Content available exclusively for subscribers
Ted Sundquist caused a stir this weekend when he claimed that Woody Johnson said the Tebow trade was “forced” on him.
Sundquist said Johnson told him during his interview for the GM job 10 days ago.
But there is one thing amiss about the story that appeared on the ESPN New York website. He is the key paragraph from that story by Rich Cimini –
“Former Broncos GM Ted Sundquist, who interviewed for the job nine days ago, said Johnson told him it wasn’t his idea. Sundquist said it was his impression that the trade was ‘forced’ on Johnson and team president Neil Glat, who also participated in the interview.”
There is a historical error in that paragraph. Glat didn’t work for the Jets when the Tebow trade was made. Glat was hired on April 11, 2012, and the Tebow trade was made on March 21, 2012.
So we can say with certainty, the Tebow trade wasn’t forced on Glat.
As for Johnson, the word “forced” makes him look bad.
Of course, we can’t say for sure that he used that particular word in his conversation with Sundquist. It could have been a different word. Remember, that is the word Sundquist recalled from his lengthy interview with the team.
Johnson could have said he “deferred” to his GM, who is charge of personnel.
But “forced” is a terrible word for an owner to use.
It’s becoming quite the fish tale. Now there have been various reports, from various sources, blaming the Tebow trade on three different people – Johnson, Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum.
It depends who you believe.
I just think it comes down to this dynamic – which has been a problem with the Jets, and perhaps John Idzik will fix it.
Mike comes up with an idea like trading for Tebow, and Rex and Woody agree. I was a lot of passive aggressive behavior the last few years.
You know how Rex is with his macho attitude about things – “Oh, that would be great. We can make the work.”
And Woody, who is isn’t a forceful personality, he’s the anti-Steinbrenner, said, “OK.”
They needed a bold personality in the room saying, “Over my dead body. Do you have any idea what a distraction that will be? It’s not worth it. No freakin way.”
So while it might not have been Johnson’s decision, he probably shouldn’t have pushed back.
It’s one thing to defer to your personnel people about most draft picks, low level free agent signings, the practice squad, etc.
However, when it comes to a major free agent signing (like a Mario Williams), or high first round pick, or something like a Tebow trade, and the three-ring circus that comes with it, there is nothing wrong with Johnson meddling, and saying, “Mike, no way.”
Like I said, we have no idea with Johnson actually used the word “forced.” If he did, it was a mistake. You own a team, an enterprise worth around a billion dollars. You shouldn’t be “forced” to do anything.
The lesson to be learned here is – the Jets need much more “blunt force trauma” as Rex used to say, between the GM, head coach and owner. They need to be brutally honest. Stop telling people what you think they want to hear.
Manish Mehta claims a league executive told him Idzik is “a straight-shooter.”
And that is something this team desperately needs.
January 21, 2013
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Tuesday.
