There is a fundamental disconnect between the way fans view the Falcons' front office and teams around the NFL view that same front office. This is never more obvious than hiring season.

Lionel Vital could be the third Falcons director of player personnel in three years to become a G.M. http://t.co/6kYVtxoPf1 — ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) January 8, 2014

For the third time in three years, a team is trying to poach the current Falcons' director of player personnel to be their new general manager. This time, it's the divisional rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers chasing after Lionel Vital, who ascended to the director of player personnel role this season when Dave Caldwell was hired as the GM of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The St. Louis Rams hired away Les Snead as their new GM the season before that.

Vital was the team's associated director of player personnel in 2012 and spent the previous five seasons as an assistant director of player personnel. He was formerly a scout with the Ravens, and a highly-regarded one at that.

As fans, and particularly during a 4-12 season, the front office seems to deserve our scorn. There are some talented, highly-regarded people working there, however, and the Falcons keep losing them. It's not something I'm particularly thrilled with, but that's life in the NFL.

That said, it's an interview, and the Bucs hopefully will not pry Vital away from the Falcons. Stay tuned for updates.