Texans add 2 more candidates for general manager search

Add Philadelphia vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas and Dallas vice president of player personnel Will McClay to the list of candidates who could become the Texans' new general manager.

Douglas and McClay would give the Texans six possible candidates to replace Rick Smith.

Owner Bob McNair said this week the Texans would begin interviews next week, would interview four to six candidates and hoped to have the new general manager in place within two weeks.

McNair also said that time frame isn't etched in stone, and more candidates could emerge, depending on how the initial round of interviews go.

Teams can deny permission for executives under contract to interview with other teams even if it is a promotion.

Four other candidates are Buffalo vice president of player personnel Brian Gaine, New England vice president of player personnel Nick Caserio, Texans vice president of football operations/assistant general manager Jimmy Raye III and Green Bay director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst.

McNair said the new general manager will answer to him and vice chairman Cal McNair and have full control of personnel and everything that goes with that position – the same as Smith had.

After 12 years as the team's general manager, Smith took a leave of absence to help care for his wife, Tiffany, who's underdoing treatment for breast cancer, and their three children.

The McNairs, president Jamey Rootes and coach Bill O'Brien make up the search committee.

Douglas is one of the NFL's most highly respected personnel experts. He spent his first 16 years in the NFL with Baltimore before moving to the Chicago Bears. He's been with the Eagles for the last two years and has done an outstanding job, by all accounts.

McCLAIN: Texans owner says next general manager will control personnel

McClay, a Missouri City native who was a starting defensive back at Rice for four seasons, is valued by Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones as a terrific personnel man. McClay played and coached in the Arena Football League. He also coached Jones' Dallas Desperados AFL team.