While the question of whether the Bears will or won\u2019t (they won\u2019t) get a pair of third-round compensatory picks as a result of the hiring of former assistant General Manager Ian Cunningham by the Falcons as General Manager has been resolved, many still wonder why the provision rewarding teams for developing minority candidates for high-level promotions didn\u2019t apply to Chicago.<\/p>\n
On Monday, we asked Falcons president of football Matt Ryan if he understands why the Bears didn\u2019t get the picks, given the clear impression that Ian Cunningham is the Atlanta G.M.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is the G.M.,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cHe is the G.M. I\u2019m learning \u2014 I mean you talk about things that are coming on your desk every day, management council things, different things like that, why they rule certain ways, why they don\u2019t rule certain ways. I\u2019m not experienced enough to give you a really credible answer on that at this point. I would say this, I think in every facet of the word, Ian\u2019s a General Manager in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n
Obviously, it\u2019s not Ryan\u2019s call. It\u2019s the league\u2019s call. And it\u2019s still not clear why the league called it the way they did.<\/p>\n
Maybe, frankly, it was part of the apparent \u201cno sudden moves\u201d strategy aimed at avoiding the kind of assault on the Rooney Rule that Florida attorney general James Uthmeier started last week. <\/p>\n