A new general manager, a new quarterback, a new young star on defense, same coach … and, to many, same old Jets. From the front office to the personnel, there have been plenty of changes in the topsy-turvy Jets organization in the past 12 months, but the 2013 season is bound to end without a playoff spot for the third straight season under Rex Ryan. Here are our top five storylines of the year for Gang Green:
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1. Meet the new boss
John Idzik (right) at his introductory press conference with Jets owner Woody Johnson. Jeff Zelevansky The Jets fired general manger Mike Tannebaum the day after the 2012 season ended and then hired John Idzik to replace him a few weeks later.
Idzik arrived with the tasks of cleaning up the team’s salary cap situation, figuring out what to do with star cornerback Darrelle Revis and putting an end to the “circus” reputation the Jets had gained in recent years.
Owner Woody Johnson made Idzik retain coach Rex Ryan for this year, creating an interesting dynamic that had everyone wondering about Ryan’s job status all year.
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2. Island for sale
Getty Images The day before Idzik’s introductory press conference, the news leaked that the Jets were looking to trade Revis. The noise continued for nearly three months. Revis had a year left on his contract, but the Jets knew he was looking for a big new pact, and they were not willing to pay.
After months of rumors, the Jets shipped Revis to the Buccaneers just before the NFL Draft in April. They received the Buccaneers’ first-round pick and a third-round pick in 2014 in return for one of the best players in franchise history, and Revis received a six-year, $96 million deal from Tampa Bay. With the first-round pick, the Jets drafted defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson. Muhammad Wilkerson emerged in his third season as a star on the defensive line.
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3. Hello Geno, goodbye Tim
Joseph E. Amaturo The Jets said all offseason they were going to bring in competition at quarterback for Mark Sanchez, who started the previous four years, but it was still surprising when they took Geno Smith in the second round of the draft.
Smith was considered by most to be the best quarterback in the draft, but he fell out of the first round and the Jets felt they had to take him. The drafting of Smith gave the Jets a glut of quarterbacks and led to the long-anticipated release of Tim Tebow a few days later.
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4. Off the Mark
Mark Sanchez on the Jets sidelines after injuring his shoulder against the Giants. Neil Miller The story of the summer was the quarterback competition between Sanchez and Smith. Each of them had their moments with Smith taking an early lead but then Sanchez passing Smith by after he sprained his ankle.
The competition ended when Ryan inexplicably put Sanchez into the fourth quarter of a meaningless preseason game against the Giants. Playing behind backup offensive linemen, Sanchez was drilled by Giants defensive tackle Marvin Austin and injured his shoulder. The injury ended Sanchez’s season when he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in October.
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5. Saints and a stumble
The Dolphins recover a Jets' fumble. ZUMAPress.com The peak of the Jets’ season came in early November when they beat the 6-1 Saints, 26-20, at MetLife Stadium. The win put the Jets at 5-4 entering their bye week and had everyone wondering whether a team that was predicted to go nowhere could actually go to the playoffs.
Then reality hit.
The Jets lost four of their next five and were eliminated from playoff contention before Week 16. The most troubling part of the Jets’ skid was Smith’s play. During the three-game losing streak after the win against the Saints, the rookie quarterback threw six interceptions and no touchdowns.