Leave it to the New York Jets to find a way to foul this up.
This was supposed to be easy, a no brainer. Mike McCarthy
was the obvious choice to be the Jets new head coach moving forward in 2019 and
beyond.
While some said his offensive strategy was stale, you
couldn’t argue that a man with 125 wins as a head coach, eight division titles
and a Super Bowl ring would not be a good hire. In fact, the Jets should have
begged him to take the job.
Everything was right there in front of the Jets, especially after
McCarthy’s people sent out word on social media that he wanted the Jets job. That
should have been enough to end this silly search.
Instead the Jets turned a two week coaching search into a
three-ring circus leaving fans spinning their heads 360 degrees like the
Exorcist. The only thing missing is barfing green pea soup. Then again, maybe
an exorcism is what this franchise needs right about now.
Around 3 p.m. ET, as teams like the Cardinals, Bucs, Broncos,
and Browns had all settled on head coaches, the rumors started flying that the
Jets were changing course away from McCarthy and would hire Baylor head coach Matt
Rhule.
Fans stormed on social media and talk radio, aghast at what
they heard. The Jets were seriously considering hiring a coach who was 8-17 in
two years at Baylor? It sure sounded like it.
Even Mike Francesa speculated that something must have gone wrong with McCarthy, suggesting there was some kind of power struggle with GM Mike Maccagnan or somebody inside the Jets – perhaps over coaching staff.
Either way it looked like the Jets were going to take Rhule
over McCarthy – a decision that would not sit with a strong majority of the fan
base.
Then, things changed.
By 8 p.m. Ian Rapoport reported that Rhule had informed his
coaches at Baylor that he was staying at the University and would resume
recruiting. He would no longer be considered for the Jets job.
Why? Because he couldn’t agree on a coaching staff with
Maccagnan and VP of Player Personnel Brian Heimerdinger. Rhule wanted his own
guys on the staff. Maccagagnan wanted Rhule to work with a staff HE would put together.
It has now led us to this. Adam Gase, owner of a 23-25
record with the Miami Dolphins. The same man Dolphins’ players hated and
couldn’t wait to see get fired. The same man who had clashes with the South
Florida media on a regular basis, would now be the HC of the NYJ.
Somewhere in Gillette Stadium Bill Belichick is laughing his
ass off as he prepares for the Chargers.
What a farce. What a sideshow. But it’s so typical Jets.
When the Jets began their search, Jets CEO Christopher
Johnson cryptically said that the next coach would not be allowed to have any
personnel power. That turned out to be more than a hint.
The Jets are Maccagnan’s team. A guy who has put together
suspect drafts and made even more suspect free agent signings in his first four
seasons as General Manager, just bagged the most unpopular coach on the market
to be his guy.
Oh, and he is in charge of $100 million in salary cap space.
Good luck getting guys to come here to play.
By screwing up the McCarthy hire, then hiring and screwing
up the Rhule hire, and ultimately hiring Gase, Maccagnan should be firmly in
the hot seat.
Woody Johnson you awake there in Merry ‘ole England?
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