NFL

Jets’ leadership has a lot at stake in Manning pursuit

Jets coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum spent yesterday evaluating a possible addition to their team.

No, the Jets decision-makers were not watching Peyton Manning throw or run. They were in South Carolina for Clemson’s pro day. The Jets are now waiting to see what Manning wants, like the other 11 teams that have reportedly expressed interest in the free-agent quarterback.

After reaching out to Manning’s camp Wednesday, the Jets need to find out how interested Manning is in coming to New York. If he is interested, the Jets are expected to begin a full-on courtship.

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The decision to pursue Manning could be a risky one for Ryan and Tannenbaum. Signing Manning will raise expectations among the fan base and put the pressure on the team that anything but a Super Bowl victory is a failure.

If Manning ends up injured or ineffective, there might be new decision makers in place next year for the Jets.

“If you bring in a Peyton Manning and it doesn’t go well, there is a price to pay,” said former Ravens head coach Brian Billick, now an analyst for the NFL Network. “It would make sense to do this and the fan base would love it, but if it doesn’t go well it’s not going to be Peyton’s fault. He’s walking into the Hall of Fame either way. There is a risk that comes with it.”

The Jets don’t have to look far to understand this point. No one was talking about Eric Mangini’s job security as the Jets’ coach entering the 2008 season. Then, the team traded for Brett Favre, expectations rose and Mangini lost his job when the bottom fell out at the end of the year.

Ryan’s job security has not been in question during his three years as Jets coach after two trips to the AFC Championship Game. But if Manning came in and was a disaster, owner Woody Johnson would be looking for someone to answer for it.

Tannenbaum faced criticism after last season when he put together a bad mix in the locker room, shipping out respected leaders and failing to account for chemistry as he signed free agents.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer ultimately paid for the failures of 2011. He parted ways with the Jets, in what was called a “mutual” decision — but it is clear the Jets did not want him back. Schottenheimer had long been the target of fans and media members. With him gone, the next obvious target will be current quarterback Mark Sanchez. If the Jets dump him, the bull’s-eye will move to Tannenbaum and Ryan.

By signing Manning, the duo would also be acknowledging that drafting Sanchez with the fifth pick in 2009 was a mistake. They married themselves to Sanchez in their first draft together. By filing for divorce, Tannenbaum and Ryan would be admitting they chose to build the team around the wrong guy.

Billick is one of many people who believe the Jets could do harm to Sanchez even by considering Manning.

“You could certainly dance around it like everybody is and say ‘Look, this is a once in a generation player,’ ” Billick said. “That’s asking a lot of a player. Can you imagine going and telling your wife, ‘Look, it’s Angelina Jolie. Are you going to hold that against me? You should understand.’ I’ve got a feeling she’s not going to be really understanding. So, I think you’re asking a lot of a player to step aside like that. You either support this guy and believe in him or you don’t.”