Ray Farmer glad he passed up Dolphins to remain in Cleveland

Cleveland Browns assistant general manager Ray Farmer is glad he passed on the Miami Dolphins' general manager job.

Farmer was a finalist for the position that ultimately went to Dennis Hickey.

"I think Cleveland is primed and I think we're in a position to redefine the history books,'' Farmer told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "I think change is on the horizon and I didn't want to miss what's going to happen in Cleveland. I didn't finish the process. I assume they would've given me the job. That's the way it was articulated to me.

"If I took the job, I would've reported directly to (Dolphins owner) Stephen Ross and it was a tremendous opportunity. It still is a dream of mine to become a general manager and run my own program and put together my own team, but it wasn't the right time for me. I knew what I had here. I know what I think is going to happen here, and I know what we have in place. So to that degree, the known is better than the unknown.''

Added Browns CEO Joe Banner: "No, he turned down the job primarily because he's extremely happy here and he's extremely optimistic and he enjoys the people he's working with. He'd have to find exactly the right situation because he'd be leaving something that he's very, very happy with. We've previously called him a rising star in the league and I still believe that. I'm not surprised that other people are recognizing it. He's extremely hard-working, smart, totally trustworthy loyal and a great evaluator. He understands the elements of character, personality and drive (in prospects) and he integrates them into the grading of what you see on the film.''

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.

Aaron Wilson
Aaron Wilson covers the NFL for National Football Post, his second stint at the Post. He has previously written for Pro Football Talk and FOX Sports-Scout. Entering his 13th year covering the Baltimore Ravens, he's a beat writer for The Baltimore Sun. Wilson has also covered the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans.

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