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If Herm's smart, he's out


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If Herm's smart, he's out

Shaun Powell

SPORTS COLUMNIST

Published January 2 2006

This wasn't his fault, losing his top two quarterbacks in the third game, then almost half his offensive line, then enduring a year that was five times as long as any traffic outside the stadium yesterday.

But if coach Herman Edwards doesn't jump at a chance to bail on the Jets, that would be his fault.

The most important tears shed yesterday weren't in the Jets' locker room in the aftermath of a 4-12 season, but by Dick Vermeil, who enjoyed one last good cry as coach of the Chiefs before retiring.

It's official, then. The Chiefs, who helped launch Edwards' coaching career and are keeping the porch light on for him, are looking for a coach. And if he knows what's best for him, Edwards is looking for an escape.

Well, we can only assume.

In the moments after a 30-26 win over Buffalo, the proud son of a military man reiterated his refusal to surrender. For those who didn't hear or believe him the first five times he insisted he was returning to the Jets, Edwards felt the need to send a message from here to Kansas City.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm back," he said, glancing down briefly, giving a hint of uncertainty. "That's where that's at."

Sure, and once upon a time, Larry Brown swore he was in Detroit to stay as coach of the Pistons, so take that for whatever it's worth.

Edwards has every excuse to return any love the Chiefs might have for him, because timing is everything in coaching, and there aren't many grains of sand left in his New York hourglass.

This season won't be held against him, but his injury-excuse card will expire next season, which might be just as bad. With no quick fix in sight for this unlucky franchise and no contract extension beyond '07 in hand, Edwards would be better off jumping to another team before he's eventually pushed into the unemployment line.

Yes, this smacks of selfishness and goes against the personal philosophy of a coach who famously insisted there were no "quitters" on his team, but this also reeks of reality. When it comes to money and job security, everyone in sports is selfish: players, coaches, general managers, even owners.

Woody Johnson, for example, wasn't thinking about tailgaters and season ticket- holders when he tried to build a stadium in Manhattan. Plus, the biggest lie in sports is this rose-colored notion of loyalty. Truthfully, it never existed.

Believe this: If the Jets crumble for a second straight season, no matter the reason, the front office will "quit" on Edwards.

And that raises yet another reason to seek a fresh start elsewhere. Edwards' fate with the Jets almost totally depends on the touch of Terry Bradway, the man who hired him, and that's not very reassuring, based on Bradway's ragged recent history of personnel moves.

Bradway has yet to draft a Pro Bowl player for the Jets, threw away good money on tight end Doug Jolley and overestimated the talent of Justin McCareins. He lavished millions on Wayne Chrebet in his twilight and gambled $64 million on Chad Pennington's health.

Yes, this is the man the Jets are trusting to make deft decisions that will affect the quarterback (Pennington), running back (Curtis Martin), left tackle, center (Kevin Mawae), pass rusher (John Abraham) and left corner (Ty Law), all major positions.

Plus, a top-five draft pick. Teams can turn it around quickly in the NFL, unless they have multiple needs. In that case, they're screwed.

The Jets need plenty. This will take a while.

Bradway does have a trump card, and that's Edwards. If the feeling is mutual between the coach and the Chiefs, then Edwards might fetch enough compensation to get the Jets heading in the other direction. It could be win-win for everybody, but of course, it all depends on options and whether Edwards will have any.

Should the Chiefs call, Edwards would be foolish to decline the chance to give the ball to Larry Johnson, to take advantage of Tony Gonzalez, to build another defense, to return home as a savior, to grab the cash and security while he can.

If he thinks he'll get that anytime soon in Hempstead, that's his fault.

Powell can be reached at shaun.powell@newsday.com

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Premise of the article-the Jets, with or without Edwards, will suck in 2006.William Rhoden had a similar article in the Times last week. Cannizzaro is in full "give Edwards an extension" mode.

Edwards has been here 5 years. He's had a big hand in making this mess. And he'll jump ship in a heartbeat to not be here when the roof caves in next year, due in large part to his own incompetence.

Explain to me again how you sell a 4-12 coach to a Chiefs' media and fan base looking at the mess he's made here?

This is all about Edwards using KC as leverage to get an undeserved extension. Tell us all again how devious and deceitful Parcells and Bellichick are. They've got nothing on this POS, and at least with all the BS the tradeoff is they win Super Bowls.

I'd tell this POS lying sack'o sheet to go eff himself and not let the door hit'em in the a$$.

Don't want to be here? Want an extension? You have a contract for 2 seasons. Don't like it? Here's the phone number of our attorneys. You're in breach. Get you and your sheet out of your corner office by 5.

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You'd be suprised how fans feel around the NFL about Herm. They're all enamored with him. Which isn't suprising, with the amount of fluffing he gets from the media.

All in all, it's an easy sell to any fan base. Right up until they see what he's all about.

I glanced at the KC board today. Thats an accurate statement.

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You'd be suprised how fans feel around the NFL about Herm. They're all enamored with him. Which isn't suprising, with the amount of fluffing he gets from the media.

All in all, it's an easy sell to any fan base. Right up until they see what he's all about.

Aint that the truth. They'll find out soon enough how crappy of a head coach Herm is.

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Give him this-Edwards gladhanding with the media has given him an image, albeit a false image, of a good coach aroudn the league. If you work in the media, who are you going to talk up-a urinal cake like Bellichick or an idiot like Herm who religiously returns your phone calls and talks for hours?

Edwards has learned how to play the media game to promote himself as well as anyone.If he can sell KC on a 4-12 coach, I'll be very impressed and overjoyed. The whole coaching thing is a different story.

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It's too late; assmop achieved "floater" status; he was spotted washed up on the rocks underneath the Brooklyn bridge.

He was wearing a Reggie Bush jersey, too.

I heard he was face down with his jeans down around his ankles. By the way, Max was the one who 'found' him.

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