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Perception-wise, one can do no wrong, the other seemingly can do no right.
It’s quite the dichotomy.
Talking about Adam Gase and Joe Douglas.
With many fans, Douglas is the one who can do no wrong.
Douglas is a rock star right now.
Gase is clearly struggling in the court of public opinion.
While this is great for the Jets on the Douglas-front, it’s terrible for them on the Gase-front.
They have got to figure out a way out of his mess. Ignoring it, won’t make it go away
This is why PR gurus like Howard Rubenstein get the big bucks.
They figure out ways to get out of ways to fix bad PR. Obviously they aren’t always successful, but you must try to implement strategies to combat bad PR.
Look, obviously, some of the vitriol towards Gase is a little over the top, but it just seems like he hasn’t been able to overcome his opening press conference. Clearly, he should have been wearing a hat when he came out at his introductory presser.
But just to show you what a good place Douglas is in with the public now, compared to Gase, you just need to look at the responses when the Jets put photos of each next to each other, photos from them addressing the media at the Combine.
The photos had Gase on the left and Douglas on the right with the caption – “All business.”
NYJ Matt tweeted in response – “The court jester and his king.”
Chris tweeted, “One of these guys is not like the other. Fire crazy eyes.”
Herro Ball tweeted, “I’ll take Door #2.”
Yangry tweeted, “Gase shouldn’t be part of said business. He should be fired.”
You get the idea.
Jets owner Christopher Johnson and Team President Hymie Elhai (who runs the business side) have a big problem here. They have a coach, that after just one season, is clearly very unpopular with many in the fans base.
Some will say, “Winning will fix that.”
Yes, if they go 16-0, maybe. But this goes deeper than that winning. Let’s not forget he went 6-2 over the second half of the season. Yes, the schedule was somewhat soft, but the record is what it is. Obviously they didn’t start the season very well, but they came together, to a degree, over the second half.
Over the years the Jets have used one of top damage-control PR guys in the country to help them out, a man named Matt Hiltzik.
He is considered one of the best in the business, and has worked with the likes of Justin Bieber, Alex Baldwin, Ryan Braun and Ryan Lochte to help them improve their images after scandals.
In the past, I have seen Hiltzik talk to Jets coaches during practice.
Clearly, he needs to be called in from the bullpen here. Maybe he has been already.
The Jets need a plan here. Perhaps they are working on one as we speak.
But this Gase image problem can’t just be ignored.
February 26, 2020
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