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Late in the 2013 season, there was obviously a lot of speculation on whether Rex Ryan would return as the Jets’ coach.
On the Sunday before the Jets’ season finale in Miami, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported, “From what I’m hearing, there’s a lot of positive feelings from owner Woody Johnson to Rex Ryan. It’s clear Woody would like him to stay. Two potential issues. I’m told general manager John Idzik is pushing Rex Ryan to make staff changes on defense — his guys. That can complicate things.”
That report really piqued my interest, and still does.
Why am I bringing this up now?
Because of the Dennis Thurman incident last week at a Morristown bar. A woman accused him of slapping her hand after she flipped him the bird.
Whatever. I don’t even want to get into more details. The whole thing was so stupid. I hate TMZ, and the “gotcha” culture they have created. They have taken the gossip industry to a whole new cesspool level.
But whatever happened, you have to think that John Idzik, a very conservative, serious man, had to be livid at the terrible publicity it brought to his football operation. And the distraction it created during rookie mini-camp.
Idzik got rid of controversial figures Santonio Holmes and Antonio Cromartie this off-season. There was constant drama surrounding these two players.
They just wrapped up a draft loaded with good character players with great work ethics.
Then this senseless story pops up to drag the Jets program through the mud.
Coaches need to set a good example for players, even on the professional level.
So when Rapoport said, “I’m told general manager John Idzik is pushing Rex Ryan to make staff changes on defense — his guys.”
It certainly wasn’t the Jets outstanding defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, and the Jets already knew that their linebacker coach, Brian van Gorder, was leaving for Notre Dame. The secondary coach, Tim McDonald, wasn’t a Rex guy, and was just hired last year.
When most people around the Jets think of “Rex’s guys,” Thurman and Jeff Weeks are the first two who come to mind.
Weeks is a terrific guy – an affable Texan, but remember, Ryan was forced to fire his college roommate after the 2011 season. Mike Pettine pushed for this because he didn’t think Weeks for pulling his weight. When Pettine left, Ryan brought Weeks back last year.
Thurman and Ryan are very close. They were on the Baltimore Ravens defensive staff together from 2002-2007, and obviously together with the Jets since 2008.
Thurman, a former Dallas Cowboy DB, is a smart football man, but he clearly needs to tweak his lifestyle a little. Hey, a lot of us do in one way or another.
And he needs to do everything he can to improve the Jets cornerback play, which was suspect last year with Antonio Cromartie eschewing the physical aspect of the position, and Dee Milliner displaying terrible technique and giving too much cushion. Thurman, while he has the title of defensive coordinator, is considered a cornerback guru.
So Thurman needs to focus like a laser-beam on getting this problem fixed.
And spend a little less time on other matters.
May 19, 2014
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