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New Jersey – Let’s take a look at Woody Johnson, the ambassadorship, Christopher Johnson, the ownership and the near future . . .
Let me give you some insight on the Jets’ ownership situation.
“The Jets owner Woody Johnson, one of President Trump’s oldest friends, was chosen on Thursday to be his ambassador to Britain,” wrote the New York Times.
I’ve never heard that before, that Woody is one of “Trump’s oldest friends.”
If they are so close, why was Woody such a big Jeb Bush supporter in the primary? Woody only endorsed Trump after Bush dropped out.
If you are one of somebody’s “oldest friends” are you endorsing somebody else in a primary?
I think it’s bull that Woody is one of “Trump’s oldest friends.”
A big reason Woody was nominated for this ambassadorship was he was a big money donor to Trump’s campaign (after Bush dropped out). I don’t mean that as a shot. All President’s do this – appoint big money donors to ambassador jobs. Barack Obama made Steelers owner Dan Rooney ambassador to Ireland.
So if Woody gets approved, what will this do to the Jets’ front office?
Not much.
Here is what most people don’t understand about the Jets – Woody, his mother Betty and his brother Christopher are all equal owners of the team.
For 17 years now, the perception in most corners is that Woody Johnson is THE owner of the Jets.
That has never been the case.
All three are equal owners, but somebody needed to be the out-front owner of the Jets, and that has been Woody.
If Woody goes to England, Christopher will take centerstage.
But no matter who the owner is now, the team’s current set-up isn’t ideal. Right now, GM Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles are equals and both report to the owner.
The Jets should do what Jacksonville owner Shad Khan just did – hire a football czar (Tom Coughlin) to oversee the coach and GM.
The Jets current set-up isn’t ideal because any changes that might be needed with the player personnel department or the coaching situation, has to be forced by an owner, Woody or Chris, who are not football guys.
Maybe Chris, a very private man, will change this.
But clearly that extra position is needed.
And honestly it would take some pressure off Chris and Woody.
But whether the front man is Woody or Chris, nothing is really changing with the Jets’ ownership situation – Woody, Chris and Betty have always been on equal footing in this ownership situation.
Think about it. Anybody that has very wealthy parents, they aren’t getting the lion’s share of the family money until both the parents are gone.
Betty Johnson is the mother.
I will leave it at that.
This is a family business.
But moving forward, whether the Jets are being run by Woody or Chris, one thing is pretty clear – there can’t be anymore pushes from the owner’s position to sign players to create a buzz to help at the gate.
The Revis’ signing needs to be the last time that happened. Woody thought he was doing something noble and great for the franchise, but he made a mistake.
January 20, 2017
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