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A world of opinions.
An NFL Media Insider said he just spoke to two NFL GM’s on Mayfield. One said he was the “best QB in the draft” and the other called him, “that 6-foot jerk.”
Interesting.
First of all, I can tell you that neither one of those GM’s was Mike Maccagnan.
He really doesn’t play the media game.
And I’m not just talking about his press conferences with the beat writers that aren’t very good. This isn’t a complaint. I don’t care. His job isn’t to win press conferences but build a team that can win consistently on Sundays.
When I say he doesn’t play “the media game,” I was referring more to the national insiders, the individuals who break a lot of stories due to their agent, coach and GM sources.
Maccagnan doesn’t seem to live in that world.
In fact, a couple of years ago, he made a reference to “Adam Schechter.” He didn’t even know his correct name.
Jets fans should be thankful for this.
While other general managers are busy on the phone with the insiders, like the two GM’s who provided those Mayfield quotes, Maccagnan is busy focusing on scouting players.
Look, I’m not saying Maccagnan has been a great GM his first three years. I probably give him a “C” so far.
But I do think he’s growing on the job and quickly moving up the learning curve.
For instance, I thought he did a poor job in free agency in 2015, coming out of the gate spending like a drunken sailor. He gave big money to four defensive backs, and none of them lived up to their contracts.
However, in 2018, another year like 2015 where the Jets had a ton of cap space, he has done a much better job with smarter contracts (along with the team’s top negotiator Jackie Davidson) and done a much better job of spread the cap money around. There was one huge contract (CB Trumaine Johnson), but he was clearly the best cornerback in free agency, and in his prime, so it made sense.
So I do think he has improved as a GM since he walked in the door.
But one thing that has been true since he walked in the door is that he doesn’t care about the media stuff.
His main focus is finding talent, not giving scoops to the insiders or beat writers.
Aside from being a low-key guy, there is another good reason why he doesn’t live in this world. If you recall, when he emerged as a top GM candidate for the Jets, he kind of came out of obscurity. He wasn’t one of those hot names from the insiders.
Because so often if you are going to be a hot name with insiders, you are giving them stuff as you are moving up the food chain, and in return, they are pumping you up to America as a future GM. Maccagnan was never involved in that, and that is one reason he had to wait so long to become a GM.
April 11, 2018
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