Rumors and the report of rumors
That about sums up the Jets coaching search to this point, no?
I can’t take credit for that headline, incidentally. It’s a chapter title from my favorite biography: “The Power Broker,” by Robert Caro (a former Newsday writer, btw). It’s the story of Robert Moses, the Master Builder of New York in the 20th Century.
But I digress.
So Bill Cowher was on WFAN this morning and, while he shimmied and shaked a bit around some questions, what became clear is something we’ve talked about here consistently: the man just doesn’t want to coach in 2009.
“When I left Pittsburgh I thought I had the best job in NFL,” Cowher said. “I didn’t intend to get back into it.”
Cowher later stated the obvious, that he “never is going to close the door.”
He said the “Jets really never contacted me,” meaning he had never spoken to Woody Johnson or Mike Tannenbaum. He bobbed and weaved when asked about the report saying that he pulled his name from consideration upon finding out he couldn’t meet with Woody Johnson. I personally think Johnson is getting a bad rap on this one (he, and Mike Tannenbaum, however, deserved plenty of rap for their press conference performances last Monday). Why? Because Cowher told Browns owner Randy Lerner to his face he wasn’t going to coach his team. Had he met with Johnson in person, that would have been the message to him.
Cowher did say, “If Woody would have liked to talk to me…I talked to Randy Lerner.”
In other words, Johnson, by being out of the country, missed out on the chance to hear “Nope, not interested,” in person.
Look, there’s a tendency out there to just rip the Jets no matter what they do and they deserve criticism for certain things. But let’s get those things right. The Cowher stuff isn’t one of them.
As for Jeff Jagodzinski, I’ll refer you to the first sentence of my story in Newsday today: “It’s a lot of ado about a coach not likely to land the job.”
I’m currently headed into the city for something football related. Back with a report on that later. Again, we will have a Live Chat tomorrow morning at 11.
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Comments (22)
I could not agree with you more about the speculation with the coaching decision. We all know Mr T never tells anyone what he is thinking. The guy is the master of not answering questions. So how does anyone one know how the Spagnuolo interview went and how the Jets felt about the guy, just pure speculation. Same thing with Schott I doubt very much that anyone knows if he is the front runner or not. The media needs a story and opinions to write so they make up what the speculate happened, too bad the SNY's and ESPN's and other media run with it like it's fact. I said it before and I'll say it again a decision will not be made till after the SB. SO RELAX
Thank you! It is so ridiculous with all the speculation and rumors people are making up and saying Woody and Mike T are terrible and should be gone. That is just stupid.
People are just so impatient and want a HC NOW. Relax people they will find someone, they are not just letting people walk away.
The fact is Mangini did not deserve to be fired. Some many have just overrated the Jets level of talent. From the beginning most thought they were a 9 to 10 win team. It's just the way the 9 wins were spaced with a great middle.
Does Mangini have faults? Yes. And yes he coached a terrible game in Seattle although people talk out of both sides of their mouths. You know the he plays not to lose rather than to win idiocy. And we have one radio commentator in this city who was totally unprofessional with his uncalled for remarks.
Woody is only interested in selling PSL's. He thought the fans wanted Mangini gone so that's why he's gone. Simple.
Be careful of what you wish for. It was Johnson who pushed for this idiocy with Favre. It was Tannenbaum who saw to it that Miami become more formidable by not seeing that Pennington was traded out of the division if not the conference. But of course when they wonthe 5 in a row, it was because Favre played the role of Chad Pennington. But all that is under the bridge.
Woody only wanted the West Side Stadium. When he couldn't get that, he went partners with the Giants once again allowing everybody to see the Jets were second class citizens. Now they have handled this coaching thing in a disgraceful manner. We could have had a peaceful 9 or 10 win season, missing the playoffs because we had some really top teams in the conference, had Chad Pennington have a decent enough season and be optimistic about going into next year with a coach who was learning.
Now we have to start all over.
Great job Woody (and no it's not because of the Cowher thing. They never stood a chance at him).
Dear Erik,
I think this is a very insightful article on the Browns and Mangini (despite its rather limited headline):
http://www.ohio.com/sports/mcmanamon/37092719.html
Incidently, I think a lot of what Jeff S. says is on the mark, and this article I've referenced bears him out.
What's interesting is that the "original" Cleveland Browns suffered through the early days "slings-and-arrows" of a callow Bill Bellichick and threw him away in disgust before he morphed into the 'genius' the NFL observes today...
Robert Moses is the single reason the Dodgers left Brooklyn and we got stuck with Shea Stadium.
I hate that MAN!!!!!
Well put Erik.
With all due respect to Jeff S and NotJustQBs, Mangini DID deserve to be canned. A team in playoff contention does not lose to San Fran, Seattle and Oakland unless there are significant injuries (like half the team). This is the same team with the talent to beat Tenn and NE back-to-back. The responsibililty falls on the head coach, who clearly either did not game plan well or motivate the players (or both). Unless the Jets want to continue in mediocrity, a change was needed, both at coach and at QB.
Perhaps i have a philosophic difference, but I believe that you do coach to win (ie not coach not to lose). I would rather the team I root for go down swinging, than with a wimper. I would love to see an aggressive, blitzing coach come in and unleash the dogs. I want to see Calvin Pace hit the QB so hard he blows snot bubbles through his facemask instead to dropping into coverage
Teams with less overall talent went farther than the Jets this year, and the Jets had an easy schedule. A lot of that had to do with bland play, which falls on the coach
You guys ever see "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" when arnold has to go to the bathroom and asks the other guy to cover for him....Then the customer complains and wants a refund on his egg plate......Then Hamilton yells at him and gets fired
Hamilton on the way out sbangss the door and yells "Hope you had a hell of a p^ss Arnold!"
Well that is me right now towards Woody...."Hope you had a great vacation Woody!"
Tell me ONE OTHER OWNER that would go on vacation while they are searching for a new head coach and about to go into a ne wstadum and need to sell PSL's and get the pick RIGHT ????????
Not one.....Woody.........SELL THE TEAM and bring our bloated GM with you !!!!
A) Why is everybody who gets interviewed about football so damn coy? Why don't people ever just say yes, no or maybe?
B) I guess Mangini qualifies as a minority candidate by virtue of being a Boland love interest.
C) I also thought we were a 9 to 10 win team this year, until we got to 8 and 3 looking at a five game stretch we should have been able to run or at least go 3 and 2 on. That's where the whole "Heads must roll" thing comes from.
I like that there's now a "Robert Moses" tag on this blog.
To Erik (or anybody else for that matter)
During the Miami game there was a kickoff where Miami's return man clearly set one foot out of the endzone then pulled it back and downed the ball.
Being at the stadium, I did not have the luxury of an analysts explanation of the rule.
Anybody care to share what the rule is? I wan not the only one at the stadium who believed it should have been a safety.
They should explain stuff like that on the Jumbo-tron
i believe that the ball has to cross the plane of the goal line, not the players foot
peter, I see your Robert Moses, and raise you a Sheldon Silver.
FIREMANGINI, that was perfect. But to stick with your "Fast Times..." analogy, Woody is again Hamilton in the bathroom with Brett Favre playing the Phoebe Cates character. Nice fantasy, but gets busted by reality with his "character" in his hand.
Erik, any players commenting on the coaching search? Do the Jets have Westhoff locked up by contract for next year?
JohnZ according to the VP of officiating, the entire ball must cross the line coming out of the endzone, not like going into the endzone where it just has to break the plane.
Erik,
Instead of Robert Moses, i would have went with Timex Social Club's "Rumors" but that's just me. That way you could sing along in the Solara.
LOL Mr. Green T !!!
Nice one Green T.
Erik I have a rare difference of opinion on the Cowler thing. The Jets were "confirming plans to speak with Cowler." What was that about when in fact the GM or owner never called him? This was confirmed by Cowler. Bottom line it was going to be a longshot but they gave it no shot by failing to reach out to him then posturing as if they were interested in him. Very amatuer because Cowler exposed it. Did they think they could get away with using his name? He's a TV guy now of course he dimed them out.
Erik, one other thing--
I, like you, have become pretty high on Rex Ryan. I can't speak for you, but my desire for Rexy is dangerously close to man-crush proportions. He's a great football mind, his player love him...what's not to like?
Well, now that you mention it, one question remains: if Ryan is such a good candidate, why hasn't he been hired as a head coach already? He interviewed for the Ravens, Dolphins, and Falcons HC vacancies, and didn't get any of them. I know these things go on behind closed doors and involve a million factors we'll never hear about, but can you shed any light on that? Thanks a bunch and keep up the great work.
Thanks Mr Green T now every time I see Woody his first name is going to mean so much more now. That mental image of him watching Favre play in his private box with no one around. :)
So let me get this straight. Favre comes to the NYJ and gets my dad, the coach, fired. Favre's buddy, Jago, from BC gets an interview and he gets fired from BC. This Favre is even worse than The Mush in "A Bronx Tale." If I get diaper rash, I hope Favre doesn't come over to put an A&D ointment on me.
DB, the problem with all these coordinators is exactly the same, they are not exactly on the career fast track.
Rex and Spags have been around a long time and have risen only to the coordinator level. Obviously someone doubts their ability to handle the big office.
This is why I prefer a proven head coach, this team is built to win now (except at QB omg) last thing we need is uncertaintly at HC.
I still don't understand why everyone everywhere automatically dismisses Billick. He got the job done, has a ring obtained without a QB, and would immediately command respect in the lockerroom. And the press conferences would be so much fun.
For all the obvious reasons I want Rex if they go coordinator, but he is by no means a slam dunk.
has anyone come up with the semi frightning thought that they interviewed the BC coach for the OC job not the head coaching position in case they decide to give the job to Brian S?
has anyone else come up with the semi frightning thought that they interviewed the BC coach for the OC job not the head coaching position in case they decide to give the job to Brian S?