Gregg Williams was relieved of his duties as Jets Defensive Coordinator a mere 24 hours after his defense surrendered the game winning touchdown to the Las Vegas Raiders in the waning seconds of Sunday's 31-28 loss.
What makes the firing even more surprising is that the decision was made by Head Coach Adam Gase, who received the blessing to make the move from the Jets front office, which once again brings into question how much power Gase actually does hold over the organization.
Gase said he made the decision over night on Sunday and informed the Jets brass, which according to Brian Costello of the New York Post consisted of CEO Christopher Johnson, GM Joe Douglas and Team President Hymie Elhai.
The decision was made easy for Gase after Williams called an all out Cover 0 blitz on Raiders quarterback Derrick Carr who heaved the infamous pass down field to Henry Ruggs III who beat single coverage from cornerback Lamar Jackson. The result was a perfectly timed throw and catch for the winning score with :05 seconds to go. The Jets went from potentially winning their first game of the year 28-24, to losing 31-28.
While the call was inexcusable and Williams does deserve to be fired, the facts are how is it that Adam Gase gets a continued free pass from ownership? Many expect Gase to get the axe in four weeks regardless if the Jets finish 0-16, but how can Christopher Johnson and General Manager Joe Douglas stand in front of the media in four weeks time and announce the firing of Gase at that point, after allowing the coach so much autonomy beforehand?
It makes no sense, in fact it's down right dirty.
Does this mean there is a chance that Gase keeps his job? It certainly feels that way. There is no way that a coach who is 0-12 on the season, and 7-21 as a head coach, has that much authority that he can simply point the blame elsewhere and feel no repercussions for it.
Instead of Johnson and Douglas fixing blame at the real center of all the Jets ills, they give a consensus agreement to allow Gase to do as he pleases.
Who is the GM then? Is it Gase? Or is it Douglas?
What this does confirm, it confirms the report by Rich Cimini a couple weeks ago that said Gase has powerful friends in the front office in Johnson and Elhai. Gase is also responsible for Joe Douglas getting the job with the Jets -- his confidant from their time together in Chicago. You mean to tell me in four weeks these same men are going to fire Gase?
There is a lot of unanswered questions right now in Jetville, but one thing is certain, they do not lack in the department of clown shoes and big red noses.
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