SB Nation User Blog: John B

I'm not going to let one or two guys ruin a career for me or the relationship I had with my...

John B — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:27:29 -0000

I'm not going to let one or two guys ruin a career for me or the relationship I had with my teammates, If you polled my past teammates, I bet 90% would say they enjoyed playing with me. I'm not so insecure as to let the comments bother me.

As far as Thomas, I have not seen the comments. To be honest, I'm not worried about the comments, either. Was Thomas backed into a corner or in a bad mood when he said those things? I don't know, but ripping Thomas is not my nature.

The bottom line is, I didn't play well in the final five games. It starts with me and it should....My expectations of myself are high, and the only one that I let down was myself.

I wished I had played better in the last five games. I knew what I was up against when I got to New York. When I got traded, I thought it was worth a try. I gave it my all. It just didn't work out.

Brett Favre

Speaking in the past tense regarding his stay with the Jets only confirms what everybody thinks. He is probably retiring.

No Compensation for D-Rob

John B — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:13:43 -0000

Dewayne Robertson did not hit the conditions necessary for the Jets to land a Draft pick from Denver as per the terms of their trade a year ago. Gang Green comes away from the deal empty handed.

The Broncos will not send a draft pick to the New York Jets after defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson played in roughly 50 percent of the defensive snaps last season, well below the 65 percent threshold that would have triggered a trade.

The Broncos had acquired Robertson last April in return for a conditional draft pick based on playing time. One condition was if Robertson played in less than 65 percent of the defensive snaps, the Broncos didn't have to compensate the Jets.

This is a tough break for the Jets. They end up with nothing in return for a guy on whom they spent the fourth overall pick of the Draft in 2003. It is still tough to get on Mike Tannenbaum for the trade. He worked a deal for Cincinnati's fourth and fifth rounders last offseason only to see it fall through when Robertson's balky knee made him fail the physical.

Unproductive players who are also damaged goods are difficult to move, especially at a cap number approaching $13 million. Getting that salary off the books helped the Jets clear out a lot of space for their spending spree a year ago, while there would have been no role for Robertson on the team. It is not even as if he was productive in Denver, where he only recorded 18 tackles this season.

Ultimately the Jets gave away something without much value, and did not receive much back.

Cleveland Hires Mangini, Daboll, and Ryan

John B — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:26:06 -0000

Eric Mangini and the Cleveland Browns have come to terms. The former Jets coach will become the top dog in Cleveland. Ironically, Mangini, who succeeded Romeo Crennel as New England's defensive coordinator in 2005 will take Crennel's old job once again. Hopefully for the sake of the Browns, Mangini will have more success than other coaches connected with the Patriots, Crennel and Bill Belichick, had in Cleveland.

Mangini seems like a good guy, and it is easy to wish him all the best. Still, one must wonder whether this was a mistake for both sides. There is no doubt that Eric is bright. However, it might have been a good idea to take some time away from running a team either as an assistant somewhere or by taking a vacation. Removed from overseeing an operation would have given him an opportunity to reflect on the mistakes he made with the Jets.

Brian Daboll will be the Cleveland offensive coordinator. He spent the last two seasons as New York's quarterbacks coach. Given this team's quarterback play in the past two seasons, particularly Kellen Clemens' lack of development to this point, this is hardly devastating news.

Mangini has hired his friend Rob Ryan as his defensive coordinator. Ryan has served the past five years in Oakland in the same capacity. Before that, the pair worked under Belichick in New England. Rumors swirled last offseason that Mangini would bring Ryan to New York and dump Bob Sutton. This did not come to fruition.

By making this move, Mangini may have done the Jets a favor. Rex Ryan, Rob's twin brother, is high on the list of potential successors to Mangini. If hired, Rex may have looked to his brother in his search for a defensive coordinator. While Rex has proven to be an excellent coach, Rob's reputation is a bit overrated. In all but one of his five seasons in Oakland, Rob's defense finished at or near the bottom of the league. Raiders fans had essentially the same complaints Jets fans did about Bob Sutton. Rob Ryan ran conservative read and react defenses. His players were undisciplined. His schemes did not work. Jets fans will not have to watch this unfold. Even if Rob Ryan proved to be a disaster, his brother could never fire him. Gang Green now will not have to worry about nepotism and can find the best candidate if Rex Ryan is the next head man.

At any rate, here's hoping Eric Mangini fares better in his second chance because third opportunities are rare in the NFL.

Hall of Fame Finalists Announced...

John B — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:18:48 -0000

and no Joe Klecko on the list of seventeen. Everybody on the list is deserving of consideration, but it is somewhat disheartening to see Klecko not even considered year after year. Making the Pro Bowl at three different positions as Klecko did is one of the most astounding feats in football history. That kind of versatility and consistent excellence deserves more notoriety than it has generated. Barely a peep is made regarding his candidacy. Jets fans really need to start making noise about this injustice the way Giants fans did about Harry Carson, Redskins fans did about Art Monk, and Steelers fans did about the duo of John Stallworth and Lynn Swann. Eventually the voters caught on.

No Jets were on the list, although Russ Grimm, who will interview for the head coaching job tomorrow is. No worries, however. We saw our own Ronnie Lott get inducted a few years ago, Monk just last year, and can look forward to Brett Favre in another five. The point is we really need to get behind Klecko's candidacy to see a real Jet go to Canton.

BC Fires Jagodzinski

John B — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:10:59 -0000

Boston College has fired head football coach Jeff Jagodzinski for speaking with the Jets about their head coaching position. This could work to the advantage of the Jets. Jags is well-regarded in league circles from an eight year NFL stint. At the Heights, he went 20-8 in two seasons, won two ACC Atlantic Division titles, and helped develop Matt Ryan into a top three Draft pick.

He may not be the top choice for head coach, but he would be an excellent hire for some spot on the coaching staff. There were rumors he was heading to Seattle to serve as old boss Jim Mora Jr's offensive coordinator, but that job went to Greg Knapp. Jags is now in play. The Jets would be wise too ascertain whether he would accept a lesser role. He clearly has at least some interest in joining the franchise.

A new name on the Jets' radar is Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, according to the NFL Network....

John B — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:45:41 -0000

A new name on the Jets' radar is Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, according to the NFL Network. Harbaugh, however, may soon sign an extension with the school.

NJ.com

Jenkins Speaks

John B — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:28:00 -0000

Erik Boland of Newsday caught up with Kris Jenkins yesterday. For a guy who burned every bridge imaginable to get out of Carolina, it is impressive how he said all of the right things.

Jenkins, who has been in the DC area since the season ended, said he has been paying attention to the coaching search. He wisely declined to name a favorite (hey, I had to ask), and he said it was inconsequential to him what kind of defense - 4-3 or 3-4 - the new guy wants to play.

"Now, I know I can do both,” Jenkins said with a smile. “If it’s 3-4, it’s 3-4; if it’s 4-3, it’s 4-3. Whatever, I’m up for the challenge."

Jenkins is an impact player in either system. Much has been made of how Kris was banged up near the end of the year. Some attribute it to the pounding he took as the nose tackle and blame the 3-4. This is baloney. Football is a physical game, especially in the trenches. Guys get hurt. It has nothing to do with the system. Jenkins would have taken a licking playing on the line in the 4-3. However, he was an All Pro in the 4-3 and would adjust fine. Others would be affected markedly more than Jenkins. It is ridiculous how some say Kris factors into the decision. He will be great no matter the defense.

Brian Costello from the Post was there and we covered a few different things with Jenkins. Costello asked Jenkins about some of the comments a few Jets players made recently about Brett Favre.

"I’m not going to get into the tit-for-tat thing," Jenkins said, but added some interesting flavor.

“I’m never going to ever say anything bad about anybody that goes out to war with me, and goes out to bleed with me and I hope that everybody else that has seen what he’s done on the field, will accept the good and the bad. Let the guy go out with his head up high. At least honor him for what he’s done and what he’s accomplished.”

Take notes, Thomas Jones. That is what being a good teammate means.

Rumor: Callahan to Cleveland?

John B — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:43:40 -0000

Rich Cimini speculates if Eric Mangini gets the Browns head coaching job, Bill Callahan could follow him.

In a sign that former Jets coach Eric Mangini believes he has an excellent chance of landing the Browns' head-coaching job, Mangini is starting to assemble a staff and one of his targets is current Jets assistant head coach Bill Callahan, a source said.

This could be the start of an attempted raid of the Jets' staff by Mangini.

Callahan, who coaches the offensive line, is under contract and the Jets aren't required to grant permission for the Browns to speak with him. Unless an assistant wants to interview for a head-coaching job, it's deemed a lateral move and his current team isn't obligated to let him go.

Would anybody really be surprised? Coaching jobs in the NFL are mostly about connections. There is no telling whether the new coach would want Callahan around. If not, Cleveland is a logical destination. Even if the Jets intend on keeping Callahan, Mike Heimerdinger showed us that a team cannot keep a guy who does not want to stick around under a new regime.

Ultimately nothing will be decided until the Jets name a new head coach because Callahan is being considered for that job. Ideally, he will stay in New York as he was a major asset in his first year with the club. However, Bill is hardly the only competent line coach in the league. The Jets should be fine no matter how this turns out.

Nice Story on Trusnik

John B — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:38:40 -0000

Nice Story on Trusnik

Randy Lange puts together a nice writeup on Week 17 standout Jason Trusnik.

More Cowher Details Emerge

John B — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:32:55 -0000

The New York Post sheds a bit of light on the Jets' failed pursuit of Bill Cowher.

According to a league source, Cowher's representatives spoke with the team last Tuesday about the opening. They told Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum that the former Steelers coach was 95 percent sure he was not going to return to coaching.

Cowher's reps then told Tannenbaum that Jets owner Woody Johnson should call him, insinuating if Johnson offered an exorbitant amount of money, Cowher might change his mind.

Johnson, who was out of the country, felt a phone conversation with Cowher would just be a money grab by the coach.

Instead, Cowher's people were informed that he would be happy to meet with Cowher when he returned to the country this week.

It was then that Cowher withdrew his name from consideration, something that indicated to the Jets he never had serious interest, anyway.

It is amazing how poorly this was handled by the Jets. They had to know going in that they needed Cowher a lot more than Cowher needs them. Gang Green had to blow him out of the water. Bill Cowher's dream job is not coaching the Jets.

Johnson leaving the country as the search began is mind-boggling. His refusal to make himself immediately available to a man his team was targeting is even worse. This news makes it easy to question how much of a priority making this team successful is to the owner.

Nothing in this report suggests the Jets were correct in thinking Cowher never had real interest. It shows an unwillingness on the franchise's part to do what was necessary to land the former Steelers coach.