In today's NFL, the biggest personnel decisions usually aren't made by the head coach or orchestrated by hands-on team owners. Those responsibilities fall to the general manager, a position that has come a long way since first being introduced to professional football in the 1930s.

Entering the 2008 season, 18 of the NFL's 32 teams have given clear-cut authority over roster moves to their GM or an executive with a corporate title who performs the same functions.