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Recently, a New York Post columnist, wrote that the Jets should make a run at Bill Polian. Is this realistic? Let’s take a closer looks.
First of all, hiring Polian would mean they fired John Idzik after just two years.
As a league executive told me recently, “Woody isn’t the firing type.”
Obviously he has fired some people, but over his 15 years owning the team, he’s displayed a lot of patience, compared to other owners.
He’s not quick on the trigger to fire people, except maybe in the case of Eric Mangini.
But before we get into this angle of firing John Idzik and replacing him with Bill Polian, let’s keep something in mind.
Polian isn’t interested in the job.
He wasn’t in 2013 when the job opened, and he’s not interested in it now, if it opened up again.
Aside from enjoying his television and radio work, the Jets job doesn’t interest him.
Polian is a control-freak, and he wouldn’t be able to get the kind of control he wants with the Jets. Also, it’s too much of a circus atmosphere around here. Remember Polian had success working in Buffalo, Charlotte and Indianapolis, three very small media markets. He likes those type of scenarios a lot better.
I work at SiriusXM NFL Radio once a week. Polian works there also. While I don’t work with him directly, I do associate with people who do. I can tell you categorically this job is of no interest to him. I’ve heard that from two different people.
So if the Jets fire Idzik, which I think is a long-shot, who could they get to replace him?
Well clearly it would have to be a guy with a long background in scouting and personnel, not a cap guy.
If they make a change, the guy they should target is Brian Gaine, a Houston personnel executive. He also worked in scouting for the Jets, Dolphins and Cowboys.
He was a candidate in 2013.
In Gaine, not only would they get a solid personnel guy with a strong scouting background, but it would a great PR move for the Jets.
The writers like Gaine, and the move would be applauded by the press. The Jets are getting destroyed right now by the media. Gaine would calm this down a great deal.
While you don’t make move to appease the press, Gaine is also a good personnel guy, so it would kill two birds with one stone.
Not only do the writers like him, and would get off the Jets’ butts, but it’s a good local story – the son of Irish immigrants from Pearl River, NY and a graduate of Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. A family of firemen.
Look, I’m not into firing people, and I’m not into this whole billboard thing.
And the Jets shouldn’t react to this billboard thing.
But if they do make a change, Polian isn’t coming here. I can assure you of that.
But Gaine, who is ready to be a GM, would be the logical choice.
November 4, 2014
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