Joe Namath turns 70 today.
Here’s what the Jets should do for a birthday gift: Pick up the phone. Call Namath, the greatest player in the history of the franchise, and invite him to Florham Park. Have owner Woody Johnson, general manager John Idzik and coach Rex Ryan sit down with Namath and listen to his criticisms in person instead of hearing them over the airwaves.
Then, figure out how to fix this dysfunctional relationship.
Namath revealed yesterday he and Johnson are not on speaking terms. Appearing on “Boomer and Carton” on WFAN, Namath said things between the Jets and the only iconic player in team history are icy at best.
“I have not been on good terms with Mr. Johnson for the last couple of years,” Namath said.
The Jets’ hurt feelings are understandable. Namath has been one of the team’s most vocal critics over the past two years. Yesterday, he said the team was “deceptive.” Namath figured out that ripping his former team was a way to make money (a regular radio appearance on ESPN) and gain relevance.
In many instances, Namath’s rips have proven to be right on, whether about the hiring of Tony Sparano or the trade for Tim Tebow. That is all the more reason for the Jets to bring Namath back into the family.
The war between the Jets and Namath has to end. The team should hire Namath in some sort of advisory role. I’m not saying he should be picking the players, but have him around to offer advice. Maybe if the Jets start asking him his opinion, he’ll stop offering it to ESPN.
Things were good between Namath and the Jets as recently as 2010. He was in Cortland for a day of training camp, sat in on a quarterbacks meeting and gave “Hard Knocks” some memorable scenes. Then, as the team began to slip, Namath began to rip and the rift developed. Now, the only sign of him around the Jets are some photos hanging in the team’s training center.
The Jets are not the only team in the NFL that has taken fire from its best player. The Browns and Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown had not been on good terms in recent years until the team hired him this week as a special advisor.
It’s time for the Jets to do the same with Namath. Unlike every other franchise in New York, there is no disputing the greatest moment in Jets history. It is Super Bowl III and there is not a close second. Namath should be around the current Jets. The sight of him should make Jets fans smile the way Yogi Berra (who had his own memorable feud with George Steinbrenner) does for Yankees fans.
Instead, there is acrimony, and it does not seem as if it will end soon. The Jets refused to make Johnson or any other member of the organization available to The Post to discuss the relationship with Namath, nor would they address the idea of trying to end the feud. They ran from the topic as fast as possible.
Only Ryan addressed it when asked about Namath in his press conference.
“Joe, just like anybody else, has a right to his opinion,” Ryan said. “For me, personally, I’ve always respected and admired Joe Namath as I’m sure every Jets fan has. Does it upset me that he will make comments or whatever? I don’t always agree with his comments. That’s it. But he has a right to them. Who am I to tell Joe Namath you shouldn’t say this or you shouldn’t say that about us or any other topic? I’m certainly not that guy.”
No one from the Jets needs to muzzle Namath. On the contrary, they should be listening to what he has to say. But he should be saying it behind closed doors, not on the radio.
So, before Namath blows out his birthday candles today, the Jets should pick up the phone. Everyone associated with the Jets, from Johnson down to the fans would feel better if this feud was ended. In the words of Namath: I guarantee it.