Mangini Forces Rookies to Take Bus to Hartford
A bus trip from Hempstead to Hartford the past three years for rookies under Eric Mangini might not have been a big deal to the media, but now that Mangini has relocated to Cleveland, it seems like it’s garnering more attention.
Apparently former Jets coach Eric Mangini decided to take his entire rookie class on a “voluntary” 10-hour bus trip from Berea to Hartford to participate in Mangini’s one-day football camp in his old stomping grounds, then once over the players will get back on the bus for ten more hours back to Ohio.
According to PFT:
One league source told ProFootballTalk.com Friday that both the league and the NFLPA are looking into whether Mangini’s actions violate the CBA and/or other potentially applicable rules.
As to those who think that the exercise represents an effect Remember The Titans-style “it’s good for you even if you don’t like it” bonding exercise, think again. Per the source, the players are angry that they’ve been subjected to 20 hours of bus travel at a time when they otherwise should be having a couple days off from “voluntary” workouts that they dare not miss.
It’s all part of the reality in Cleveland that Mangini rules the roost with an iron fist. As one source explained it, even GM George Kokinis is “scared to death” of the guy.
I know this is something that the Jets rookies under Mangini were subjected to, and I’ll be curious to hear what some of Mangini’s Jets rookies say about this when they’re asked during their next availability to press.
15 Responses to Mangini Forces Rookies to Take Bus to Hartford
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EQ1217 says:
A couple of hours on the bus from Hempstead to Harftord is not a big deal. But 20 hours is crazy
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S dubb says:
Mangini is a moron. Can’t believe I backed this POS!.. he’s been nothing but a headache since he got there. Good riddance!
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TJBfan says:
When are they coming to Hartford? I should head over to the bus and offer them
my sympathy for what they are about to endure with this guy. -
miketaliaferro says:
As EQ1217 stated, Hemp to Hartf is not far, so no big deal.
But twenty hours is a tad longer, yes.
But hey! These young men are healthy specimens and should be happy to go along to kiss up…ummm, I mean impress the HC with their zeal for community involvement with a program that produced Mangini (and we can only assume is in the process of producing MORE Manginis).
I believe that problems might only really arise once Mangini is named HC of Oakland or Seattle, or perhaps, San Diego. That bus ride might, yes, be a slightly thornier issue. That might warrant tighter media scrutiny.
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Vinny Interceptaverde says:
This is excatly why Mangini is not a great coach. He’s too concerned with being the “boss” and his my way or the highway attitude doesn’t allow for alternative solutions to problems. If he spent less time trying to controll everything and more time coaching and game planning, then he could be a great coach.
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The Dude says:
Mangini is kind of a paradox: he likes to act like a hard-ass with his team at practice, but manages an actual game like he’s scared.
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nyr2k2 says:
Hahaha, the GM is “scared to death” of him? Mangini is a cream puff, and even though he’s not yet 40, looks like he’d break a hip if you pushed him over.
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ramble914 says:
The Dude,
How true, how true! For all his tough guy BS, he played scared. He would ride a lead all through the second half of games, no adjustements, no going for the jugular, just try to get the game over as quickly as possible, and hopefully run away with a win. What a p_ssy!
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http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2009/05/reporter_stands_by_story_that.html
“WR David Clowney, QB Erik Ainge, LB Jason Trusnik and G Rob Turner were among the players who showed up, presumably voluntarily.”
Maybe hedging their bets, if in fact, they get cut by the Jets? Is this an audition for the Browns?
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Brandon "You're With Me" riweather says:
What’s that? The guys who are paid to play a game are bitching about having to go do some charity?
too bad. shut up and play some poker on the ride over.
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brian311 says:
yeah i dont see the big deal with this. yeah 10 hours on a bus sucks, but im sure it wasnt a yellow school bus and it actually sounds like a bonding opportunity for a team.
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Yea,big deal rooks man up.Do some good for kids while you make money.Many of us bust our asses for 8,10 or more hours/day 5-7 days/week. Without the benefit of saying I helped alot of kids today.Maybe just making ends meet for the ones we have.
So what you got uncumfortable on a custom bus. -
Eddie DiGio says:
Its true that most people have to do “voluntary” things in their 9-5′s that just plain suck but you do it anyway to show face and keep in the good standing of the bosses. This is especially true in corporate jobs.
But to anyone who thinks these guys are babies for being pissed for having to sit on a bus for 20 hours I will tell you from personal experience, I played CFB at CW Post and Iona, Division 2 and I-AA respectively, and the NCIA, and NCAA required us to fly on a road trip that consistented of travel time exceeding 8 HOURS!!! I was treated better as a third string TE from 2 small schools than an NFL player.
That’s why these guys are so pissed. They are fighting for jobs and roster spots, this trip is more of a distraction than “bonding experience”. Nursing any kind of leg or back injury isnt helped by a 20 hour bus ride. The game as most of us know it stops in the NFL, its a buisness where you only have a small oppurtunity to stick on a NFL club. After you bounced around and been bounced around physically, that time is over. I know from a guy I grew up with named JP Foschi. He made the Oakland Raiders twice and from his take on it, it was so tough to even get on the team, that actually trying to play well to even see the field is an accomplishment in itself.
All Im saying is that before you call these guys babies try to understand that this is their livelihood and possible dream career that they are looking out for.
As for Eric “dont let the door hit you on the way out” Mangini, he probably wants to weed out the guys he doesnt feel are strong enough to fit into his program, but as people have said about his lack of people skills, he is also alienating his players into thinking that he doesnt care about HIS TEAMS well being, he only cares about his OWN well being.
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James in TN says:
And to think some on here defended this idiot til the end. MWAHHAAHHHAAAHHAA.
Just wish he had went to a contender and destroyed their system.
I think some current Jets also went to the camp.