Except none of this is from Matt; the source here is Leonhard. Nothing here indicates Matt is being "open" - and I'm not so sure he'll ever publicly say that the job was offered to Leonhard.

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I've never seen things go this way during the hiring process. Literally every interview I've done or led, the issue of (1) genuine interest/willingness to move into a different level has been at the forefront, and (2) pay expectations and what can be offered have been the most explicit conversations.

When I made the move form Canada to Texas, I literally had four rounds of being asked by the top brass if I was serious about moving (both the geographic location, area and level of legal practice), with the bosses having a two-hour conversation on my salary expectations and what their willingness on salary range/details would be. Once there was clear parameters and comfort on my willingness to join, only then was it made clear to me an offer would be forthcoming; an offer was made only after that and not before.

I've followed the same format when I've led or been part of the interviewing team. If you are going to join my team/department, I want to know if you're serious and committed about the move. Literally, whether it's cocktails after interviews, or phone discussions outside of interviews, my intent does not change from making sure the person I'm speaking with clearly wants to join the place I'm at/team/department. It's not a one round thing, it's something confirmed at the outset and reaffirmed throughout the process. And I know for a fact, as a result of budgeting / signing bonuses, there is clear communication from HR/payroll on salary expectations and range in my industry; the salary to get a deal done for a hire is clearly known.

It's an interview process, and if you couldn't discern from that process the parameters of what a deal should look like or whether the candidate is serious - especially before offering said person the job - it is (and should be) embarrassing for the individual running the interview/job hunt process. When it is made public that your first choice didn't want to come after you offered him the job, that shows to me there was some communication aspects/details that weren't paid attention to. When your job is to pay attention to details - whether game planning or running a staff - it absolutely is an embarrassing look.

There are going to be growing pains for LaFleur. Being the HC of the Packers is the first time he's really been in charge of putting together a staff; I would strongly prefer his learning experiences (i.e., missteps) didn't play out in news media. It's embarrassing that Leonhard rejecting him played out in public (after what happened in his first year with the ST coordinator position).

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If LaFleur says the job wasn't offered to Leonhard, then what? Is it Leonhard who's embarrassed? Is it still LaFleur? I mean, the whole embarrassing angle is what's important here. The optics of it all. What says you? Who should be embarrassed?!?

Actually it's more embarrassing because the reports were public. And the reports are facts!! This is a no win for LaFleur. He has to be so red in the face with embarrassment.

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Joe Barry is reported as front runner. I read he was Lions DC for the zero and sixteen season. That true??? 😢🤯😤

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Not every company follows the same “rules” for hiring. They tend to do it their way.
And no one should be embarrassed because a guy changed his mind and turned down the job.
To me, the only problem would be that if the second choice fails, how many people will be attacking the Packer brass for messing it up. (Even though it’s not their fault that Leonhard skipped town).

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I'm sorry to hear that Leonhard didn't want the job.
He was my first and only choice.
Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Then that means that Leonhard is a liar, and I was wrong. But, unless you have evidence to the contrary, Leonhard is the one going on record to say "I was about out the door", "It was very real" and "It was an awesome opportunity to get" - all quotes by Leonhard in Tom Oates' article.

Leonhard refused to join the Rams as DC last year; it isn't as if Matt LaFleur didn't know or shouldn't have suspected that Leonhard had a strong interest in remaining at UW. Especially since his friend, and former boss, was responsible for offering (and having it turned down) Leonhard the Rams DC job, I'd have expected Matt LaFleur to be aware getting Leonhard wasn't going to be simple and make sure he was still game to take the job before offering it to him. That speaks to the embarrassing part with poor attention to detail/interview process - you're former boss and current friend has relatively recently gone through and been rebuffed by Leonhard. It's LaFleur's job to make sure all the details are in place before offering a job to a candidate.

Again, there are going to be growing pains, but it's the second time it's happened to LaFleur in 2 years.

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Except Leonhard did this last year too, turning down McVay for the Rams DC position. Matt, even if given a pass on having a less than stellar interview process, should have at least known that Leonhard has previously rejected NFL coaching gigs - to his friend and former boss, no less - and taken proper steps to confirm Leonhard was all-in on moving before offering him the job. It's not simply interview questions - it's a process: if you're friend and/or former boss who you are on really good terms with has insight, you at least reach out to touch base. Even if for nothing else than to talk about why things may not have resulted in Leonhard becoming Rams DC and use that info to sell Leonhard on the fit/opportunity here.

The fact this it is public that Leonhard was offered but refused is not the position LaFleur wants to be in. Especially if recent history suggests that Leonhard has turned down other DC offers to stay at UW.

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They are not offering him enough to get him to take the risk. Nothing embarrassing about that. It just shows they are prudent, they have a number his services would be worth, he doesn't wanna take the risk for that amount of money.

Business is business, it's not personal.

There are no reports they are chasing Leonhard, desperately offering a blank check. THAT would be embarrassing.

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From what I understand, Leonhard is paid more at Wisconsin than most DCs make in the NFL with a lot more job security. In order to lure him away, they'd have to make him one of the highest paid DCs in the NFL right off the bat with no track record at the NFL level. Unfortunately this is going to be misconstrued as the Packers low balling him.

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