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Clinkscales is gone


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As expected, Joey Clinkscales, the Jets' VP of college scouting, is leaving for the Raiders. The speculation started two weeks ago, when ESPNNewYork.com reported his likely departure, and it was confirmed Tuesday night by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Clinkscales did his best to shoot down the original report, claiming at the conclusion of the draft that his plan was to remain with the Jets. But this was a done deal before the draft. It appears to be a lateral move, which certainly raises eyebrows.

Clinkscales won't be the general manager in Oakland; that job belongs to his lifelong friend Reggie McKenzie, who was hired in January and already has taken a wrecking ball to the Raiders' personnel and scouting departments. Clinkscales will have a prominent position, a source told Schefter, but he won't be running the show.

The Jets apparently want a fresh approach in the draft room. Clinskcales ran the last five drafts for GM Mike Tannenbaum, doing a solid, if not stellar job of accumulating talent.

They whiffed in 2008 with Vernon Gholston (folks will tell you that was Eric Mangini's call), but they found their quarterback (Mark Sanchez) in '09. The '10 and '11 drafts were lackluster, producing only three starters and kickoff-return ace Joe McKnight.

The Class of '12, headed by Quinton Coples and Stephen Hill, has a chance to be special -- or a bust. In many ways, it typified Clinkscales' approach. The Jets placed an emphasis on size and speed, betting on potential instead of past production.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The bottom line is, they haven't drafted a Pro Bowl player since Darrelle Revis in 2007. This is an organization, coming off a disappointing year, in the process of shaking it up. New offensive coordinator. New team president. And, soon, they will have a new man in charge of the draft.

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Sources: Joey Clinkscales to Raiders

Joey Clinkscales, the New York Jets' vice president of college scouting, is leaving the organization for a prominent front-office position with the Oakland Raiders, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Tuesday night.

Clinkscales, who has coordinated the Jets' draft since 2008, will work under general manager Reggie McKenzie, a lifelong friend. McKenzie, hired by the Raiders after the season, has since restructured the team's scouting department.

The Raiders recently fired Jon Kingdon, their longtime director of college scouting, and replaced him with Shaun Herock.

The Jets knew before the draft they'd likely be parting ways with Clinkscales, a source told ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini. On the final day of the draft, Clinkscales addressed an ESPNNewYork.com report that said he was leaving for the Raiders.

"I expect to be here," Clinkscales said. "My job is a talent evaluator. I understand where the connection comes in, to be honest with you. Reggie and I have played high school and college ball together. We were in each other's weddings. I've known Reggie forever. But this is where I started and this is where I plan on being."

Clinkscales ran the last five drafts for general manager Mike Tannenbaum, ascending to that role at a time when the team was coming off two stellar drafts. But, in 2008, the Jets missed badly, selecting linebacker Vernon Gholston with the sixth overall choice. He lasted only three seasons, failing to record a single sack while costing the team $20 million in guarantees. He was out of the league last season.

The seminal drafting moment under Tannenbaum and Clinkscales came in 2009, when they traded up in the first round to take quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall choice. Sanchez won four playoff games in his first two seasons, but the luster dimmed when his play regressed in 2011. They traded for Tim Tebow last month, creating an immediate threat to Sanchez's job.

In the just-completed draft, the Jets made eight selections, their most since 2006. They picked North Carolina defensive end Quinton Coples in the first round and traded up in the second to choose Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill. Clinkscales said Hill has Calvin Johnson-like athleticism, referring to the Detroit Lions' top receiver who, like Hill, is a Yellow Jackets alum.

The Jets, coming off a disappointing 8-8 season after two consecutive trips to the AFC Championship Game, are shaking things up. They changed offensive coordinators, replacing Brian Schottenheimer with former Miami Dolphinshead coach Tony Sparano, and they recently hired a new team president, Neil Glat.

With Clinkscales gone, it could lead to changes in the scouting department.

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As expected, Joey Clinkscales, the Jets' VP of college scouting, is leaving for the Raiders. The speculation started two weeks ago, when ESPNNewYork.com reported his likely departure, and it was confirmed Tuesday night by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Clinkscales did his best to shoot down the original report, claiming at the conclusion of the draft that his plan was to remain with the Jets. But this was a done deal before the draft. It appears to be a lateral move, which certainly raises eyebrows.

Clinkscales won't be the general manager in Oakland; that job belongs to his lifelong friend Reggie McKenzie, who was hired in January and already has taken a wrecking ball to the Raiders' personnel and scouting departments. Clinkscales will have a prominent position, a source told Schefter, but he won't be running the show.

The Jets apparently want a fresh approach in the draft room. Clinskcales ran the last five drafts for GM Mike Tannenbaum, doing a solid, if not stellar job of accumulating talent.

They whiffed in 2008 with Vernon Gholston (folks will tell you that was Eric Mangini's call), but they found their quarterback (Mark Sanchez) in '09. The '10 and '11 drafts were lackluster, producing only three starters and kickoff-return ace Joe McKnight.

The Class of '12, headed by Quinton Coples and Stephen Hill, has a chance to be special -- or a bust just like any other draft*. In many ways, it typified Clinkscales' approach. The Jets placed an emphasis on size and speed, betting on potential instead of past production.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The bottom line is, they haven't drafted a Pro Bowl player since Darrelle Revis in 2007. This is an organization, coming off a disappointing year, in the process of shaking it up. New offensive coordinator. New team president. And, soon, they will have a new man in charge of the draft.

Fixed.

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Now our secrets will be revealed to the league.

Thursday is Pizza Day.

Mangini didn't wash his hands after using the toilet.

Woody's first wife-TOTAL BIATCH.

Cro's brood never stops asking for more free stuff.

Brett Favre's spectravsion porn bills were an issue.

Actual football stuff-not so much.

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I thought Clinkscales did a good job here. It's not his fault that he worked for a GM who gutted his potential drafts thru trades leaving him with 3 or four pick years, constantly trading away early and mid-round picks. Jets haven't had a draft with selections in each of the first four rounds since 2006. In the last five years, they've made two 2nd round picks. That's not on Joey.

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I thought Clinkscales did a good job here. It's not his fault that he worked for a GM who gutted his potential drafts thru trades leaving him with 3 or four pick years, constantly trading away early and mid-round picks. Jets haven't had a draft with selections in each of the first four rounds since 2006. In the last five years, they've made two 2nd round picks. That's not on Joey.

8-8 and total humiliation is on EVERYONE including "Joey."

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