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Dan checks in with a variety of Web Whispers on Gang Green, including notes on Matt Cavanaugh, the Jets media blitz and a veteran who wants to come back . . .
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Jets essentially did a media tour the last two days.
Woody Johnson spoke to the press on Thursday, Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan took questions from the season-ticket holders today, and Rex also did spots on 1050 ESPN Radio and WFAN.
What team is playing in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday evening? That is right, the New York Football Giants, the Jets bitter cross-town rivals.
This media tour was clearly a strategy to get the Jets in the paper, during a time the Giants are dominating the news.
This has Matt Higgins written all over it. Higgins is leaving the organization shortly to move on to another venture (possible the Mitt Romney campaign).
Higgins is very sly and strategic, and honestly, this is one of the reasons he doesn’t have a lot of fans over at the Giants.
Higgins came to the Jets eight years ago after serving as Rudy Guiliani’s press secondary.
Political operatives are really good at knowing when to plant stories. For instance, if it’s bad news, dump it on Friday night, or if you want to sink Newt Gingrich, get some bad news out right before the South Carolina primary.
So don’t for one second think the timing of all these Jets interviews was just a coincidence . . .
While a lot of fans have been critical of the Jets for reportedly retaining Matt Cavanaugh as their quarterback, it’s actually a sound decision.
It’s easy to throw all the 2011 offensive coaches under the bus, but it’s not all on the coaches – some players deserve to share the blame.
Mark Brunell told a good friend of mine, also in the media business, that Cavanaugh is the best quarterback coach he’s ever worked under.
Keep in mind, Brunell played in the NFL for 19 years with stops in Green Bay, Jacksonville, Washington and with the Jets. That is a lot of quarterback coaches.
Cavanaugh can coach.
Remember, if you have issues with Brian Schottenheimer’s system (which Rex said today is too wordy), don’t blame Cavanaugh. It’s was not his system, it was Schottenheimer’s. Matt’s been the quarterback coach, not the offensive coordinator. He’s working with the playbook he was given.
Cavanaugh is well-respected around the NFL, and easy to work with, and Tony Sparano clearly likes him – most people do.
And in a way, it does make sense for Cavanaugh to stay around, and help his quraterbacks transition from the Schotty play book to Sparano’s. He knows so much about the Jets quarterbacks, and should be a big help to the new offensive coordinator . . .
Speaking of Brunell, after the Jets-Miami game, I asked him if it’s true he’s going to retire. There have been some published reports saying that.
“Who told you that?” Brunell asked me.
Brunell then told me he wants to play in 2012.
It’s not too hard to figure this one out.
Unfortunately, Brunell is a reported $50 million in dept from some bad real estate and business investments.
Playing in the NFL for the veteran minimum of around $1 million is a lot better way to help dig out of that hole than working at the court assigned sales job he has waiting for him in Jacksonville.
It’s unlikely Brunell will be back with the Jets where Greg McElroy seems to be the heir apparent for the #2 spot.
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