I have never experienced such a media frenzy around any NFL team like what we have seen in NY Jet land this summer. TV analysts and newspaper reporters are openly rooting for the Jets to crash land early and often in 2012. President Obama has chimed in, the Giants owner hates Rex and Tebow and the NY Post has posted a characture of the Jets in a clown car on their infamous back page.
Wow, this is a lot of hype. The funny part is that if the Jets score a few TD's and beat the Bills Sunday night the whole tone of the media will quickly start to change. If they beat Pittsburgh Week 2 ESPN will be crowning them as the upset pick of the year. Thats how quickly everything can turn around. On the other hand... if they tank this week and get destroyed at home... and if Sparano can't find a way to get his squad in the endzone all hell is going to break loose.
I remember the first 3 years Eli and Coughlin worked together and the abuse they endured. The reality is that they were on their way out and the G-men were ready to blow that whole thing up. A funny thing happened... after a tough start to the 2007 season they went on a run and won it all. That's what Rex and Mark are facing and that's the nature of NY football. The question is this: does Sanchez want it the way Eli did? He just doesn't seem hungry and he is way too happy to have Tebow in town. I think he wants out of NYC.
By the end of week 4 we will all know if the Jets have a chance this season or if they will live up to the characture the NY Post made up for them. If they are less then .500 I think too much of the boat will be under water to keep it a float until the end of the season.
If they do crash and burn what's next?
Tebow will play for a few weeks and I think he will get destroyed. McElroy will most likely start our last 4 games. When the season ends Woody has some big things to decide. I'm sure that if we turn into a running team led by Tebow by mid-season Holmes will make sure to create an enviorment where the Jets will be forced to release him in 2013. He will be gone and we will have a big contract to absorb into our very tight salary cap. A bunch of our old Frankenstein LB's will be gone as well. The whole LB corps. will have to be rebuilt as well as the WR corps. I am curious if Tannenbaum will be making those choices or if we will have a new GM.
Normally I would say that we should stick with Rex and bring in a new GM. I think Rex will always field a sick defense and I frankly agree that he is the best defensive mind in football like his father was a few generations ago. BUT, since we will be rebuilding two major parts of our team, one on offense and one on defense, as well as finding a new QB it only makes sense to start fresh with a new coach as well. Also, no GM is going to want to inherit Rex Ryan. Sorry.
I know Bill Polian will be the guy everyone calls for but he is old and has little time left. If he took the job you would have to take his son as part of the package and he will be the GM within 2-3 years. The Polians picked Caldwell as the coach in Indy after Dungy retired and I frankly am not a fan of those teams they built around Peyton over the years. I really think this would be a huge mistake.
I like Ron Hughes the head of college scouting for the Steelers. He was on his way to a GM spot in Detroit in the mid-90's when Matt Millen showed up with his brilliant 1st round WR strategy and Hughes headed off to the Burgh.
I also like Eric DeCosta the assistant GM of the Ravens. He would be an interesting choice because he is the one guy that may have a desire to keep Rex, Pettine, Thurman and our other former Raven coaches. Either way these NFL executives both come from elite programs and are primarily in charge of college scouting. This is how a championship team is built. From the ground up.
As for a coach I would love an experienced big name like Bill Cowher. He and Hughes would be a nice combo, and Wisenhunt would most likely be available this offseason after he is fired from Arizona. Russ Grimm would also be a nice addition to the coaching staff.
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