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New Jersey – From what I hear, the Jets could be looking to add another slot to their organization in the near future . . .
No, I’m not talking about a player or a coach, but a Vice President of Communications. The slot Pat Hanlon has with the Giants.
The Jets have hired a search firm to help them find the right person.
Obviously this person would oversee the PR operation.
This person wouldn’t be replacing anyone currently in place, but would be above all the PR people currently in place.
The Jets have been getting a lot of bad PR the last few years.
Obviously losing has a lot to do with that.
But one problem for the Jets, from a PR standpoint, is that they rarely get the benefit of the doubt from the press.
Too many reporters error on the side of making the Jets look bad.
Believe me, the Giants get the benefit of the doubt on stories where the Jets get creamed, like in the area of player misconduct.
Granted, winning would help a great deal, but I think basic respect should have nothing to do with the won-loss record. Maybe I’m being too Pollyanna, but that is my world view. Yes, you can criticize players and coaches for bad plays, ball calls, and so forth, but keep it classy. There are too many cheap shots around here.
Now I do think Todd Bowles will help fix this problem to a certain degree. He’s got a presence about him that commands respect. I’m not saying this will soften the press corps, but he will make some think twice before slinging a cheap shot at his team.
But I’m sure the Jets are looking to add this VP of Communications to come up with a plan to deal with a very challenging press corps that has not treated this organization with a great deal of disrespect in recent years.
They are looking for a lion tamer, if you will. They are tired of being devoured by the lions in the New York press.
I’m not blaming any of the current PR people. This is quite a challenge.
But clearly Woody Johnson, Neil Glat and company feel they need some new strategies to improve the coverage a little bit.
If I were the Jets, I know who I would hire. I would go after Mike Signora, a VP in the NFL’s PR department.
The national NFL media loves this guy. He’s get a great bedside manner, so to speak. It’s impossible to dislike this guy.
But it’s not just a matter of him being a heck of guy. He’s also been working for the NFL’s PR machine for 20 years. The NFL’s first commissioner was a PR guy (Pete Rozelle), and they have always been really strong in this area. They get it.
And if I’m not mistaken, Signora grew up a Jets fan.
We will see who gets the job.
And whoever does get the job, they will have quite a challenge. This is no easy task.
April 22, 2015
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