Ken Schroy Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Woody Johnson likely to cave to pressure, fire Idzik: NFL execs By Brian Costello November 6, 2014 | 6:27pm New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, general manager John Idzik and owner Woody Johnson look on during practice at Florham Park, NJ. Photo: Bill Kostroun Two Jets fans were sitting next to each other on a 6 a.m. flight from Kansas City to Newark on Monday, when they began talking about the team’s 1-8 start. “At least we’ll get a good draft pick,” the fan in seat 6C said. “Yeah, but you know they’ll screw it up,” replied the fan in 6B. This is the crisis facing Jets owner Woody Johnson as his team spirals into irrelevance. The fans don’t trust his team anymore. It is a crisis of confidence in the organization that permeates his fan base. Not everyone is buying a billboard or flying a banner over practice, but nearly every Jets fan you talk to is questioning the leadership of this team. General manager John Idzik has done nothing to prove he is the right man to lead the Jets beyond this year, leaving Johnson with the most difficult decision of his time as owner. Does he clean house and dump Idzik after just two years on the job, along with coach Rex Ryan, who seems certain to be fired? Or does he stick with the man whose plan he believed in enough to entrust him with the Jets in January 2013? Three NFL executives who know Johnson well agree he will respond to the public pressure. Johnson is sensitive to bad publicity. Back in 2008, Johnson caved when fans and media called for Eric Mangini to be fired. Mangini had one losing season in three years and the collapse of 2008 could have been pegged to the failing health of quarterback Brett Favre. Still, momentum grew to dump Mangini and Johnson went along with it when he fired him. Johnson has to walk a fine line right now. On one hand, it is bad business to let outside forces such as the media and fans dictate decisions for your organization. On the other, it is a business. Paying customers are less than thrilled with this 1-8 product, and Idzik seems to be the target of their ire. Johnson has PSLs to sell and current holders are threatening not to make their payments because of Idzik entering the season with more than $20 million in salary-cap space. Those who know Johnson expect him to dump Idzik at the end of the year, but place the blame for his hiring on everyone but himself. They say it is just not in Johnson’s DNA to admit he made a mistake when he chose Idzik. Instead, he will blame Jed Hughes, who oversaw the GM search, and team president Neil Glat, who was involved in the interview process. Johnson undoubtedly will lean on his trusted adviser Ira Akselrad when making his decision what to do. Akselrad is the president of The Johnson Company, the Johnson family’s private investment company. He is involved in every decision Johnson makes with the Jets, and even sat in on the GM interviews in 2013. He is usually at Johnson’s side and is the man who has Johnson’s ear. If Johnson does dump Idzik, the feeling is he would turn the team over to a big-name, veteran coach such as Jon Gruden or Bill Cowher and give them complete control of the football operations. There has been reluctance from Johnson to pay a big name in the past. He has hired four first-time head coaches and three first-time general managers. But those familiar with Johnson believe he will swallow hard and open up his checkbook in order to prove he is not Woody Wilpon. This feels like 1997 when the Jets hired Bill Parcells as much for the gravitas he brought as his football knowledge. Whichever way Johnson decides to go, he can’t get this one wrong. This is the most critical crossroads of his 15 seasons as owner of the Jets. If he concedes Idzik’s hiring was a mistake, it means he wasted two years. Another misstep could cost the team three to four more years of rebuilding. As if he needed another reminder of fans’ dissatisfaction, Johnson will get one on Sunday afternoon when he looks at all the black and gold of Steelers fans invading MetLife Stadium. The Jets will be searching for their second win. Johnson faces a much tougher opponent in the next two months: winning back the trust of his fan base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustInFudge Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Going to be awesome when everyone returns for another year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Those who know Johnson expect him to dump Idzik at the end of the year, but place the blame for his hiring on everyone but himself. They say it is just not in Johnson’s DNA to admit he made a mistake when he chose Idzik. Instead, he will blame Jed Hughes, who oversaw the GM search, and team president Neil Glat, who was involved in the interview process. Johnson undoubtedly will lean on his trusted adviser Ira Akselrad when making his decision what to do. Akselrad is the president of The Johnson Company, the Johnson family’s private investment company. He is involved in every decision Johnson makes with the Jets, and even sat in on the GM interviews in 2013. He is usually at Johnson’s side and is the man who has Johnson’s ear. Sweet Christ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Jets have no one qualified to make football decisions. Neil Glatt is a boob. And we have the Johnson & Johnson guy in on the interviews too? I'm sure that goes over well. What a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Schroy Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 Sweet Christ. Dude, boss never blames himself. SOP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Sweet Christ. This rivals Dolans band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faba Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Yeah Woody gets roasted in this article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJ Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Jets have no one qualified to make football decisions. Neil Glatt is a boob. And we have the Johnson & Johnson guy in on the interviews too? I'm sure that goes over well. What a joke. That's the same clown that got sued from another Johnson family member for providing fraudulent tax shelters to them. A blue chipper indeed - small wonder the hits just keep on coming. Glad he was there to give the thumbs up on johnny boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 That's the same clown that got sued from another Johnson family member for providing fraudulent tax shelters to them. A blue chipper indeed - small wonder the hits just keep on coming. Glad he was there to give the thumbs up on johnny boy. Embarrassing. I went back and combed through the articles from when we were looking for a GM....Glazer went on the record saying we couldn't give the job away. It should be of no surprise Idzik's way under qualified to be identifying football players. The execs making the hires probably dont even like the sport. Clown show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadwayJets Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 What about Rex?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Embarrassing. I went back and combed through the articles from when we were looking for a GM....Glazer went on the record saying we couldn't give the job away. It should be of no surprise Idzik's way under qualified to be identifying football players. The execs making the hires probably dont even like the sport. Clown show. Rex staring at candidates from one side of the table, and a bunch of suits with MBAs on the other side, with Woody. It's a miracle anyone even interviewed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Rex staring at candidates from one side of the table, and a bunch of suits with MBAs on the other side, with Woody. It's a miracle anyone even interviewed. Woody see's Ivy League and that's it. "ohhh...he will do" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Woody see's Ivy League and that's it. "ohhh...he will do" I'm starting to think Idzik is the guy who hired the plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integrity28 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Rex staring at candidates from one side of the table, and a bunch of suits with MBAs on the other side, with Woody. It's a miracle anyone even interviewed. A few good candidates did cancel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 They've gotta change the way they do business. Woody has to take his nerd entourage and let them worry about how to gouge customers, and hire a Grand Overseer to run football ops. Even someone as ******* stupid as Woody has to know that his involvement is an issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Back in 2008, Johnson caved when fans and media called for Eric Mangini to be fired. Mangini had one losing season in three years and the collapse of 2008 could have been pegged to the failing health of quarterback Brett Favre. Still, momentum grew to dump Mangini and Johnson went along with it when he fired him. The mob was right about Mangini, and they're right about Idzik. Maybe the mob should be Woody's right hand man? Only problem is that the mob probably wants Gruden or Cowher, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 A few good candidates did cancel. Imagine the amount of dropped calls that will occur this time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The mob was right about Mangini, and they're right about Idzik. Maybe the mob should be Woody's right hand man? Only problem is that the mob probably wants Gruden or Cowher, too. The mob is the reason we're 1-8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointman Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The mob was right about Mangini, and they're right about Idzik. Maybe the mob should be Woody's right hand man? Only problem is that the mob probably wants Gruden or Cowher, too. The article annoys me cause they say Woody shouldn't let fan opinion influence his decisions. We aren't all mouth breathers like Giant fans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Makes perfect sense. Idzik has two drafts to prop up a team in salary cap mess and seriously lacking talent at positions like QB, RB, TE, WR, OG, CB, S, LB and so on. And he has failed to do so in two full drafts. On top of that he never overpaid for talent specially at CB position. And adding to the awfulness is the fact that we never prepared for the team to lose 3 starting caliber CB's before the season even began. Two of them were lost for the season via physical injuries and the 3rd one I am sure had some mental injury of some sort. So the team was exposed. It's all Idzik's fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 I'm starting to think Idzik is the guy who hired the plane. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slats Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The mob is the reason we're 1-8. The mob didn't hire Idzik, the architect of this sunken ship. The mob is here to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The article annoys me cause they say Woody shouldn't let fan opinion influence his decisions. We aren't all mouth breathers like Giant fans. The far majority is mouth-breathers. Mehta's "Keep Rex" poll ended up 80% pro-Rex. Those people should commit ritual suicide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Makes perfect sense. Idzik has two drafts to prop up a team in salary cap mess and seriously lacking talent at positions like QB, RB, TE, WR, OG, CB, S, LB and so on. And he has failed to do so in two full drafts. On top of that he never overpaid for talent specially at CB position. And adding to the awfulness is the fact that we never prepared for the team to lose 3 starting caliber CB's before the season even began. Two of them were lost for the season via physical injuries and the 3rd one I am sure had some mental injury of some sort. So the team was exposed. It's all Idzik's fault. It's the owners fault. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The far majority is mouth-breathers. Mehta's "Keep Rex" poll ended up 80% pro-Rex. Those people should commit ritual suicide. We need a focus group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointman Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The far majority is mouth-breathers. Mehta's "Keep Rex" poll ended up 80% pro-Rex. Those people should commit ritual suicide. That can't be actual results. That makes me feel sad for America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The mob didn't hire Idzik, the architect of this sunken ship. The mob is here to help. The mob supported the awful head coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LunAticcalm Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 If Johnson does dump Idzik, the feeling is he would turn the team over to a big-name, veteran coach such as Jon Gruden or Bill Cowher and give them complete control of the football operations. There has been reluctance from Johnson to pay a big name in the past. He has hired four first-time head coaches and three first-time general managers. But those familiar with Johnson believe he will swallow hard and open up his checkbook in order to prove he is not Woody Wilpon. This feels like 1997 when the Jets hired Bill Parcells as much for the gravitas he brought as his football knowledge. Isn't the rumor around town that Gruden is only thinking about a Raiders comeback? Also what about all that noise that Cowher has his eyes on the Giants job, and is willing to wait for it because he loves his analyst job. Why wasn't Jim Harbaugh mentioned in this article? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 We need a focus group. SIGN ME UP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointman Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Isn't the rumor around town that Gruden is only thinking about a Raiders comeback? Also what about all that noise that Cowher has his eyes on the Giants job, and is willing to wait for it because he loves his analyst job. Why wasn't Jim Harbaugh mentioned in this article? Cause he sucks. No one likes him. His team is stacked but not doing great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt39 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 They've gotta change the way they do business. Woody has to take his nerd entourage and let them worry about how to gouge customers, and hire a Grand Overseer to run football ops. Even someone as ******* stupid as Woody has to know that his involvement is an issue. This is what I started bringing up last week...I had the suspicion this Glatt guy was a lot more involved with the football op than we knew about...and this is the first Im hearing of the other suit. Axlerod. Another winner I'm sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Integrity28 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 The article annoys me cause they say Woody shouldn't let fan opinion influence his decisions. The article annoys me because it implies an airplane banner is the influencer in this decision, and not the 1-8 season with a complete swing-and-miss in talent acquisition this pre-season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsFanInDenver Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 It's the owners fault. Fire him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeC36 Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 We need a focus group. Good Idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 This is what I started bringing up last week...I had the suspicion this Glatt guy was a lot more involved with the football op than we knew about...and this is the first Im hearing of the other suit. Axlerod. Another winner I'm sure. There really is no hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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