right?
It’s not like the Titans haven’t been down this road before, hell they’ve been down it 3 times over the past decade.
After the disastrous hiring of Ken Whisenhunt, ownership was in a frenzy, with chairman Tommy Smith spiraling out of power, with it ultimately going to current owner Amy Adams Strunk. A hoard of questions were asked then, with direction pretty much invisible, and dysfunction at an all time high.
Mike Mularkey, his firing, and the extra questions that were asked after his foundation was seemingly dismissed after revitalizing a franchise that felt useless at one time. Questions were asked then, but there was a sense that the firing made sense because of Mularkey’s “ancient” running of the offense.
It made more sense after reports emerged about Mularkey’s loyalty to then OC Terry Robiskie.
Now we’re at a similar road with Vrabel, but this time questions were blared and continue to be blared with a siren that could deafen anyone with a working pair of ears.
“Did Vrabel deserve it?”, “Carthon and Amy made a mistake”, “Carthon’s presser was a disaster” blah blah, right?
But we’re nearing a point where these little eggs of criticism, feel like nothing but blind dart throws in the dark hoping to hit a bullseye that….isn’t even there.
I get that they’re just attempts to stir controversy in a time where news can be a bit slow for some teams, especially during the Super Bowl cooldown time.
Take some recent words from [insert name of popular Nashville sports radio host] for example, which includes said radio host’s personal problem with Carthon not attending the Senior Bowl — even while Carthon was attempting to help Brian Callahan finalize his coaching staff.
Maybe a column released just a few days ago, glossing over Carthon and how the team “wants you to like Ran Carthon”, citing assistant GM Chad Brinker’s constant praise for Carthon. With the column coming across as doubtful of the new man in charge, even with other details proving why there should be opposite feelings.
It all feels pointless.
I’m not one to sit here and cap for a GM that of course:
Hasn’t been on the job for long
Hasn’t proven a whole lot just yet
Someone I don’t know personally
Someone I’ll probably never sit down and have a long discussion with (not because I hate the guy, but because of other reasons, like me not even getting near the chance to do such a thing lol)
If I did, then I’d come across as unprofessional and biased, which would be a problem, right?
I’m merely saying this based off my own observations.
If you were to say Carthon hasn’t proven he’s 100% the right man for the job, you’d be right. If you were to say all of his moves haven’t worked out yet, you’d be right again.
But that’s why we don’t judge a GM, or better yet even a head coach, off of one total year on the job.
Unless you’re like Ken Whisenhunt or some other coach/executive that completely bombed on the job during year one.
The guy’s been here for a short time, let’s sit back and see what he does before jumping to conclusions about his ability to do the job, where his priorities should lie, and if his decisions were wrong or not.
That’s the way it has been for every GM and head coaching hire — if they don’t have any outstanding concerns that scream red flag — in this league.
We give guys chances to do their jobs and *then* make conclusions regarding their performance. If you put it that way, it’s like any other job that takes performance and review seriously.
This might come off a little aggressive, because as journalists we have to answer questions — as many as you possibly can in fact — because not answering questions means not holding people accountable and leaving the truth uncovered.
Both of those things are crucial, especially in a field that is a big time provider of the biggest weapon humanity can field.
Information.
I get it, I truly do.
But there comes a time when asking questions without a true end goal in mind, feels more like an unnecessary chore instead of a productive activity.
And in this case, Carthon’s situation in 2024 feels exactly like that.
At least in my opinion.
So here’s to waitin’ and seein’, before jumping to conclusions and painting a picture without the proper tools.
Because without the proper tools — in this case, proof — the canvas you want to create on will remain empty and without meaning.
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