<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Texans get consent to interview McKenzie Click here to find out more!NFL.com wire reportsGREEN BAY, Wis. (May 22, 2006) -- The Green Bay Packers have given the Houston Texans permission to interview Reggie McKenzie for their vacant general manager job, but McKenzie said that the Texans have not yet called to schedule an interview."It's an honor to be considered," said McKenzie, the Packers director of pro personnel. "But make no bones about it, I love being with the Packers. I like this job, I like the people I work with, and my family really likes it here. So we'll see where it goes."McKenzie, who joined the Packers' front office in 1994 and developed into a well-respected executive under former general manager Ron Wolf, has had chances for other jobs in the past and turned them down."Really, the situation has to be right," McKenzie said. "I really like working here. If I didn't like working here, I would have jumped at the first opportunity, and that wasn't the route I wanted to go. So far, it's worked for me and my family here."McKenzie said this would be his first interview for a general manager spot, something Wolf always told him to shoot for."He told me he thought I would be one one day," McKenzie said. "I guess he was right -- hopefully."Denver assistant general manager Rick Smith interviewed with the Texans May 19. Smith and McKenzie both are black, representing a potential step forward for a league that has been criticized for not having enough minorities coaching on the sidelines or managing in front offices."The bottom line is, a lot of the people who work with guys like myself hopefully are realizing that a lot of people can do the job," McKenzie said. "If they feel comfortable with me, whether it be here or wherever, that's an opportunity. If you can do it, you can do it. It's a good thing."Smith worked with new Texans coach Gary Kubiak while with the Broncos, but McKenzie also has a connection to the Texans -- former Packers coach Mike Sherman is now the team's assistant head coach. McKenzie said he hasn't talked to Sherman recently, but plans to.He's optimistic, but not counting on anything."It's flattering, but we'll take one step at a time and see where it goes," McKenzie said.</div>http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/HOU/9454386
UPDATE:<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>McKenzie says he's the man for Texans GM jobAssociated PressHOUSTON -- Reggie McKenzie didn't just sit in an office all day during his interview with the Houston Texans for their general manager job on Wednesday.The Green Bay Packers director of pro personnel wanted to get a look at the team he'd be leading if chosen for the job that Charley Casserly recently resigned from. So he spent part of his visit watching Houston's more than two-hour practice on Wednesday morning."I love watching the guys work, that's how you get a feel for your team," he said. "It was important for me to be out there, see how the coaches coach, see how the players work."And although he thought highly of the franchise before his visit, he came away even more impressed with the Texans. He spoke glowingly of owner Bob McNair, coach Gary Kubiak, the facilities and even the city of Houston.Though the 43-year-old has had various offers to leave Green Bay in the past, Wednesday's interview was his first for a general manager position. But after working with the Packers since 1994, he believes he's ready for the next step."I'm the man for the job," he said. "I can lead this team. I can work with all the powers that be and try to put a championship team together. And if the route we want to go is to win, I'm their guy."The Packers went to the Super Bowl twice during McKenzie's tenure and won it in 1997. He stressed his experience in helping to build Super Bowl-caliber teams in Green Bay and said he thinks Houston is on the cusp of a turnaround."I look at it as a team that's moving up," he said.McKenzie is the second candidate Houston has interviewed for the job after talking with Denver assistant general manager Rick Smith last Friday.Both Smith and McKenzie have ties to current members of Houston's staff. Smith worked with Kubiak in Denver while McKenzie spent time with Texans assistant head coach Mike Sherman."I don't know what he has told the people here, but I think my track record speaks for itself and Coach Sherman was part of that track record," McKenzie said. "We worked together prior to this, and we had a good working relationship."As a former NFL linebacker, McKenzie was very impressed with Houston's decision to put a premium on defense by drafting defensive end Mario Williams with the first pick in the draft.His motto in picking players is to always choose the one that's "bigger, faster and stronger" and he said that if Williams would have dropped to the Packers' No. 5 draft slot, he would "still be dancing in the streets of Green Bay.""Mario's the one guy we think that could turn the defense around," McKenzie said. "He's a young guy with a lot to learn. But those are the type of players you're willing to learn with."Casserly announced his resignation May 10, but won't officially be gone until June 1. Texans officials hope to name his successor before the end of minicamp, which is June 14.</div>http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2457073
