Things Need to Change – Part I

Here is Part I of our series called, “Things need to change.” The Jets are very sensitive to the “circus” word, and I’ve tried to stay away from it, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s apropos on times . . .

There are things that need to change in Florham Park.

The Jets can get ticked at me for saying that, but so be it. And you know what, maybe they should consider it friendly fire.

Let me just start by saying this, and I’ve held on to this for a while, but I was told by two good sources, that Bill Polian wanted nothing to do with the Jets. He made it clear, “I’m not interested.”

And it wasn’t because of his love of TV and radio.

And remember, he’s from New York originally, so this could be a nice final job for Polian, a homecoming.

He was clearly the top candidate on the market when the Jets were looking for a GM, but he wouldn’t even consider them.

I’m sorry, I know they hate the word, but so many people do view the Jets as a “circus,” and I get the sense that is how Polian feels. He looked the scene and wanted no part of it.

Things need to change, and I’m not trying to be mean-spirited. I’m just trying to just tell it like it is.

Woody Johnson needs to pull back on his media availability. It’s just not a strength of his. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

His quote from the NFL owner’s meeting about Mike Goodson just didn’t work out that well.

He was asked about Goodson being arrested on weapons and drug charges, and Johnson said the Jets are about “Truth, justice and the American way.”

Johnson is getting a lot of bad publicity for this comment. The quote has become a punch line.

Goodson was arrested last Friday for unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a handgun, possession of a hollow-point bullet, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

I’m sorry, quoting Superman about a case of this magnitude probably isn’t the way to go.

It made the owner look bad, and when the owner is made to look bad, so is his team.

Considering John Idzik and Rex Ryan refuse to comment on the case, Woody should take the same tact. In fact, Idzik twice went the “no-comment” route, first at a charity event and then at the owner’s meeting.

Jets need “one voice” on these kind of issues. You can’t have Woody and Willie Colon commenting, and Idzik and Ryan refusing to comment.

Woody should have said, “no comment,” perhaps something he should do most of the time.

Last year, Johnson called an off-sides penalty a “foot fault.” That expression is used in tennis, not football.

Last week, Johnson came over to talk to Brian Costello, and a few other scribes, and was talking up Geno Smith after a couple of nice passes in the rookie mini-camp.

Johnson isn’t a QB guru. He’s a business guy. It doesn’t do the organization any good for him to be evaluating Smith to the press.

And that conversation led to a New York Post story saying the Jets love Smith and want him to win the quarterback job. How was that helpful?

Last year, Johnson said on a cable show that the way for the Jets to best deal with Houston defensive end J.J. Watt blocking passes is to throw “over him,” or put an “I Spy,” on him.

First of all, quarterbacks aren’t supposed to throw over defensive linemen, but through the passing lanes between them. If you throw over them, your passes will float, and this will likely lead to picks.

And how is referencing a Bill Cosby television show, in regards to blocking Watt, help his cause?

He needs to pull back.

He should address the media regarding major announcements, and limit it to that. That is how most owners handle things.

It seemed like Matt Higgins did a good job of protecting the owner from the media. Neil Glat needs to follow suit. Over the last year, Johnson has had at a particularly tough time with the press. Glat needs to step up and do something about this. Perhaps telling Johnson, “These people are looking to make you look bad, boss, I think it’s best to stay away. Why do you need the aggravation?”

The late Al Davis (Oakland Raiders) almost never spoke. Paul Allen in Seattle rarely speaks. It’s a rarity in Carolina when Jerry Richardson addresses the Charlotte media.

Johnson should follow suit.

Because his esoteric comments aren’t helping his brand.

(This is a three-part series. We will have Part II on Friday night.)

May 23, 2013

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