The Jets are already searching for general manager Mike Tannenbaum’s replacement, according to a report, but he still may stick around.
CBS reported yesterday the Jets have begun reaching out to potential GM candidates, one of which is reported to be Mike Maccagnan, the Texans’ director of college scouting, while also exploring ways to keep Tannenbaum in the organization in a different role.
The report said Jets owner Woody Johnson would like to keep Tannenbaum around as a salary-cap expert and contract negotiator.
According to league sources, such a move is highly unlikely. Many general managers have a clause in their contract preventing such a demotion. Also, people around the NFL are skeptical if anyone would take the GM job if Tannenbaum is still there. It will be hard to evaluate personnel and contract decisions with the guy who signed the contracts down the hall.
Johnson declined comment last week after the Titans game, saying he would speak to reporters after the season is over.
* A day after the Jets tied a franchise record by allowing 11 sacks, coach Rex Ryan was still trying to figure out what went wrong.
“That’s as poor as I can ever remember as far as the pass protection was concerned,” he said.
The Jets finished one sack shy of the NFL record and matched the team record, which was set Oct. 4, 1987 by a group of replacement players during the NFL strike.
“You get sacked 11 times there are a multiple of things,” Ryan said. “Yes, the offensive line, you can say that wasn’t up to our standards without question. The blitz protection, which we’ve done an outstanding job of with our backs, wasn’t as strong as what we’ve done in the past. Even the drops by Greg [McElroy] could have been a little cleaner.”
* Former Jets defensive lineman Trevor Pryce wrote a blog entry for the New York Times that said Ryan’s biggest shortcomings as a coach are that he is too loyal and too nice. Ryan responded yesterday.
“I think the world of Trevor,” Ryan said. “Am I loyal? Yeah, I think without question I am a loyal person. I think that’s a positive trait. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to be a nice person, as well. I think I’m plenty tough when it comes to making tough decisions.”
* Of the Jets’ six skill position starters on offense Sunday, only Shonn Greene was in the opening-day lineup. Two of the players — Braylon Edwards and Lex Hilliard — were not even on the roster at the start of the year. … The Jets waived WR Mardy Gilyard.