Hutch: Jets Players Sad To See Mangini Go

[SoFlaJets]

by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger

Monday December 29, 2008, 2:30 PM

"The firing of Jets coach Eric Mangini was met with shock and surprise by players Monday as they bagged their belongings and headed off into the offseason.

Almost to a man, players said they didn't see it coming and insisted they Mangini didn't lose the team. Several players said off the record that quarterback Brett Favre, not Mangini, is most responsible for their epic collapse.

Favre, of course, threw two touchdowns and nine interceptions in the final five games, four losses.

What's more, players said privately that the organization is simply trying to make a big splash with a high-profile coach as it prepares to enter their new stadium and Mangini was the sacrificial lamb. The organization, players said, wanted to act quickly so they could go after Bill Cowder before another team grabbed him.

Mangini addressed the team briefly at noon.

``Certain things you don't see coming and it catches you off guard,'' said cornerback Ty Law. ``It's unfortunate. Eric is a great coach. He deserves better, especially from us as players. ... No, he didn't lose the team. The guys were behind him 100 percent. To say he lost the locker room, no.''

``I'm surprised. I didn't see it coming,'' echoed tight end Chris Baker. ``The way this business is, you have to expect the unexpected, though.''

``Eric and I are good friends,'' said cornerback Darrelle Revis. ``I''m sure he's going to be somewhere else next year.''

Safety Kerry Rhodes pointed to the Jets' effort in their 24-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday as proof that they didn't quit on Mangini.

``We came out and we still fought,'' said Rhodes.

``Everyone played a role (in Mangini getting fired),'' said wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. ``We should've done better as players. I could've done a better job of making plays. Eric is a good guy. It's tough to see him go.''

[SMC]

If they were so sad, they should have played better over the last 5 games.

[SoFlaJets]

did anybody else hear that Kerry Rhodes quote on the fan on the break saying (about Favre) "if he wants to come back and be a part of this team from camp on then yea it'd be OK" I'm paraphrasing but it almost sounded like he was saying if Favre DOESN'T want to committ then stay home

[ECURB]

Nobody liked Brett,... it was obvious he was a dick who thought he was a level above everyone... yet wasnt even a top 25 QB this year...

[CTM]

If they were so sad, they should have played better over the last 5 games.

Exactly. This team was listless.

Not to mention the grumblings about Mangini that are off the record. It's clear the locker room was dysfunctional, but losing does that..

[joebabyny]

by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger

Monday December 29, 2008, 2:30 PM

"The firing of Jets coach Eric Mangini was met with shock and surprise by players Monday as they bagged their belongings and headed off into the offseason.

Almost to a man, players said they didn't see it coming and insisted they Mangini didn't lose the team. Several players said off the record that quarterback Brett Favre, not Mangini, is most responsible for their epic collapse.

Favre, of course, threw two touchdowns and nine interceptions in the final five games, four losses.

What's more, players said privately that the organization is simply trying to make a big splash with a high-profile coach as it prepares to enter their new stadium and Mangini was the sacrificial lamb. The organization, players said, wanted to act quickly so they could go after Bill Cowder before another team grabbed him.

Mangini addressed the team briefly at noon.

``Certain things you don't see coming and it catches you off guard,'' said cornerback Ty Law. ``It's unfortunate. Eric is a great coach. He deserves better, especially from us as players. ... No, he didn't lose the team. The guys were behind him 100 percent. To say he lost the locker room, no.''

``I'm surprised. I didn't see it coming,'' echoed tight end Chris Baker. ``The way this business is, you have to expect the unexpected, though.''

``Eric and I are good friends,'' said cornerback Darrelle Revis. ``I''m sure he's going to be somewhere else next year.''

Safety Kerry Rhodes pointed to the Jets' effort in their 24-17 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday as proof that they didn't quit on Mangini.

``We came out and we still fought,'' said Rhodes.

``Everyone played a role (in Mangini getting fired),'' said wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. ``We should've done better as players. I could've done a better job of making plays. Eric is a good guy. It's tough to see him go.''

lol at kerry rhodes pointing to yesterday's travesty of a game as them still coming out and fighting to the end.

[talisaynon]

bubububut Jetnation told me that players had given up on Mangini and that Favre is not at fault!!!!11

GTFO

[joebabyny]

Nobody liked Brett,... it was obvious he was a dick who thought he was a level above everyone... yet wasnt even a top 25 QB this year...

all of that was obvious to you as a fan sitting in front of the tv or hearing jets press conferences????

[serphnx]

If they were so sad, they should have played better over the last 5 games.

Exactly. They didn't even bother showing up! What did you think was going to happen to the coach you idiots? It's not like they can fire all the players, there is a salary cap and it's hard to replace that many players. So the coach goes.

[SMC]

bubububut Jetnation told me that players had given up on Mangini and that Favre is not at fault!!!!11

GTFO

When has a player said on the record that they have given up on the HC?

Not even the Lions players have said that about Marinelli on the record.

[BP]

I call bull****. the players are so full of ****. all you had to do was watch the player introductions yesterday to see the Jets wanted no part of the Dolphins.

[Bleedin Green]

I don't think being sad to see him go is a universal feeling in the lockerroom based on other reports. Looking at this article, the guys who do seem legitimately sad are mostly those who were well-known personal favorites of Mangini's (Revis, Cotch, etc.).

[DMaynard]

bubububut Jetnation told me that players had given up on Mangini and that Favre is not at fault!!!!11

GTFO

Anyone who tries to defend Mangini or Favre is wasting their time. For a team to collapse like the Jets did, your HC has to be incompetent and your most important position player - QB, has to be horrible.

They were. In spades.

[SMC]

Exactly. They didn't even bother showing up! What did you think was going to happen to the coach you idiots? It's not like they can fire all the players, there is a salary cap and it's hard to replace that many players. So the coach goes.

So true.

It seems as if the players didn't believe the coaches could be accountable for what happened.

[ECURB]

all of that was obvious to you as a fan sitting in front of the tv or hearing jets press conferences????

and on the sideline... when only the youn g players (wallace wright) who were impressed with HOF brett seemed to give a **** about him... he was constantly sitting by himself or with just the QB coach moping around..

NOt to mention he is going to try and pull a Roger Clemens this season again and show up for the season without putting any work in...

He sucked, nobody liked him... mostly becuase he sucked but acted like god...

[joebabyny]

by Dave Hutchinson/The Star-Ledger

Monday December 29, 2008, 2:30 PM

"The firing of Jets coach Eric Mangini was met with shock and surprise by players Monday as they bagged their belongings and headed off into the offseason.

Almost to a man, players said they didn't see it coming and insisted they Mangini didn't lose the team. Several players said off the record that quarterback Brett Favre, not Mangini, is most responsible for their epic collapse.

lol, yeah favre and not the defense that made the worst teams in the nfl look good.

[SMC]

I call bull****. the players are so full of ****. all you had to do was watch the player introductions yesterday to see the Jets wanted no part of the Dolphins.

Exactly!

I was at the game yesterday and everyone in our section noted how lifeless the Jets came out of the tunnel.

[joebabyny]

I don't think being sad to see him go is a universal feeling in the lockerroom based on other reports. Looking at this article, the guys who do seem legitimately sad are mostly those who were well-known personal favorites of Mangini's (Revis, Cotch, etc.).

Revis who was drafted by mangini and cotch who was hidden on herm's bench until mangini came to town, yeah, you have a point there.

[BP]

lol, yeah favre and not the defense that made the worst teams in the nfl look good.

LOL!

How many INT's did the Jets defense drop yesterday?

Pennington was awful yesterday, but it's all Favre's fault.

[Vicious89x]

No one has said Mangini wasn't well liked.

A leader doesn't have to be well liked. A leader of men knows how to get the most out of his soldiers, he knows how to push the buttons to motivate em. Hug them, slap them, yell at them, compliment them, that type of leader knows what to do and when to do it.

Football is a war game, there are very few "nice guy coaches" who have been successful.

[Bleedin Green]

Revis who was drafted by mangini and cotch who was hidden on herm's bench until mangini came to town, yeah, you have a point there.

Exactly and honestly you can't really blame them. They're human and he's the guy who gave them their shots. Both have started every game they've played under Mangini and found success. But it doesn't mean it reflects the overall feeling of the lockerroom. Honestly, most guys still probably at least respect him and aren't going to sit around and badmouth a guy who just lost his job, so even those who may be happy he's gone will likely just keep their mouths shut.

[joebabyny]

and on the sideline... when only the youn g players (wallace wright) who were impressed with HOF brett seemed to give a **** about him... he was constantly sitting by himself or with just the QB coach moping around..

NOt to mention he is going to try and pull a Roger Clemens this season again and show up for the season without putting any work in...

He sucked, nobody liked him... mostly becuase he sucked but acted like god...

dude, how many games did you actually attend this year, because there is no way that anybody who just watched them on tv this year can talk about the atmosphere on the bench, you get maybe 3 minutes total of shots of the bench MAYBE and of course it is gonna be shots when favre or whoever is pissed or down, that is how games are shot and presented. I sat in the second row right behind the bench in Tenn in addition to going to 13 games this year, and what you are saying just was not the case any more than any other team. The way a football and especially nfl bench works is mostly the same, where units kinda hang together, like all 5 of our linemen who always sit together in the same order that they line up from left to right (bet watching on tv you don't realize that little piece of trivia.) The qb is usually alone or with the coaches or on the phone with the booth digesting what is going on in the game. I saw favre on many occasions on the sideline showing as much emotion for the defense as I have ever seen a qb do, which is telling because the offense and defense generally are their own islands.

[joebabyny]

LOL!

How many INT's did the Jets defense drop yesterday?

Pennington was awful yesterday, but it's all Favre's fault.

dude, everyone blamed Chad last year and the guy came back this season with a 1-15 rival and rammed it up our @ss. This year it has to be Favre's fault, lol at the Jets fan mindset.

[joebabyny]

Exactly and honestly you can't really blame them. They're human and he's the guy who gave them their shots. Both have started every game they've played under Mangini and found success. But it doesn't mean it reflects the overall feeling of the lockerroom. Honestly, most guys still probably at least respect him and aren't going to sit around and badmouth a guy who just lost his job, so even those who may be happy he's gone will likely just keep their mouths shut.

Yup, and beyond that, what athlete worth his jock strap would actually say he stopped playing for a coach? Is there anything worse than a quitter? Ask the Lions if they gave up on the coach, they will all say no, but they also went 0-15. When I watched them on thanksgiving they had already given up.

[ECURB]

Exactly!

I was at the game yesterday and everyone in our section noted how lifeless the Jets came out of the tunnel.

Woody sounded pissed about that.

[serphnx]

Yup, and beyond that, what athlete worth his jock strap would actually say he stopped playing for a coach? Is there anything worse than a quitter? Ask the Lions if they gave up on the coach, they will all say no, but they also went 0-15. When I watched them on thanksgiving they had already given up.

The Lions played a LOT harder than the Jets have in the final 5 games. A LOT harder. They just don't have the talent or coaching really. They wanted 1 game at least. I think that team will be okay next year, it's got some good talent in Calvin Johnson (my pick for best WR in the league actually, him or Andre Johnson now, TO is done, Moss is still up there too), Kevin Smith (didn't run him until near the very end) and Orlovsky (good potential at the most important position). I don't know much about their defense admittedly, but that offense isn't that far off. Their defense I just know statistically is awful.

Admittedly I don't really understand defense as much as I understand offense. I just know how to attack a defense.

[SoFlaJets]

Yup, and beyond that, what athlete worth his jock strap would actually say he stopped playing for a coach? Is there anything worse than a quitter?

I'll name you one Joe; Bryan Thomas last year and he comes back this year to start and then disappears by mid-season and his replacement the #6 DP sits all season long on the bench, in the "you're too stupid" doghouse instead of being given a chance to develop.

[afosomf]

I'll name you one Joe; Bryan Thomas last year and he comes back this year to start and then disappears by mid-season and his replacement the #6 DP sits all season long on the bench, in the "you're too stupid" doghouse instead of being given a chance to develop.

BT is realy BP (Big Pussie)

[Vicious89x]

Favre's pregame "speech" was sickening to me.

"if it works out then great"

Really????? The Phins came in hungry for blood.

[SoFlaJets]

BT is realy BP (Big Pussie)

and he should be given the Fredo/Big Pookie treatment on a boat this year...can we finally call The BT Express a bust now?

[CTM]

Favre's pregame "speech" was sickening to me.

"if it works out then great"

Really????? The Phins came in hungry for blood.

Yup.. Almost forgot about that disgrace...

Hopefully he goes when Cowher comes in..

[Vicious89x]

Yup.. Almost forgot about that disgrace...

Hopefully he goes when Cowher comes in..

I can't see that relationship working out. He's going to want his run/ball control offense that Favre wants nothing to do with. Favre wants the 5 wide, shotgun set, WCO. I'm not going to pin all the blame on Favre, I do think Mangini needed to go.

Quite frankly I'd love to keep Shottenheimer and have an EXPEREINCED head coach with clout come in and have him learn the ropes underneath him. The problem with the NFL IMO when it comes to coaches is lots of people look for the "diamond in the rough."

Well we've tried that 3 times since Parcells. Give me Cowher or die.

That's a little extreme but you get the point.

[SoFlaJets]

Could Parcells and Spagnuolo be on the Jets' radar?

by Star-Ledger Staff and Wire Report

Monday December 29, 2008, 2:21 PM

Bill Parcells has proven his worth as an NFL head coach with the Jets, Giants, Patriots and Cowboys and this year choreographed the Dolphins' record-setting turnaround.

Steve Spagnuolo is the architect of the Giants' attacking defense that helped win Super Bowl XLII and earn the No. 1 seed in this season's NFC playoffs.

Count on both names to be bandied about as the NFL job openings pop up -- perhaps even in terms of replacing Eric Mangini as the Jets coach.

It's too early to tell how high Spagnuolo would be on the Jets' list of coaching candidates, or whether he would be. However, if they approach the Giants defensive coordinator, who interviewed for the Redskins coaching job last year, and Spagnuolo was in turn interested, geography could provide an interesting twist.

Spagnuolo's wife lives near Philadelphia, and the couple has an affinity to stay nearby. According to someone close to the Spagnuolos, the transition to North Jersey has gone well.

Parcells retired from coaching after leaving the Cowboys after the 2006 season, but word around the Giants is that Parcells has told those close to him that he wants to coach again.

After inquiring about the Giants general manager opening in early 2007, Parcells sat out the subsequent season but was lured to the Dolphins to become their executive vice president of football operations.

But Parcells' stay in South Florida might not be a long one. A day after the Dolphins earned a playoff berth for the first time since 2001, Miami owner Wayne Huizenga confirmed to the Associated Press that Parcells' contract allows him to leave after one season and still receive the $12 million remaining on his four-year deal if the team is sold.

The sale of a majority share to New York real estate billionaire Stephen Ross is expected to be completed shortly after the season. Parcells would then have 30 days to leave without sacrificing the money due him in the final three years of his contract.

Surprising Miami plays host to Baltimore in a first-round playoff game Sunday. The Dolphins are 11-5, a dramatic turnaround from last year's 1-15 record.

The existence of the contract clause giving the 67-year-old Parcells a lucrative way out was first reported by ESPN.

Huizenga and Ross said they hope Parcells will stay. Coach Tony Sparano smiled but declined to comment Monday when asked whether he has any leverage with Parcells that might keep his boss from departing.

Ross bought 50 percent of the Dolphins last winter and is expected to soon exercise an option to purchase up to 95 percent.

[SoFlaJets]

so let's see, So I'm Bill Parcells and I see a way to still get paid 12 million dollars and NOT have to stand around in the Florida sun all summer? I would say C-ya....

[Thai Jet]

lol at kerry rhodes pointing to yesterday's travesty of a game as them still coming out and fighting to the end.

LOL Yeah that WAS pretty funny. Maybe Favre's pre game pep talk fired them up.