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Mike Garofolo of Fox Sports is reporting that the Washington Redskins have requested permission from the Green Bay Packers to interview Senior Personnel Executive Alonzo Highsmith for a position in their front office. New Redskins GM Scot McCloughan was a scout with the Packers for 4 years before Highsmith was hired by Ron Wolf(pictured above). McCloughan and Highsmith were both part of Wolf's scouting staff in 1999 before McCloughan left the following year to join the Seattle Seahawks to become their Director of College Scouting. Highsmith continued to be in the college scouting department for the Packers until 2012 when he was promoted to the role of Senior Personnel Executive.
Scot McCloughan said that he would likely wait until after the draft to make any major changes to his scouting staff, but Bruce Allen also indicated that the team would be allowing A.J. Smith the opportunity to talk to other teams and fill any open position out there. Highsmith is a highly respected personnel executive that comes from the same Ron Wolf scouting tree that gave McCloughan his start. If the Redskins can steal Highsmith away from the Packers, it would be a major start to reshaping a personnel department that has been a huge disappointment since...forever.
Word is Redskins wanted to talk to Packers' Alonzo Highsmith for director of personnel job. Packers denied the request to interview.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 25, 2015
Actually, let me fix that: Redskins have requested permission to interview Highsmith. No word yet on GB permission. My bad. Misunderstood.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 25, 2015
New #Redskins GM Scot McCloughan is hoping to add #Packers senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith to his front office, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2015
[UPDATE #1: 7:38 PM 1/27/15] The Packers have denied permission for the Redskins to interview Highsmith
#Redskins name Perry Fewell DBs coach and Mike Clark head strength & conditioning coach. MORE: http://t.co/CdWVCVzBqQ pic.twitter.com/ROrhY3Ksp2
— Washington Redskins (@Redskins) January 27, 2015
The Green Bay Packers denied the Washington Redskins' request to interview senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith for a similar position in their scouting department, according to a league source.
It was not a surprise given that Packers general manager Ted Thompson appears set on keeping his top scouts together.
[UPDATE #2: 12:33 PM 1/28/15] The Packers told the Redskins they would not get permission before they even asked. The position was only for Highsmith and the Redskins aren't actively searching for someone else...for now
Just to wrap this 1: Skins didn't request permission on Highsmith, b/c GB told them they wouldn't get it; Would've created position for him.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 28, 2015
So now, the Redskins aren't actively looking for someone to fill the role Alonzo Highsmith would've had, since it was really just for him.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 28, 2015