Report: Miami Dolphins set to fire Dennis Hickey and promote Chris Grier into general manager position

According to numerous reports, the Miami Dolphins will be firing general manager Dennis Hickey and will be elevating current Director of College Scouting Chris Grier into the general manager position. While the timeline for the move isn't yet known, it isn't expected to take very long. One reason is because Grier fulfills the Rooney Rule requirement of interviewing at least one minority candidate. Another reason is because Grier will likely be involved in the search for the next head coach.

Grier has been in the NFL for 20 years and with the Dolphins for 15 years. He began his career in 1994 with the New England Patriots and worked under Bill Parcells. After joining the Dolphins in 2000 as a regional scout, he was soon promoted by Parcells. He worked his way up the ranks in the Dolphins organization as a national scout and Assistant Director of College Scouting.

WalterFootball.com, a site well-known for NFL Draft profiles and information, calls Grier one of the top talent evaluators in the NFL. Many, including those who write for WalterFootball.com, believe that Grier should've been promoted to the general manager position when Jeff Ireland was fired.

This past offseason, he was a candidate for the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles general manager positions. The Jets cast a wide net and there were over five people who were interviewed for their GM position. Ultimately, the job went to Mike Maccagnan, who many believed was pegged for the position once former Houston Texans GM Charley Casserly was put in charge of the search.

In Philadelphia when Howie Roseman lost his title on January 2, 2015, former head coach Chip Kelly interviewed at least three candidates to be his right-hand man when it came time for personnel. Grier told some in NFL circles that he thought his interview went very well and some believed that he would get the position. Ultimately though, that position went to Ed Marynowitz with Grier coming in at a close second. As we all know, both Kelly and Marynowitz were fired several days ago.

For Grier, there is no shortage of NFL experience within his family. His father was Bobby Grier, who worked for the Patriots and has been credited with being responsible for drafting Tom Brady. Certainly, his background can only help him.

The general manager position in Miami is sort of a cloudy picture because Mike Tannenbaum oversees all football operations and was a former general manager himself. However, Tannenbaum is one who works to come to a consensus with those around him and he will likely do the same with Grier. While Grier will have his responsibilities, Tannenbaum and the new head coach will certainly have input on the roster and how the team is shaped. Grier will also be tasked with re-vamping the scouting department if he so chooses.

This is just one piece of the puzzle to how Tannenbaum is re-shaping the Dolphins franchise. The next piece is finding a head coach who can come in and work with Tannenbaum, Grier and the others in the front office.

This column was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter! Follow @FinsInsider