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This might be a surprise to some . . .
. . . but I think the Jets can learn a couple of things from the Arizona Cardinals.
One thing is about getting in front of a story which is so important in public relations.
On Friday, the Jets announced they hired Joe Vitt for their coaching staff.
Hiring Vitt to work under Gregg Williams shocked a lot of people considering Vitt testified against Williams in the New Orleans Saints bountygate scandal.
According to long-time New Orleans sportswriter Larry Holder, three times Vitt called Williams a “liar.”
“I want to show you here the situations where Gregg Williams is a liar, where Gregg Williams is narcissistic, where Gregg Williams has lost his mind in situations,” Vitt testified in 2012 according to Holder. “So you tell me what we’re going to believe and what we’re not going to believe. What. We’re going to believe this but we’re not going to believe this? It’s okay for you to believe this at one time, but no, we know he was lying at this time?”
And these two guys are going to work together?
This is where I’m talking about getting in front of a story.
Communicate!
After Kliff Kingsbury was hired by the Cardinals, rumors were flying that he wanted to draft Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray to be his QB.
The Cardinals made Kingsbury available to the media on Tuesday to address this.
“Our feelings toward Josh haven’t waned or changed or anything,” Kingsbury said. “I get we have the first pick (in the upcoming NFL draft) and so there’s going to be a million scenarios over the next three months that are going to come up, but no, Josh is our guy.”
Still nothing from the Jets about this Williams-Vitt story.
I don’t get it.
Why would you allow this toxic story to cast a pall over One Jets Drive during a time where everything should be lollipops and roses?
Another thing the Jets can learn from the Cardinals.
If something isn’t working out, pull the plug, sooner rather than later.
Some people were outraged that the Cardinals fired coach Steve Wilks after one year.
You know what, sometimes, whether it’s a player or a coach, you can tell pretty quickly that something isn’t going to work out. Not always, but sometimes.
I hear Wilks, who is a heck of a guy, was way over his head.
Basically the Cardinals hired a secondary coach to be their head coach. I hear his understanding of the offense side of the ball was very limited.
He also put in a 4-3 system with 3-4 personnel and it was a disaster.
So Michael Bidwell decided to cut his losses, pay off the remainder of Wilk’s contract, and move on.
There was plenty of evidence after the first three years of the Jets’ previous coach that is was time to move on, but the Jets gave the coach a two-year extension.
There was plenty of evidence with the Jets nickel back that they should have moved on after the second or third year, but they gave him a fourth.
So two lessons the Jets can learn from the Cardinals of all teams – get in front of stories, and move on from things that aren’t working, sooner rather than later – don’t chase windmills.
February 13, 2019
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