Monthly Archives: December 2008
Well, the results of our semi-scientific poll are in…
(I probably don’t have to tell you which one is me and which one is Bassett…)
Remember, Newsday ran a story yesterday saying that most Jets fans want Brett Favre back. Here are the results though:
In favor of Favre returning: 42
Against Favre returning: 177
Undecided: 4
Percentage in favor of Favre returning next year = 19%
Now, I can’t say with conviction that the majority are correct here, but with such damning evidence, what I can say is that the Newsday report was probably jumping the gun somewhat! Thank you to those of you (over 200 people) that responded.
N.B. Just an FYI, but the noted article at Newsday was not written by FOTJB Erik Boland, but another reporter.
Newsday reported yesterday that most Jets fans want Brett Favre back. However, on the evidence of most of the comments here, I would suggest this is incorrect. Although, if 80% of die hard Jets fans don’t want him, but 80% of casual fans do, maybe the Newsday report had some legs. Either way, let’s do some semi-scientific research and then if the results are heavily in favor of dumping him, we’ll make sure Newsday (and by extension, perhaps the Jets organization) are aware of this.
I don’t have the ability to run a poll, so simply comment below and start your message with “Yay” or “Nay”.
BUMPED: It’s going down to the wire, so make sure your voice is heard. Polls close at 7:30pm ET.
Jane McManus notes on her blog on lohud.com that the Jets have another candidate on their list.
The Jets asked for and got permission to talk to Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, although no meeting has been scheduled since his team is still in the playoffs. Ryan, 46, was with the Ravens for their 2000 Super Bowl victory, and is in his ninth year with the team. He is in the first of a two-year deal with the Ravens.
So, candidates we know about for sure that the Jets are planning to meet with two in-house candidates, Brian Schottenheimer and Bill Callahan. External candidates that they have gotten permission to speak to are Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo and Ravens DC Rex Ryan.
Why has Titans DC Jim Schwartz’s name not been announced by the Jets?
Remember to vote for D’Brickashaw and Jet fan Rob Fulmer as they are both finalists in the SuperBowl Ads!
There appears to be a lot of misconceptions about Brett Favre’s salary cap status, so I thought it would be useful to summarize:
Favre was paid $12m in 2008 and is under contract for 2 more years. He is set to earn $13m in 2009 and $14m in 2010.
If he retires, the Jets will not be required to pay him any more money and he will not count against the cap. The Packers will also owe the Jets a 7th round pick.
If he is cut, the Jets will not be required to pay him any more money and there will be no cap hit. The Packers had a $3m cap hit when they traded him to the Jets, which was the balance of his $10m signing bonus.
If he is traded, the Jets will not be required to pay him any more money and there will be no cap hit, exactly as above. They cannot trade him to an NFC North team, otherwise they will owe the Packers three first round picks, but this will not apply if he is cut and then picked up by an NFC North team. UPDATE: See comment number 8 below for what happens if they trade him to a team who then trades him on to an NFC North team.
Theoretically, it is possible that the Jets could restructure Favre’s deal (although it would be easier to cut him and re-sign him to a new deal). However, I think this is extremely unlikely in practice.
If Favre is released, he will be free to negotiate with any team, whereas if he is traded, the new team would take on the remaining two years, although they could restructure it (or cut him and give him a new deal) as above.
I think that is everything. Any questions? Leave them in the comments and I will respond.
Erik Boland of Newsday's takes time away from his futon to talk about the latest updates from inside Fort Florham:
Who's on the Jets' radar? How will Favre factor into the decision? Can the team get out of their own way? When will the Jets likely get their new man?
All of this, and pokes at other Newsday writers in this TJB Podcast!
Be sure to check out Boland on his blog, and at Newsday.com's Sports' Section!!
Chad Pennington wins his second Comeback Player of the Year Award … two comebacks … so does that mean he’s actually gone away?
Firing Eric Mangini was the wrong move for this franchise.
*Cue the boos*
I know this thought process is going to make me a tad unpopular here, but it needs to be said. This franchise continues in the same cycle coach after coach, aborted five-year plan after five-year plan. You win in the NFL with consistency — in front office, on the sidelines and in the booth. The players can change but the foundation cannot. Otherwise, you’re constantly involved in a rebuilding plan to fit the new coach’s systems. Now, the Jets are circling the coaching waiving wire, seeking someone to last longer than three years — again.
Erik Boland reports today on Newsday.com that the Jets realize that Favre is like politics, religion and shellfish. In other words, he’s a polarizing topic.
… a source familiar with the organization’s thinking regarding Favre said that’s not necessarily the case.
“While they’re open to Favre returning, Woody Johnson and Mike Tannenbaum believe whomever we hire as the new coach should have significant input on that decision,” the source said.
Translation: The new coach will not have Favre forced upon him.
Wise move, Mr. (or Ms.) Source. It only took two days for the Jets to realize that the only emphatic part of the Mangini firing press conference on Monday was the endorsement of Favre. Potential coaching candidates might not have been thrilled to know that to take over a job in NY meant the distinct possibility of inheriting a QB who has been a source of polarization for his past two (Mangini, McCarthy) coaches. It would take either a very strong or very foolish person to knowingly do so.
So, the team has caught on finally, and is now (un)officially speaking out of both sides of their mouth, saying that even though they do want him back (Woody on Monday) he doesn’t necessarily need (“source” on Wednesday) to come back.
So which is it? It’s a savvy move to throw it out there anonymously, but it’s just this sort of wishy-washiness that could turn off coaches like Cowher
… that and the Denver job without a real GM opening up …
Thomas Jones talks on New York’s HOT97 to Angie Martinez about Brett Favre and the interception issue …
“The reality is, you throw interceptions … [other players] are pissed off.” — Thomas Jones
Thanks to commenter Najy for finding this.
As the Jets take the next few halting steps toward hiring a new coach, a look at history can tell us a lot about what criteria we should be using in separating the coaching wheat from the chaff, Let’s take a quick look at the Super Bowl champions’ head coaches over the game’s first 41 years for some insight into the kind of qualities we ought to be looking for.
Age (old, but not too old) – Before we hire a bright, young man, it’s worth noting that, in the history of the Super Bowl, winning coaches have been members of a small club of middle-aged men. In fact, men in their forties and fifties have dominated. The oldest coach, Weeb Ewbank, was 62 when he helmed the Jets to their only Super Bowl. Tom Coughlin was 61 when the 2007 Giants won. Coughlin got his chance, improbably, after the Giants’ ownership had refused to fold to external pressures to fire him before the season. The youngest head coach to win, Jon Gruden, who was 39 when the Bucs took it in 2002, had already been fired from a head coaching job in Oakland. Gruden was helped by inheriting a good team from Tony Dungy. The next youngest was John Madden who, despite becoming the Raiders’ head coach in 1967, won it all in 1976 at the age of 40. All the rest, were between 43 and 59. (more…)
- The Times asks whether Shanny should be on the Jets short list.
- Clayton notes that Shanahan’s firing came as a surprise.
- Randy is reporting that Cowher is off the table … which means it’s clearly the company line.
- Jane notes some notable could-bes for the Jets.
- Graham writes that “we don’t know how Kellen Clemens was looking in practice, but it’s difficult to imagine him having worse numbers than Favre over the Jets’ final five games.” BINGO. You might as well go 9-7 with a dog who will learn new tricks.
- Mort talks about Cowher’s declining of interviewing for the Jets job as if he broke it.
- JN would like Brett to feel comfortable in Wranglers, not pads.
- Sorry Stephen I think you’re off the mark on this one.
- Glauber writes it would have been on the Jets terms for Cowher, which didn’t bode well.
