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Woody Johnson is about to enter his most important month as the owner of the Jets.
The team is at a crossroads, and deciding which direction to go is not easy. This is not like 2006, when it was clear the franchise needed a total overhaul and he replaced his general manager and head coach. Nor is it like 2001, the first time he had to hire a GM and coach after Bill Parcells and Al Groh bolted.
This time, the answers are not so clear.
It appears GM Mike Tannenbaum is on his way out. Reports have surfaced the team already is reaching out to potential replacements. But what about coach Rex Ryan? Does he escape blame for the last two years because of the roster’s deterioration? Is it time to tear it all down and rebuild?
One thing is clear: Johnson is going to need help with this process. He has leaned on Tannenbaum and Ryan on all football decisions for the last four years. Clearly, they cannot decide their own fates.
That is why Johnson should call on old friend Parcells and hire him as a consultant to find a new GM. The former Jets and Giants coach seems pretty happy watching the horses in Saratoga and doing some commentary for ESPN. But he always has a football itch and this is the type of temporary job that could fill his football fix and then let him go on his way when the mission is complete.
Parcells still knows the league and understands whose reputation in the scouting community is deserved and whose is not. He hired Jeff Ireland in Miami, who after a few years of struggles now seems to have that franchise heading in the right direction.
Johnson must recognize he does not have the football knowledge to make this hire. Team president Neil Glat seems like a very smart guy, but his background is in the business side of football.
Panthers owner Jerry Richardson made a wise decision by bringing in former Giants GM Ernie Accorsi to oversee their search for a new GM and the team is now zeroing in on Giants personnel man Marc Ross, according to reports.
Parcells would also bring credibility to an organization in desperate need of some. No one would be painting Parcells as a clown.
Would he do it? It’s hard to say. He did not return a text message seeking comment yesterday.
Parcells is close with Tannenbaum and may not want to be involved in any way with his ouster. But he’s also a football man to his core and might enjoy the challenge of interviewing and identifying the best man for this difficult job.
It should then be up to the new GM whether Ryan stays or goes. Fixing the roster needs to begin immediately and it won’t work if the new GM and Ryan are butting heads over what moves need to be made.
The Jets desperately need someone with a strong personnel background to fix the roster. The 2012 team had plenty of problems but the core issue was a lack of talent on offense.
There is also an idea being floated that the Jets could strip Tannenbaum of his personnel duties but hold on to him as a salary-cap guy and contract negotiator. There is no way they should do this. For one, part of the Jets’ problems are some of the contracts Tannenbaum has handed out — Mark Sanchez’s and Santonio Holmes’ to name two — and it would undermine his replacement to have Tannenbaum involved in the rebuilding process.
If Johnson decides to fire Tannenbaum, he should not just go halfway.
Whatever Johnson does, he has to get this right or the Jets could be staring at a long stretch of losing. He needs to recognize his limitations when it comes to evaluating football talent and bring in Parcells to help him.
Johnson backed the wrong candidate already once this year in Mitt Romney. He can’t afford to be wrong again.
$parano no lock to get heave-ho
People around the league seem certain the Jets will part ways with offensive coordinator Tony Sparano after the season.
But here’s something that could work in his favor — he has two years left on his contract, according to a source. The financial terms of his deal have never surfaced, so it is tough to assess how much of a hit it would be to dump him. The Jets also could still be paying former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who was under contract through 2013, although it is possible the team paid him a lump sum when he left after last year.
There is no doubt Sparano bears some of the blame for the NFL’s 30th-ranked offense, but he also has had little talent to work with and a ton of injuries to his wide receivers and tight ends. Sparano was given a pony and asked to win the Kentucky Derby. It’s tough to blame the jockey.
The problem for Sparano is Mark Sanchez regressed under his watch and he never figured out how to use Tim Tebow effectively. It seems pretty clear Tebow was thrown on Sparano and he never really bought in to Rex Ryan’s vision.
Sparano could argue he deserves another chance with better players. It appears doubtful he’ll get it.
Greener pastures for Pettine
The news surfaced last week that defensive coordinator Mike Pettine turned down a contract extension. That made it seem like it was a recent development and might have something to do with the season.
Pettine actually turned down the extension in August, according to a source, and the main reason was money. Pettine may want to explore his options after the season and see if he can get more elsewhere. He and Rex Ryan are extremely close, but Pettine could benefit from going to another team and proving he can run his own defense. The perception around the league is the Jets’ defense is Ryan’s.
That perception also works against Pettine getting more money from the Jets.
“Why would the Jets pay him a ton when they have Rex?” one league source said