GM dept. - Mike Maccagnan's 4 biggest mistakes as Jets GM ( ? ) ~ ~ ~

[nj meadowlands]

Passing on Solomon Thomas

[Thai Jet]

5 hours ago, dbatesman said:

 

No, he’s right. Maccagnan is a pants-sh*tting cretin and his decision to take a strong safety with two franchise QBs on the board should be hung around his neck like a millstone.

 

So easy to say 2 years later post facto isn't it. Spare me.

[Thai Jet]

5 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said:

If we absolutely had to stay at 3, Ed Oliver would have been my top choice, followed by Josh Allen. 

I respect you on actually saying who would have gone with, unlike others. I was so desperately wanted to trade down I really had no clear pick at 3 but I'm happy with Q. Oliver would have been a good choice as well. Wasn't sold at all on Allen. 

[dbatesman]

10 minutes ago, Thai Jet said:

So easy to say 2 years later post facto isn't it. Spare me.

I spent that entire offseason screaming for Watson and plenty of others spent it screaming for Mahomes. Receipts are out there. 

[kelly]

14 hours ago, dbatesman said:

I spent that entire offseason screaming for Watson and plenty of others spent it screaming for Mahomes. Receipts are out there. 

you too 

[section314]

14 hours ago, dbatesman said:

I spent that entire offseason screaming for Watson and plenty of others spent it screaming for Mahomes. Receipts are out there. 

Bet you a beer, or beverage of your choice, that Sam will be better than Watson by the end of this season. Mahomes, that's a totally different story.?

[kelly]

7 minutes ago, section314 said:

Bet you a beer, or beverage of your choice, that Sam will be better than Watson by the end of this season. Mahomes, that's a totally different story.?

..i hope you're right !   

 

 

cheers ~ ~

[kelly]

Earlier this week, we ranked Mike Maccagnan’s biggest miscues with the Jets, now that he’s finally cut bait and admitted defeat with cornerback Rashard Robinson.

But enough about the past. What about the present ?

Here, we take a look at all the notable moves that Maccagnan has made during this current offseason and put them into context :

21. Signed K Chandler Catanzaro

It makes perfect sense why Maccagnan wasn’t willing to spend the money it would require to keep Jason Myers around after his Pro Bowl season; is the drop-off between Myers, who got four years and $15.45 million from the Seahawks, and a replacement-level kicker really big enough to justify the extra money? Probably not. The question is whether Catanzaro was the right choice. The Jets let him walk after 2017 and he had a dreadful 2018. This is a big gamble. If Catanzaro ends up costing the Jets a bunch of points, this budget-conscious move could just end up looking cheap.

20. Signed undrafted free-agent class

Tough to really evaluate this move until we get a chance to see some of these players on the practice field and find out whether or not any of them actually stick around on the 53-man roster. Wide receiver Greg Dortch looks like he could be a good return specialist, if things pan out. And perhaps there’s some other depth to be found within the 16-man class, too.

19. Claimed WR Quadree Henderson off waivers

Similar to the UDFAs, we’ll have to wait and see what kind of impact Henderson can have. Odds are his best chance to play is in the return game, but he should have some competition for that spot. This was a low-risk move to give the Jets options for that role, though, so probably a smart move to make for Maccagnan.

18. Cut RB Isaiah Crowell

This was a no-brainer, especially once the Jets signed Le’Veon Bell (more on that later). Really, the issue here was the terrible decision to sign Crowell in the first place; he simply did not provide close to the value Maccagnan must have hoped for. Eating $2 million in dead cap this season hurts, but was worth it to free up a roster spot and $3 million in cap space. Good riddance.

17. Re-signed OLB Brandon Copeland

This move became even more critical after the Jets failed to sign outside linebacker Anthony Barr, leaving them shorthanded at the position. Copeland had a nice 2018 season. He probably shouldn’t be a long-term starter, though. He’s a solid rotational piece to have and adds some depth at OLB, which is much needed. Smart re-signing.

16. Late-round draft picks

The jury is always out on draft picks for at least a few years, but the first impression is that Trevon Wesco, Blake Cashman and Blessaun Austin are all gambles. Will Wesco be able to develop into more than a blocking tight end to justify his fourth-round selection? Will the other two stay healthy enough to provide a legitimate presence? These picks could have some value, if they hit. But if they don’t, we’ll end up looking at Maccagnan and wonder what he was thinking, given the question marks surrounding these players.

15. Signed OL Tom Compton

The Jets desperately need offensive line depth, so snagging a guy with 84 career games played, 28 starts and the flexibility to play either tackle or guard is a nice win for Maccagnan. Obviously, the hope is that Compton won’t need to play – better that the starters just stay healthy. But this is a good insurance policy to have.

14. Cut C Spencer Long

Another no-brainer decision for Maccagnan. Long was a disaster last season and the fact that his release came with no dead money was a bonus. Saving the $6.5 million in cap space he would have taken up made good sense.

13. Claimed QB Luke Falk off waivers

It seems like Falk will likely battle with Davis Webb for the third quarterback job, so this isn’t the most impactful move. But it comes with basically zero risk and adds competition at the game’s most important spots, so why not take a shot? Plus, Falk is familiar with Adam Gase from their time in Miami. Sure seems like the coach wanted this guy on his roster.

12. Re-signed DT Steve McLendon

This move seemed more vital when it actually happened, because the Jets had a gaping hole in the middle of the defensive line entering free agency. Now, with Quinnen Williams in the fold (more on that to come, too), McLendon will be a depth piece and mentor, which is an even better fit for the 33-year-old.

11. Signed RB Ty Montgomery

Clearly the Jets were not sold on either Eli McGuire or Trenton Cannon’s ability to complement Bell, so they went out and did something about it. Montgomery is a versatile playmaker with a good NFL track record and he came with a relatively small price tag, so this is a nice low-risk, high-reward piece to have behind Bell, just in case.

10. Re-signed C Jonotthan Harrison

Another spot where the Jets had a huge hole as the offseason began. Bringing back Harrison made sense in the moment, when it seemed like he’d continue to be a backup center and guard option. But is he really going to become the starting center and, if so, is that really a wise move? Maccagnan seems to be taking a big risk and putting a lot of eggs in the Harrison basket by not finding another center. Sure, he was a solid fill-in last season, but he doesn’t have much of a track record.

9. Signed QB Trevor Siemian

With Josh McCown potentially retiring, the Jets needed a new backup quarterback. Siemian was among the best available, given his relative youth – he’s 27 – and the fact that he’s started 24 games over the past three seasons. He’s a legitimate quarterback and that could be valuable if Sam Darnold gets banged up again this year.

8. Drafted EDGE Jachai Polite, OT Chuma Edoga in third round

Both of these picks are high-risk, but also potentially very high-reward. Polite, especially. He has first-round talent. But both of these players also have red flags by way of character concerns. The Jets are confident that they’re building a strong enough culture to help these two players get things straightened out. If that proves true, they’ll likely have some steals on their hands. But it’s still a big “if," for now.

7. Re-signed DE Henry Anderson

It remains to be seen whether or not Anderson will be able to recapture the heights he hit last season, when he tallied a career-high seven sacks. But considering the lack of great options on the free-agent market, it made good sense for Maccagnan to re-sign Anderson and hope that he’ll continue this progress. And with the benefit of hindsight, the move looks even better now, as the Leonard WIlliams-Quinnen Williams combination should help free Anderson up.

6. Signed CB Brian Poole

There’s no doubt that Maccagnan had to go find a slot cornerback. Buster Skrine was maddeningly inconsistent and almost certainly not worth the money the Bears threw at him. Poole, by comparison, is young and cheap. For now, at least, this looks like a smart, budget-friendly move that helps the secondary.

5. Signed WR Jamison Crowder

Adding to the wide receiver corps was vital. Maccagnan didn’t have any real chances to add a true No. 1 wideout, but rounding out the top three alongside Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa with a slot receiver was an intelligent use of resources. And Crowder didn’t cost a ton, either, after his injury-plagued 2018. This could well turn into a nice bargain-bin find to help give Darnold another target.

4. Traded for OG Kelechi Osemele

The genius of this move was the fact that Maccagnan didn’t have to give up a draft pick to get it done – just slide from the start of the fifth round down to the late sixth. Not that big of a price to pay for a starting left guard who was recently an All-Pro. Osemele comes with a double-digit cap hit and some risk, given his age and 2018 health, but this was a wise gamble to take because the Jets desperately needed to upgrade their line and this was a relatively cheap way to get that done before free agency even opened.

3. Signed LB C.J. Mosley

Mosley was among the top talents on the open market, so landing him is obviously one of Maccagnan’s biggest moves of the offseason. The question is whether or not handing an inside linebacker $51 million guaranteed will pay off. But there’s little doubt that Mosley will shore up the middle of this defense and is a great weapon for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to have.

2. Drafted DT Quinnen Williams

Taking Williams at No. 3 instead of trading down was the right call, given Maccagnan’s spotty track record deeper in the draft. Grabbing arguably the best player in this year’s class and handing Williams a versatile, dynamic force up front who will be relatively cheap for the next four years should have been – and ultimately proved to be – an easy decision.

1. Signed RB Le’Veon Bell

Is there any doubt about this? Sure, Bell might be rusty at the outset, given his 2018 holdout. But Maccagnan got Bell at a reasonable price, given his incredible talent and original salary goals. And adding a running back this talented who can also get the job done in the passing game is possibly the best way to support Darnold. He’ll be the best safety blanket imaginable over the next few years. And who knows, maybe the year off will have Bell refreshed and will have added some tread to his tires.

>    https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/05/what-were-jets-best-worst-moves-this-offseason-ranking-mike-maccagnans-notable-decisions-leveon-bell-cj-mosley-quinnen-williams-more.html

[kelly]

Rich Cimini    ESPN Staff Writer 

My initial takeaway on the firing of GM Mike Maccagnan: This is so Jets. Who lets a GM spend $125M in free agency and make the third pick in the draft only to fire him a couple of weeks later? It's amateur hour. They hired Adam Gase to work alongside Maccagnan, and now it appears Gase has won a palace coup.

>  http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

The New York Jets surprisingly fired Mike Maccagnan and Brian Heimerdinger on Wednesday morning.

The rumblings of the rift had been vehemently denied by both Maccagnan and Adam Gase. Now Gase is the interim GM and could be bringing aboard a close friend, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas emerges as the most sensible and logical fit as the next GM of the Jets. Douglas is close to Gase and has been previously discussed in league-wide circles for a while now as the next potential GM of New York.

Douglas played an integral role in helping construct the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII-winning roster. He is executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman’s right-hand man.Gase and Douglas worked together while Douglas was the director of college scouting for the Chicago Bears in 2015.He spent the better part of 16 seasons in the Baltimore Ravens’ personnel department prior.

Now with a need at general manager, Douglas’ name surely will be at the top of the list for Christopher Johnson and the New York Jets.

>  https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/15/philadelphia-eagles-adam-gase-joe-douglas-new-york-jets/

[JetsFanatic]

22 hours ago, jgb said:

I complain to my boss about this all the time. It’s unfair to do my performance review at the end of the year when he already knows how all my projects turned out. So I demanded he evaluate my performance in writing and in real time.

If anyone knows any place that’s hiring let me know.

WOW! This was a powerful post!! It moved Johnson to fire Mac! Well played sir!!!

[Jetsfan80]

3 hours ago, section314 said:

Bet you a beer, or beverage of your choice, that Sam will be better than Watson by the end of this season. Mahomes, that's a totally different story.?

Mahomes > Sam > Watson.

Doesn't excuse Macc for him passing on a QB to take a Box Safety.

And oh looky here he got fired today.  Sweet!

[MasterChiefJets]

When did Gase become a finance expert? Does Michigan State pump out great GMs and business leaders? 

He should have been angry over Mac's incompetence for the O-Line and Edge Rushers but him talking money now?

[Sperm Edwards]

26 minutes ago, MasterChiefJets said:

When did Gase become a finance expert? Does Michigan State pump out great GMs and business leaders? 

He should have been angry over Mac's incompetence for the O-Line and Edge Rushers but him talking money now?

I don't think they're mutually exclusive. 

He may think that behind a dominant OL there are many RBs who can put up Bell or Bell-lite numbers, even if they aren't innately his equal.

Look at the difference between Thomas Jones from 2007 to 2008 here. Did he suddenly become a much better RB at age 30? 

Could also be he's worried about the risk of that player in particular having too much leverage due to 2 years of guarantees. Personally I'm fine with that pickup, figuring Macc was just going to blow it anyway and I'm more long-term attached to the Jets as a fan than Gase will be the HC, so I'm more interested in investing in Darnold's development than the team's record for the 2019 season.

But yeah I'd rather have sunk another $17MM/year into the OL instead of upgrading from Lee to Mosely. 2 veteran improvements should have been the bare minimum, plus adding a 3rd either via FA or the draft. No one here counted Harrison as a FA acquisition to start in 2019 until after it and nothing else was done, and compounding that by not even taking a flyer on a mid/late round OLman yet again is criminal ignorance. He's supposed to be able to sniff out this talent later in the draft, as a career scout whose scoutingness was his only theoretical qualification for the job in the first place.

[MasterChiefJets]

1 hour ago, Sperm Edwards said:

I don't think they're mutually exclusive. 

He may think that behind a dominant OL there are many RBs who can put up Bell or Bell-lite numbers, even if they aren't innately his equal.

Look at the difference between Thomas Jones from 2007 to 2008 here. Did he suddenly become a much better RB at age 30? 

Could also be he's worried about the risk of that player in particular having too much leverage due to 2 years of guarantees. Personally I'm fine with that pickup, figuring Macc was just going to blow it anyway and I'm more long-term attached to the Jets as a fan than Gase will be the HC, so I'm more interested in investing in Darnold's development than the team's record for the 2019 season.

But yeah I'd rather have sunk another $17MM/year into the OL instead of upgrading from Lee to Mosely. 2 veteran improvements should have been the bare minimum, plus adding a 3rd either via FA or the draft. No one here counted Harrison as a FA acquisition to start in 2019 until after it and nothing else was done, and compounding that by not even taking a flyer on a mid/late round OLman yet again is criminal ignorance. He's supposed to be able to sniff out this talent later in the draft, as a career scout whose scoutingness was his only theoretical qualification for the job in the first place.

I agree with Gase's assessment of players. I am pointing out about how his idea of how much to pay certain players. Unless he is doing the negotiations than I don't buy it. Being angry that money was not going to fill his O-line and Edge Rusher, that is different.

[varjet]

Mac knew that picking up a Bell would help him with the Press and potentially provide a spark for Darnold.

He was also sticking to his belief that the OL could be patched together/coached up.  

Gase likely did not buy into the latter.  

[Sperm Edwards]

2 hours ago, MasterChiefJets said:

I agree with Gase's assessment of players. I am pointing out about how his idea of how much to pay certain players. Unless he is doing the negotiations than I don't buy it. Being angry that money was not going to fill his O-line and Edge Rusher, that is different.

I think it's that if the going rate of a FA center costs X and a FA ILB costs 2X, then pull yourself out of the market for the ILB and let someone else pay it.

[kelly]

Rich Cimini       ESPN Staff Writer 

Coach/interim GM Adam Gase will "assist" in the search for a new GM, per Jets CEO Christopher Johnson. The favorite is Eagles VP of player personnel Joe Douglas, a a close friend of Gase. They worked together with the Bears in 2015, Gase as OC and Douglas as director of college scouting. They talk a lot of the phone, one source said. Douglas is a respected talent evaluator who got his start under former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome. Champ Kelly, the Bears' assistant director of player personnel, is another potential candidate. So is Lance Newmark, the Lions' director of player personnel. The new GM will report directly to Johnson.

>    http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets

[kelly]

In the past year, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock have both left the broadcast booth for NFL jobs. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network could be next.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Jeremiah is under “serious consideration for a prominent front-office position” with the New York Jets, who just fired GM Mike Maccagnan on Wednesday.

✔ @AdamSchefter

Just months after NFLN Draft Analyst Mike Mayock took the Raiders’ GM job, his replacement Daniel Jeremiah is under serious consideration for a prominent front-office position with the NY Jets, per sources. NFLN Draft Analyst job has become breeding ground for front-office jobs.

Jeremiah is a longtime draft analyst on NFL Network and is viewed as one of the best in the business. Before getting into the media, he was a college scout for the Ravens, Browns and Eagles.Schefter reported Wednesday that Eagles VP of player personnel Joe Douglas could be in contention to be hired as the Jets’ new GM, given his ties to Adam Gase.

>  https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/15/nfl-jets-daniel-jeremiah-front-office-mike-maccagnan/

[Apache 51]

On 5/14/2019 at 8:25 PM, Thai Jet said:

So easy to say 2 years later post facto isn't it. Spare me.

Real easy. Jets have needed Qb since.......

[kelly]

The Jets may look down the New Jersey Turnpike for their next general manager.

Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas is considered to be the favorite to land the Jets GM job by many around the NFL. Some even say it is a done deal and Douglas will be hired as soon as the Jets comply with the Rooney Rule and interview a minority candidate.League sources said Douglas has already reached out to people about joining him with the Jets. ESPN reported NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah could have a prominent front-office role.

One source, however, denied any decision has been made by the Jets yet.The link between Douglas and the Jets is coach Adam Gase. The two worked together in 2015 with the Bears when Douglas was Chicago’s director of college scouting and Gase was the offensive coordinator. The Jets fired Mike Maccagnan on Wednesday after a power struggle between Gase and Maccagnan. It sounds like Douglas is Gase’s preferred choice for GM.

Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said Gase will “assist” in the GM search along with several other people inside the team.

Douglas has a good reputation around the league. He joined the Eagles in 2016 and helped build them in to a Super Bowl champion in 2017. Prior to his year with the Bears, Douglas worked in the Ravens’ personnel department from 2000-15.It was with the Ravens that Douglas worked with Jeremiah, who was a scout in Baltimore from 2003-07.

One league source said Douglas could have his pick of GM jobs after this season. The source questioned whether Douglas would join a franchise where he could not hire his own head coach. But most around the league believe Douglas already has been lined up by the Jets.The Jets plan on starting their search for a GM immediately. They could look to former Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie for an interview. Vikings assistant general manager George Paton is usually a candidate for GM openings, but has always chosen to remain in Minnesota. Adam Peters, the 49ers vice president of player personnel, could also get an interview.

>   https://nypost.com/2019/05/15/jets-focus-on-joe-douglas-after-mike-maccagnan-firing/

[kelly]

Before this crucial offseason began for the Jets, GM Mike Maccagnan knew he was on the hot seat. That is why we saw him shell out roughly $191 million to land some of the top free agents on the market with RB Le'Veon Bell leading the pack. 

Then, came the NFL Draft. The Jets didn't have a lot of capital this season, but they still possessed the No. 3 overall pick. Maccagnan wasn't shy in saying the pick was up for sale, but they would keep it in their pocket and select possibly the safest pick in the class in Alabama DT Quinnen Williams -- a player that is going to be at the top of Defensive Rookie of the Year ballots to start the season. Through his free-agent pickups and a solid draft class, it looked like Maccagnan was on the right path to turning around not only the franchise, but thoughts about his job security. 

It just wasn't enough.

Jets owner Christopher Johnson made the call on Wednesday to rid the team of Maccagnan's direction as general manager, and VP of player personnel Brian Heimerdinger was also shown the door in the process. So does this mean the reports that stated a rift between Maccagnan and new head coach Adam Gase, who will assume the role as interim GM while the Jets search for a new one, true? Johnson spoke to the media on Wednesday to say there wasn't a "power struggle," but instead, he just didn't see the connection he wanted between his GM and coach."This had nothing to do with Adam. I want a good give-and-take between our GM and coach," Johnson said. "This was not one person or another winning a power struggle. This was completely my decision.

"I think there was very good synergy (between Maccagnan and Gase), but it was not everything that I was hoping for. I made the decision I want to find a better fit for this building."But why now? How could Johnson allow Maccagnan to make these moves knowing this offseason was vital for the Jets short- and long-term future, and let him go right after it's complete? Johnson had made the call after the final game of last season that Todd Bowles was finished as head coach, but he needed to do more of a "deep dive" on Maccagnan's front. 

"This isn't a decision I could have made at the end of the season," Johnson said. "I could with Todd. I could not with Mike."

---

 

---

Johnson explained how his decision "evolved" into letting Maccagnan go after he began sitting in free-agent and Draft meetings to get a better feel of what his role was. He "understood more fully" what Maccagnan was doing, and ultimately didn't believe his process was what he wanted to see from his GM.Now comes finding his replacement, and Johnson believes it will certainly be a job of intrigue. 

"I think this is going to be a real attractive job," he said. "I don't think we're going to have any trouble finding a good GM here. I think this is an excellent spot."The Jets have already been linked to Eagles VP of player personnel, Joe Douglas. Though Johnson says this has nothing to do with Gase or Maccagnan, it's no coincidence the leading candidate is "Gase's guy, a league source told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.Douglas was the director of college scouting with the Bears in 2015, the same year Gase was the team's offensive coordinator. He also helped construct the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning roster two seasons ago. So is he the "strategic thinker" Johnson wants to lead the way? It certainly seems like he would have the synergy with Gase, but that isn't the only quality Johnson will need to see from Maccagnan's replacement.

"There's more to a job of being a GM than just adding great players," he said.

And that shows with Maccagnan packing up his things in Florham Park. He brought in the Jets' franchise quarterback in Sam Darnold. He gave him Bell and Jamison Crowder to work with. He bolstered the defense with Williams, LB CJ Mosley and CB Brian Poole, while re-signing the co-sack leader of 2018 in Henry Anderson.But at the end of the day, the cohesiveness with Gase wasn't there. And with Maccagnan's job status under question up until this point, it seemed like the last straw for the Jets, a team that doesn't want anymore disfunction during his rebuild.It's now be up to Gase to make sure it's smooth sailing from here. It's his team now, and Johnson will hope everyone -- from the new players to the new GM -- will buy in. 

>   https://www.yahoo.com/sports/jets-christopher-johnson-explains-why-223424188.html

[kelly]

It came as a bit of shock when the Jets fired general Mike Maccagnan earlier this week. Maccagnan had just wrapped up his fifth draft as GM, spent a lot of money in free agency and helped hire Adam Gase to replace Todd Bowles. But here we are in May, and the Jets are searching for a new general manager just the same.

For the most part, teams tend to fire their general managers immediately after the season ends in January. Sometimes, they even fire them in-season. But while it’s not completely unheard of for a team to fire their GM after the draft and free agency, it’s incredibly uncommon. Of the 10 general managers fired since Maccagnan took over in 2015, only three were let go between April and July – Doug Whaley (Bills), John Dorsey (Chiefs) and Dave Gettleman (Panthers). The Bills fired Whaley a day after the 2017 draft, while Dorsey and Gettleman were let go later in the summer of that same year.

Maccagnan’s firing isn’t all too surprising considering his horrid draft history, his atrocious 24-40 record and lack of a playoff berth in all four seasons of his tenure. But when the Jets decided not to fire Maccagnan after the 2018 season when they fired Todd Bowles, they pretty much locked themselves into at least another four-five months specifically because of the draft and free agency. As ESPN’s Josina Anderson noted in a tweet, “it’s hard to blow up your personnel department before the draft because they’ve done all the preparation and work … That’s why you see most personnel moves made after the draft. You fire coaches after the season and GMs after the draft.”

>   https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/17/jets-rare-company-firing-mike-maccagnan-after-nfl-draft-free-agency/

[rangerous]

On 5/14/2019 at 11:35 AM, Jetsfan80 said:

It didn't even resemble a "swing" though.  Geno Smith was a swing and miss.  Mark Sanchez was a swing and miss.  Bryce Petty was a swing and miss.  I'm fine with those swings. 

There was zero justification to take Hackenberg in the 2nd round.  It was like batting out of turn and being called out, or performing so poorly in batting practice that you get placed on waivers that day.  Normally I'm fine with taking a shot on a QB, but he was banking on a player who couldn't possibly succeed at the NFL level to be "the guy".  That's inconceivable.  Hack's resume resembled a 5th or 6th rounder at best.

And the pick was made worse by his belief the next year that Hackenberg could still be "the guy", showing he wasn't just stupid, he was willing to double down on that stupidity by believing in a player who couldn't possibly succeed and PROVED he couldn't possibly succeed over the course of a full season of practice.  His behavior the next year was like saying "Yeah, he really IS that dumb."

 

totally agree on hack.  hack wasn't being pursued by any other team and could've been had in the 6th round or as a udfa.  this was an exceptionally bad miss by a guy who was supposed to have some scouting creds.

[kelly]

6 not-so-fun facts about Mike Maccagnan's Jets tenure

 

[kelly]

Mike Maccagnan’s career as GM of the Jets is over. The Jets are moving on and looking for a new man to run the team in the future.

If you thought the New York Jets’ employee search was over when they hired Adam Gase back in January, you thought wrong. They’re now back in search mode, but this time around, the search is for a general manager.Mike Maccagnan is gone, and Christopher Johnson is hunting for a new GM for the first time in his career as the Jets’ owner. Several names have evolved as favorites so far. Who are the Jets looking at to team up with Adam Gase for the future?

Joe Douglas

Joe Douglas has been declared by most as the front-runner to be the next general manager of the Jets. He’s currently the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles, and is reportedly the favorite to be the team’s new GM.Douglas’ connection to the Jets? Adam Gase. Gase and Douglas worked together with the Chicago Bears. Douglas was the director of college scouting, and Gase was the offensive coordinator. Many reporters believe that Douglas is Gase’s pick to be the new GM.Douglas teamed with Howie Roseman to build the Eagles’ roster that won a Super Bowl just two years ago. He’s well thought of around the league, and appears to be a very good candidate for the GM position. He’s likely the best option available, and is the favorite to be the new GM for the Jets.

Champ Kelly

Champ Kelly is another name in the mix of Jets GM candidates. Kelly is currently the Assistant Director of Player Personnel for the Bears. He was previously the Director of Pro Scouting with the team before being promoted. He now is essential in directing the Bears’ collegiate scouting and pro personnel departments.Like Douglas, Kelly has a connection to Gase. Gase and Kelly worked together in Denver for several seasons, and with the Bears in 2015. Kelly is very highly thought of around the league, and is definitely on the Jets’ list for possible GM’s.Kelly seems to be behind Douglas in the race to become the Jets’ GM, but he’s definitely up there on the Jets’ list. If Douglas wants to remain in Philadelphia and wait until the end of next season and see if other jobs become available, Kelly along with other candidates will be a top option for the Jets.

Lance Newmark

Lance Newmark, the veteran among the top candidates for the job, has been with the Lions for 23 years. He’s spent 21 of those years with the Detroit Lions. He worked his way up the Lions’ front office all the way to Director of Player Personnel, which he’s been doing since 2017.Gase worked with Newman in Detroit, where he started his NFL career as a scouting assistant back in 2003. He worked with Newman for four years before leaving to become an offensive assistant for the 49ers in 2008.Obviously, a pattern is forming. All of the Jets’ top candidates all have some sort of connection to Adam Gase, who seems to have a bigger impact on the GM decision than we thought. Douglas is reportedly Gase’s pick, but if they can’t reel in Douglas, Gase wants to be assured he knows who he’s working with.

>  https://thejetpress.com/2019/05/17/3-potential-candidates-jets-gm-job/

[kelly]

On Wednesday, New York Jets acting owner Christopher Johnson fired general manager Mike Maccagnan.On Thursday, Scott Pioli stepped down as assistant general manager of the Atlanta Falcons.It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to connect the dots. Was Pioli leaving Atlanta because of the Jets’ GM opening ?

Pioli’s former boss, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff, says that’s not the case. Per The Athletic:

“This isn’t to take another job right now. This is just something Scott and I have been talking about for a while now. We talked about it a year ago at this time, and we said we would revisit it after we got through the draft. We’ve been talking quite a bit over the last few days. Scott wants to look at other things. I don’t want to answer for him, but he’s in a great place, and we’re in a great place.”

However, in his resignation Thursday, Pioli sounded like a man on the move.“Now, after more than five years with the Falcons, I am ready for a change. I want to thank all of my co-workers at Flowery Branch as it has truly been an honor to be a part of this organization and I am thankful to have been a part of this football team and the Falcons family.”

But Pioli seemed to walk that back in a statement to The Athletic:

“I’m fine. My family is fine. This was my choice and it’s just time. Time for what, I don’t know, yet.”

So which is it? Is Pioli “ready for a change”? Or was the timing of his departure just a coincidence? We’ll find out in the coming days, as Johnson and interim general manager Adam Gase conduct their search. Just remember one thing. Gase swore he and Maccagnan didn’t have a problem in their relationship. And that was true. Right up until the Jets fired Maccagnan.

>    https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/05/nfl-rumors-is-ex-falcons-exec-scott-pioli-really-ready-for-a-change-depends-on-who-you-ask.html

[kelly]

The Jets pulled the pin on the Mike Maccagnan era on Wednesday, firing their GM of four years after the draft and free agency.

The fallout from his power struggle with the head coach he helped hire four months before is finally coming to light. According to the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta, Maccagnan didn’t want Adam Gase to adversely influence his scouts’ evaluations.

Maccagnan’s strange approach to the draft goes against everything that is the norm in war rooms around the league.In the Jets media videos, which showed Maccagnan and Christopher Johnson telling draft picks that the Jets would be selecting them, Gase was noticeably absent. Prior to draft weekend, Maccagnan did not want Gase to influence his scouts; instead, he preferred that Gase not speak up too much.Gase was already upset with the amount of money that the team spent on Le’Veon Bell while ignoring the center position simultaneously. As far as the draft was concerned, Gase was forced to bite his tongue, not offering his opinion one way or another on the six players the Jets came away with.

Maccagnan had the same philosophy when Todd Bowles was the head coach. He did not want his scouts being swayed by the head coach, which has some irony to it because Bowles wanted Maccagnan to trade up for Saints RB Alvin Kamara, now a budding star, in 2017.Instead, Maccagnan stayed pat in the third round and used picks that could’ve been used to trade up on receivers ArDarius Stewart and Chad Hansen, who are both now out of the NFL.Having a college scouting background, Maccagnan’s erroneous drafts put him at the forefront of criticism. However, it seems landing franchise-changing players in Jamal Adams and Sam Darnold bought him some time. Four months that is.

Gase won a power struggle in a relationship that was doomed from the start. He became impatient and irritated with a general manager who was already on thin ice to begin the offseason due to his poor track record.Now, Gase has the interim general manager label and will assist in picking the next general manager, who will most likely have a previous rapport with the Jets head coach.

>   https://jetswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/18/mike-maccagnan-didnt-want-jets-scouts-swayed-by-adam-gases-input/

[NYJ1]

On 5/14/2019 at 10:58 AM, T0mShane said:

What a hack-ass piece of sh*t article clearly written atop someone’s toilet. The actual list:

1. Passing on Deshaun Watson and Pat Mahomes. Call this revisionist, but that’s not how history works, which will show that there were two franchise QBs on the board and he took a safety. 

2. Re-signing Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh McCown instead of having the guts to go through a proper rebuild when both QBs were clearly stopgaps.

3. Offering Kirk Cousins $120 million in guaranteed money while fielding the worst roster in football. Imagine where the Jets would be if Maccagnan succeeded in bringing in Steve Beurlein 2.0 at $30 mil per.

4. Ignoring the OL and skill positions in the drafts leading up to 2018 while still claiming the “plan” was to draft QB in 2018. 

And probably the very worst acquisition he ever made (at least from his own personal point of view):

Hiring ADAM GASE.

 

 

[kelly]

The 2019 Jets season will be the 20th of Woody and Christopher Johnson’s ownership (with Christopher now running the show as acting owner).The Jets in 2019 will have their sixth head coach and sixth general manager of the Johnson era. So as they replace GM Mike Maccagnan, whom Christopher fired earlier this week, what must Maccagnan’s replacement accomplish, in order to make the Jets a winner?

Obviously, most of this stuff will happen next offseason, because the bulk of the 2019 offseason is complete. But here’s a look at seven things on the new GM’s plate :

 What to do with DE Leonard Williams? He is entering a contract year. Williams has the Jets’ biggest salary cap figure in 2019 — $14.2 million, his fifth-year option figure. What kind of contract will the Jets offer him next offseason? Will they prevent him from hitting free agency in March? Could they franchise tag him? That all partly depends on how he performs this season. Williams is the Jets’ most notable pending free agent for 2020. If he departs, they could benefit with a compensatory pick. It’ll be interesting to see if the Jets’ 2019 first-round draft pick, Quinnen Williams, can free up Leonard Williams from double teams this season.

• Set up offensive line for future. Left tackle Kelvin Beachum will be a 30-year-old free agent next offseason. The Jets don’t appear to have a long-term solution at center. How will the new GM feel about right guard Brian Winters and right tackle Brandon Shell? Left guard Kelechi Osemele — just landed by Maccagnan via trade — turns 30 next month. As the Jets try to put talent around quarterback Sam Darnold, the long-term future of this line remains a concern.

Find a No. 1 wide receiver. Right now, the Jets have Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, and slot receiver Jamison Crowder. Maybe Anderson develops into a true No. 1 receiver in 2019. But the Jets currently don’t have a sure-thing No. 1 target. If Anderson or Enunwa doesn’t take a big leap in 2019, the Jets’ new GM likely will be seeking a No. 1 receiver for Darnold and coach Adam Gase next offseason.

• How much money to offer WR Robby Anderson? Along the lines of the Jets seeking a No. 1 receiver, Anderson wants to have a big season in 2019, which is his first true contract year, as he prepares to become an unrestricted free agent for the first time next offseason. Gase wants to use Anderson in a more diverse role, not just as a speedy deep threat. This is a big prove-it year for Anderson, with a new GM arriving.

• Other pending 2020 free agents. Williams and Anderson are the two big ones. But the new GM will also have decisions to make on some other starters/notable players: slot cornerback Brian Poole, outside linebacker Brandon Copeland, outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, Beachum, and Shell. The new GM obviously will have acquired none of those players. What will he and Gase think about them after this season transpires?

Determine what to do at edge rusher. Yes, Maccagnan just drafted edge rusher Jachai Polite in the third round. But he’s not a sure-thing dominant player. And the Jets still need to somehow get more of a pass rush. Maybe they do it up the middle, with Quinnen Williams and Leonard Williams. Or maybe the new GM and Gase determine after this season that the Jets do in fact need an elite edge rusher — something they don’t currently have.

• Long-term plan at cornerback? The Jets’ three corners right now are Poole in the slot and Trumaine Johnson and Darryl Roberts at the outside spots. The Jets might not be able to cut the disappointing Johnson after 2019. But Poole and Roberts are expendable. Maybe Johnson winds up excelling in 2019. It’s a big season for him. If he doesn’t — and depending on what Roberts and Poole do — the new GM will have to sort out a messy cornerback situation. The Jets would free up $3 million in salary cap space by cutting Johnson after 2019, but would have to take on a $12 million dead money cap hit. Less than ideal.

>    https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/05/jets-gm-search-7-things-mike-maccagnans-replacement-must-accomplish-mostly-next-offseason-as-rebuild-continues.html

[kelly]

Christopher Johnson isn’t concerned about the Jets finding a talented candidate for their vacant general manager job. He’s convinced the job is attractive.

But the truth is that the job is complicated, with plenty of pros and cons.

Want proof ? Here’s a quick summary.

Pros: Sam Darnold, young defensive stars, New York market

Cons: Unstable organization, lack of a winning culture, potentially onerous free-agent contracts

But the truth is that the job is complicated, with plenty of pros and cons.

Want proof? Here’s a quick summary.

Pros: Sam Darnold, young defensive stars, New York market

Cons: Unstable organization, lack of a winning culture, potentially onerous free-agent contracts.

Still, Johnson – like just about any boss – thinks he can sell potential candidates on the Jets. But here’s an important question: How much longer will Johnson actually be the boss?Get ready for a strange additions to that “cons” list.Johnson took over control of the Jets from his older brother, Woody, in 2017. That’s when Woody Johnson began his tenure as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.But Woody Johnson’s career in diplomacy won’t last forever and he’s expected to return to the Jets once his time in government ends. The question is when that might be.Without delving too deeply into political waters, it could be as soon as next year.And, as Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer explains, that could throw another wrench into the Jets’ already strange GM search (emphasis Breer’s):

Imagine you’re Christopher Johnson, tasked with finding the Jets’ next GM and ... depending in part on next year’s election, your brother Woody could return from the UK as soon as 2020 to take back control of the team, which will make that new coach and this candidate instantly the hires of someone else. So will the new GM be on the clock in a hurry? That’s not really for you to say.

Anyway… Anyone want this job?

On its face, it seems absurd that President Donald Trump’s bid for reelection could have anything remotely to do with the Jets’ general manager job.But given Woody Johnson’s previous reputation as an overly involved owner, prospective hires could be forgiven for wondering what it would be like to work for him.If you’re a talented, up-and-coming GM candidate, is smart to jump at the Jets’ job, knowing there’s a chance that a different owner – one who is not necessarily invested in your plan – could be lurking around the corner? If there’s even a chance that you could be on the clock that quickly for reasons outside your control, do you still want the job?Or does the potential for even more volatility in this already messy organization turn you off and make you wait for next winter, when the NFL hiring carousel fires back up again?

On the flip side, even if Trump were to lose in 2020, Woody Johnson likely would not return to the Jets until early 2021, after the current administration leaves office.That means that the current GM will get two seasons – 2019 and 2020 – before Woody Johnson even takes back control. And barring a truly abysmal performance, it seems unlikely that Woody Johnson would fire the general manager immediately, without taking some time to evaluate that person himself. That means the new GM could get the 2021 season as a “prove it” year, too.

So, even if Woody Johnson rejoins the Jets relatively quickly, the next GM will probably get at least three seasons in charge – basically the same grace period he’d get anywhere else.Still, it’s interesting to note that the Jets could be in for another major leadership change in the near future. Even more interesting is the fact that the team has no control over when that change will come – that’s for the electorate to decide.In the meantime, though, that lack of surefire stability – and the associated risk – is just another question that GM candidates will have to raise when considering whether or not they want the job.

>   https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/05/could-donald-trump-2020-presidential-election-play-bizarre-role-in-jets-gm-search.html

[Bugg]

On 5/14/2019 at 11:35 AM, Jetsfan80 said:

It didn't even resemble a "swing" though.  Geno Smith was a swing and miss.  Mark Sanchez was a swing and miss.  Bryce Petty was a swing and miss.  I'm fine with those swings. 

There was zero justification to take Hackenberg in the 2nd round.  It was like batting out of turn and being called out, or performing so poorly in batting practice that you get placed on waivers that day.  Normally I'm fine with taking a shot on a QB, but he was banking on a player who couldn't possibly succeed at the NFL level to be "the guy".  That's inconceivable.  Hack's resume resembled a 5th or 6th rounder at best.

And the pick was made worse by his belief the next year that Hackenberg could still be "the guy", showing he wasn't just stupid, he was willing to double down on that stupidity by believing in a player who couldn't possibly succeed and PROVED he couldn't possibly succeed over the course of a full season of practice.  His behavior the next year was like saying "Yeah, he really IS that dumb."

 

Like taking a corner with 2 bad knees or special teams projects when there are still viable OL guys on the board.

Think the world of Darnold, but passing on Mahomes or Watson for a safety was terrible.

Hackenberg was a classic case of  scout Maccagnan talking to a an old buddy  O'Brien like it's 1972 and ignoring gobs and piles of data. EVERYBODY associated with PSU and the Big 10 knew this guy was dog, which really is an insult to dogs. 

 

[kelly]

Jets' GM search: Can they finally get one right ?   Well ...

One week after a front-office shake-up that confirmed a chasm in the organization and resulted in ugly fallout and behind-the-scenes finger-pointing from rival factions, the New York Jets will attempt to make themselves whole and rebuild their credibility with a hire that will define CEO Christopher Johnson's legacy.They need a general manager. He has to be a shrewd talent evaluator. He has to be a forward thinker. He has to be a strong leader. He has to be compatible with coach Adam Gase. What he can't be is a yes man to Gase.

Anybody know someone who fits the description ?

The Jets have put themselves in a difficult situation, and they can't blame anyone but themselves. How they got to this point is yesterday's news. What's important is what comes next. For better or worse, Johnson sided with Gase over former GM Mike Maccagnan in their family feud, and now it's on Johnson as the leader of the franchise to maximize Gase's chances for success. He can do that by hiring someone who knows and can work with Gase. To pair him with a stranger (again) would be too much of a risk.

"Arranged marriages rarely work," an opposing general manager said this week.

The Jets should know that by now, considering their track record with failed coach-GM unions: Rex Ryan-John Idzik (a 12-20 record), Todd Bowles-Maccagnan (24-40) and Gase-Maccagnan (0-0). The franchise employed a search firm for the Idzik hire and used consultants Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf for Bowles-Maccagnan -- a couple of Casserly associates from his NFL past. The only thing Bowles and Maccagnan had in common, other than Casserly, was they were born and raised in New Jersey.This time, the Jets will conduct their own search, with Johnson, Gase and Hymie Elhai leading the way. Elhai, the senior vice president of business affairs and general counsel, has a respected voice within the organization. In terms of a football background, Gase will be the only person in the room who qualifies.Johnson, on the job for only two years as the acting owner, finds himself on a slippery slope -- and as a heli-skier, he knows treacherous slopes. He must appease his coach while finding a free-thinking GM who won't allow himself to be pushed around by Gase -- who might or might not see himself as the de facto GM. On Monday, Gase insisted he just wants to coach the team, nothing more. Good idea, considering his personnel record with the Miami Dolphins, where he had control over a mediocre roster.

Named the Jets' interim GM, Gase has made a handful of roster moves in recent days, but none of them qualifies as a franchise-altering move. So, no, this isn't Alexander Haig running around the White House and declaring: "I'm in charge."The most successful teams work in a collaborative manner, with the top decision-makers philosophically aligned. The Jets haven't had that kind of simpatico arrangement since Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum, who enjoyed playoff runs in 2009 and 2010 before things went sideways. Speaking at the NFL owners meetings in late March, Gase admitted he needs time to get comfortable with a new GM, saying it wasn't until his third year in Miami that he felt in sync with Chris Grier. Was he trying to send a message?Johnson can eliminate the feeling-out period by hiring someone already familiar with Gase -- perhaps Joe Douglas, the Philadelphia Eagles' vice president of player personnel. Douglas is a well-respected talent evaluator with experience in college and pro scouting. He's "a big part of our scouting process," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday. The word in league circles is Gase wants Douglas, but the Jets owe it to themselves to explore all options.

I spoke with high-ranking officials from three different teams, and they all said chemistry will be paramount for the Jets' hire. Look around the league at the teams who hired the GM after the coach and you'll notice a common denominator: They worked together previously.In 2018, the Houston Texans hired Brian Gaine, who already had a relationship with coach Bill O'Brien because he had worked previously as a Texans personnel executive. In 2018, the Carolina Panthers hired Marty Hurney after a year as the interim GM, but he had served a previous stint as the GM and actually was involved in the hiring of longtime coach Ron Rivera. The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens hired Brett Veach and Eric DeCosta in 2017 and 2019, respectively, but they came up through their respective organizations under the current coach.Johnson can eliminate the feeling-out period by hiring someone already familiar with Gase -- perhaps Joe Douglas, the Philadelphia Eagles' vice president of player personnel. Douglas is a well-respected talent evaluator with experience in college and pro scouting. He's "a big part of our scouting process," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday. The word in league circles is Gase wants Douglas, but the Jets owe it to themselves to explore all options.I spoke with high-ranking officials from three different teams, and they all said chemistry will be paramount for the Jets' hire. Look around the league at the teams who hired the GM after the coach and you'll notice a common denominator: They worked together previously.

In 2018, the Houston Texans hired Brian Gaine, who already had a relationship with coach Bill O'Brien because he had worked previously as a Texans personnel executive. In 2018, the Carolina Panthers hired Marty Hurney after a year as the interim GM, but he had served a previous stint as the GM and actually was involved in the hiring of longtime coach Ron Rivera. The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens hired Brett Veach and Eric DeCosta in 2017 and 2019, respectively, but they came up through their respective organizations under the current coach.

>  http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/79997/jets-gm-search-can-they-finally-get-one-right-well

[kelly]

Despite an offseason that brought the New York Jets tons of new talent, the team made the right move by firing general manager Mike Maccagnan.

Maccagnan’s four-year reign as the GM of the Jets came to end after a rumored rift with new head coach Adam Gase. Some would have liked for him to remain in charge, but a look at his resume during his time in New York would suggest that he was lucky to last as long as he did.

Under Maccagnan, the Jets had an unimpressive 24-40 record in 4 seasons, failing to make the playoffs every season. Maccagnan comes with a background in scouting players, yet his draft record has underwhelmed.Outside of Sam Darnold, Jamal Adams, Leonard Williams, Quincy Enunwa, and Marcus Maye (Robby Anderson was an UDFA), he has failed to draft and develop a roster good enough to compete. His draft resume looks even worse when add in the fact that Darnold, Adams and Williams were all top 10 picks and were already regarded as can’t-miss prospects.

The Jets finished the last three seasons in the bottom half of the entire league and as a laughing stock. As the GM and the person tasked with assembling the 53 man roster, majority of the blame for the lack of success falls on his shoulders.Starting a new era with a new coach, a new QB, and new top tier playmakers, it was time to make a change up top and start fresh. The outlook for this team has never been brighter and needs to continue to rise. The firing of Maccagnan was yet another step in the right direction.

>    https://thejetpress.com/2019/05/22/firing-mike-maccagnan-right-move-jets/

[kelly]

Rich Cimini     ESPN Staff Writer 

The Jets have requested permission to speak with Joe Douglas and Champ Kelly for their GM vacancy, according to the NFL Network. Douglas, the presumptive frontrunner, is the Eagles' vice president of player personnel. Kelly is the Bears' assistant director of player personnel. Both men have a background with coach Adam Gase, the interim GM in the aftermath of the Mike Maccagnan firing.

>     http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets