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With the Jets reporting for training camp on Thursday, what better time for a heaping helping of Dan’s Website Whispers . . .
A Daily News headline today made little sense. It read – “Playoffs or not, Rex Ryan’s job with NY Jets appears safe for now.”
First off, let me say before I continue, writers usually don’t write headlines, it’s usually editors.
But the premise of the headline wasn’t even covered in the story, so I don’t know the point of the headline.
Of course he’s “safe for now.” So are J.B. Shugart, Troy Davis and Vidal Hazelton.
Everyone is safe right now.
They haven’t even started training camp practices yet.
I’m always asked on talk show, “What does Rex need to do to save his job?”
Well, first of all, he has two years left on a contract for $3 million per season, so it’s like he’s a lame duck, as some people like to say.
Even if the Jets are below .500 this year, John Idzik is going to have to think long-and-hard about firing Rex. After all, he works for Woody Johnson, and not the other way around, so if you are going to make your boss eat $3 million next year, you don’t make a decision by the seat of your pants. This isn’t Idzik’s money.
But let’s just say, for argument’s sake, Rex is coaching for his job this year, what does he have to do to save it?
First of all, I don’t think Idzik expects the Jets to go 13-3 or 14-2, or something grandiose like that. The man is a realist.
It all fairness, the Jets, on paper, don’t have a great quarterback situation.
Mark Sanchez is coming off two poor seasons, and Geno Smith lost five games in a row last year at West Virginia, and is a major project, in need or work in so many areas.
Hey, the Jets could be solid at quarterback, but you have to be Tony Robbins, or a really positive thinker, to sit here RIGHT NOW and say, “Wow, this is a really great quarterback situation.”
So what I think Rex needs to do to keep his job is this . . .
The Jets need to be a competitive team, that doesn’t make a lot of mental errors, plays really hard and hangs around in the Wild Card race into December.
I’ve said this many times, the way the NFL is set up for parity, with the salary cap, draft order (based on record) and waiver wire order (based on record), you have to be a pretty bad organization to not be hanging around into early December in Wild Card contention, let’s say with a 6-7 record.
If Rex’ team player really hard, smart, competitive football, and has a respectable record, I think he will keep his job in 2014. Also, he can’t do anything foolish off the field to give the GM an excuse to fire him . . .
Just like the Jets’ roster, where they has been major turnover the last few years, the same is true in the press room.
Another beat writer is leaving the Jets beat – Conor Orr.
The writer is switching to the Giants’ beat.
I’m telling you, while any sports writer job is a good one considering how bad things have gotten in the industry, with papers shutting down and cut backs, the Jets beat isn’t that enjoyable for many people. There is a lot of bad blood in the press room, and there are people that just don’t like each other.
One problem is it’s so competitive in that room, that often when a particular writer breaks a story, some other papers won’t give the proper credit, which is unprofessional . . .
While I don’t think any personnel moves should be made to placate the fans, the Jets possible re-signing of Braylon Edwards will do that.
It will bring some good PR to a team that really needs it.
I just don’t think you should ever make personnel moves to appease the public. It’s best to make solid football moves based on good football judgment that leads to winning on Sunday, and winning is the best way to please the public.
But an Edwards signing is one of those moves that marries both concepts – it’s a good football decision that also makes the fans very happy.
When you can marry both concepts that is ideal.
July 24, 2013
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