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Never a dull moment in Jetsville, even during the quiet period of early July. So Rex went running with the bulls in Pamplona, and has received some criticism. Should he be ripped for this? Let’s take a closer look.
A few thoughts on this.
First off, this is the time of year, the weeks leading up to training camp, where most coaches go on vacation. They know that once training camp starts, they are going to be working seven days a week until the end of the season, so it’s a good time to re-charge the battery.
But running with the bulls?
What if he had been gored by the bull and seriously injured?
Rex has a lot of responsibility as the coach of an NFL team, and this a season of great important to Rex, Woody, Neil, and so forth. After two rough seasons, they’ve got to turn this ship around. Should the coach be risking a serious injury right before training camp by running with the bulls?
And remember something else – NFL players are told to stay away from certain activities, like skiing, hang-gliding, things of that nature, during their careers, to avoid non-football injuries.
So if the players are supposed to avoid dangerous activities during their careers, shouldn’t the coach? Isn’t he supposed to be the tone-setter for the team?
Thank goodness, Rex,, or his son, or nobody else this year weren’t injured, but this leads you to wonder about the man as a decision-maker.
And sound decision-making is such an important part of a coach’s job – whether it’s personnel decisions or strategic decisions.
A few weeks ago he thought it was a good idea to tell Newsday that he’s a heckuva coach (why not leave that for others to say?).
A few years ago, he made a controversial internet video with his wife that could have blown any chances of him ever becoming a head coach. Rex is lucky it came out after he became an NFL head coach, and Woody was very forgiving.
Twice Rex cursed out fans, once at an MMA event, and the other, walking off the field at half time.
And on the field, he constantly makes head-scratching personnel moves, like going back to Mark Sanchez last year after the Arizona game. Even if some of the Jets’ offensive issues weren’t the fault of Sanchez last year, how do you go back to him the way he was playing, and with Greg McElroy leading the team to a win in relief vs. the Cardinals. Not many coaches would have done that, and it led to a major debacle in a must-win game at Tennessee.
And how about the decision to not even allow McElroy to be in the QB competition this spring and summer. I’m not saying he should start, but how is he not in the competition? It’s not like Sanchez and Geno Smith are Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
How about starting super-raw Stephen Hill immediately when he was a major project? That overwhelmed the kid and did damage to his confidence.
How about making the mercurial Santonio Holmes a captain, and then when that blew up in his face, he does away with the concept of captains? Last year’s team was in dire need of captains, it was a club lacking leadership.
I think the man is a heck of a defensive mind, and can be a good head coach, but there is no question he needs to improve as a decision-maker, in his life and with his team.
Do you think John Idzik, a pretty conservative, serious, focused guy, wants to be dealing with this nonsense – Rex running with the bulls, and Sanchez dropping his pants at a party?
It’s time for “Operation No-Distractions,” to start in Jetsville – PRONTO.
And it’s time for Rex to start thinking things through a little more . . .
July 9, 2013
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