Patriots reportedly reject Texans request to interview Caserio, Ossenfort

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It was reported last week that the Texans would have interest in Nick Caserio or Monti Ossenfort filling their general manager vacancy. The Patriots, however, don't have much interest in two of their top executives interviewing with Houston in the immediate future. 

According to ESPN, the Patriots blocked interview requests for both Caserio and Ossenfort as the Texans look to replace Rick Smith, who is taking a leave of absence from his role as GM as his wife battles breast cancer. The Texans were also blocked from interviewing Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas, per ESPN. 

Caserio was permitted to speak to the 49ers last year as they sought a new general manager, per ESPN, but he declined. In early 2014, Caserio was offered the chance to become Dolphins GM but he opted to remain with the Patriots, where his personnel expertise and coaching background allow him to perform a variety of different roles. 

The Texans job is an attractive one with coach Bill O'Brien entrenched, a strong roster, and an exciting young quarterback. O'Brien is expected to sign an extension once Smith has been replaced.

For Caserio, the Patriots vice president of player personnel, it would represent an opportunity to reunite with O'Brien, who worked with Caserio beginning in 2007. O'Brien was an offensive assistant that year, and Caserio was the team's receivers coach. O'Brien replaced Caserio in the receivers room the following season and remained in New England as quarterbacks coach (2009-10) and offensive coordinator (2011). 

For Ossenfort, New England's director of college scouting, the Houston job would appear would be an ideal first landing spot as a front-office boss. Ossenfort would likely share a team-building philosophy with O'Brien due to their shared experience with the Patriots. Ossenfort also has previous experience with the Texans. He was a personnel intern in 2002, then after a year in New England he returned to Houston as a scouting assistant before being named a Texans college scout in 2005. 

This offseason could be an unusual one for the Patriots in that both of their coordinators are considered among the front-runners for head coaching jobs around the league. Both Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia interviewed with the Giants late last week. McDaniels is also in the running for the Colts and Bears jobs, while the Lions and Cardinals interviewed Patricia as a potential sideline boss. Patriots linebacker coach Brian Flores was also interviewed by the Cardinals for their head-coaching opening.

If either Caserio or Ossenfort were to take off this offseason, it would likely force the Patriots to rebound from an unusual amount of turnover before the 2018 campaign. Though interview requests made by the Texans were blocked initially, according to ESPN, both could interview with Houston after the Patriots season ends. 

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