Teddy Atlas is one Jet who won’t be back next year.
The famed boxing trainer and Jets “special assistant” ripped the organization and quarterback Brett Favre yesterday. Atlas, a close friend of Eric Mangini, said the recently fired coach was doomed from the moment the Jets acquired Favre.
“Mangini went into the season ready for a whole different approach, whether it was going to be Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens (at quarterback), whoever won that battle,” Atlas told The Post. “It was going to be a secure, protect the ball, intelligent approach. It was something he was comfortable with, something he believed in. The whole plan, the whole blueprint got thrown out the window when Favre came. He’s the antithesis of that. He throws the ball all over the place.”
Mangini brought Atlas in to work with the Jets, giving them boxing training in the offseason and providing motivational talks during the season. Atlas appeared on 1050 ESPN Radio yesterday, and talked with The Post about the Jets’ firing of Mangini. Atlas is listed in the Jets’ media guide as “special assistant – boxing.”
Atlas said Jets owner Woody Johnson forced the trade upon Mangini.
“He had no choice in the matter,” Atlas said. “How you going to argue with a Hall of Fame guy coming in and the business part of it? (Mangini) did the best he could to adjust to it.”
The Jets traded a third-round pick to the Packers on Aug. 6 to get the 39-year-old quarterback. Atlas said Johnson saw Favre as a salesman for his controversial personal seat licenses in the team’s new stadium.
“You’re paying a guy ($13) million, you’re asking fans to buy PSLs, you’ve got a new facility, you’ve got money all over the place,” Atlas said, “You bring this guy in and in your mind, you’re looking at Mick Jagger. Now who’s to say the owner doesn’t start to meddle? It can disrupt a lot of things and it can explain some things that fans don’t see.”
Besides Johnson, Atlas also criticized Favre, who threw nine interceptions in the final five games. Atlas said running back Thomas Jones spoke the truth this week when he criticized Favre.
“I think Brett Favre basically is a selfish guy,” Atlas said. “Brett Favre goes out there with his gray hair, his Wranglers and gets up when he gets hit. I understand why people like that. But there’s another side. He’s a selfish guy.”
Atlas said he saw the Jets lose their “fear of losing” down the stretch.
“When you’re a fighter and you’re going into the fight, your fundamentals have to be there,” Atlas said. “We always say, ‘The jab leads the way.’ If you took that analogy and put it in football (terms), the quarterback leads the way. If you lead it in a reckless way, bad things are going to happen. (Favre) was reckless.”