From the desk of: WALT MICHAELS REVENGE
THE WATERGASE SCANDAL
Firing Mike Maccagnan was the right move. But it's the Brothers Johnson whom must ground themselves if the New York Jets are to fly.
Truth be told Mike Maccagnan deserved to be fired. However, the timing and mysterious circumstances surrounding his dismissal - not to mention the great folly of it all - are just too typical. Hence the fan and media outrage.
I agree with those who believe Maccagnan and Todd Bowles should have been relieved as a pair, just as Rex Ryan and John Idzik were relieved together of their respective duties. Despite enjoying a measure of success during his first season working with Bowles, Maccagnan purged a gaggle of talented players during the ensuing off-season. But like John Idzik did (or didn't do) with Rex Ryan, Maccagnan spent nary a dollar of his salary cap reserves during Todd Bowles' last three seasons as Jets coach. And like John Idzik, much of Maccagnan's drafting also left much to be desired ... save for Sam Darnold. And just as John Idzik didn't hire Rex Ryan, Maccangan similarly didn't hire Todd Bowles. To the subjective observer it seemed as if both general managers did everything possible to sabotage their respective head coaches.
To that I say look no further than the Brothers Johnson. This is their standard operating procedure working to the letter. It's the Jets way. For the Brothers Johnson have long provided a direct line of communication for their head coach and a workplace environment whereby both head coach and general manager invariably wind up putting more effort into saving their own respective jobs rather than working jointly towards a common cause. The fact Adam Gase is here and Mike Maccagnan is not only further confirms this dynamic.
Under the Johnsons the Jets have lacked long term vision, front office commitment, and operational discipline. Each passing administration merely piles on to the growing scrapheap of failed short term ideas. That's because Woody nor Christopher have never ordered a definitive course of action. They never once gave a general manager and head coach specific orders and tasked them with seeing things through. Neither Johnson brother has ever said strip it down; rebuild; or get me to the Super Bowl or else. For better or worse, the Brothers Johnson have effectively left those decisions to the mix of overlapping regimes they themselves marry together then leave them to go about their business. Meanwhile behind the scenes the head coach and general manager are at each other like spy vs. spy until their contracts come up for renewal.
This process has repeated itself over and over, and yet again this past Wednesday. Through it we've learned how the Brothers Johnson front office model fosters subversion from within.
Mike Tannenbaum was the presiding general manager when Woody Johnson and the Jets fired Eric Mangini then handed over the controls to Rex Ryan. That was the last sound decision made by either brother. Because when Tannanbaum was fired, Idzik was forced by Johnson into retaining Rex Ryan. When both were let go, Christopher Johnson ponderously hired his head coach first, then his general manager second. Fast forward and Todd Bowles is let go, but Maccagnan is retained. He in turn partakes in the decision to bring Adam Gase on board. But in the absence of a chain of command, or any semblance of command and control, Gase promptly circumvents the general manager and successfully politics the owner for Maccagnan's removal (I don't care what Christopher Johnson says. In fact, his version only worsens matters).
If the plan to fire Maccagnan was already in the place, then why allow him to spend the team's salary cap reserves, and preside over the recent draft. In that regard I sing with the chorus: Same Old Jets. And why not? Just when the organization seemed in the midst of positioning themselves in a more positive light they've recast a chilling shade upon the entire operation.
What in the name of Weeb Ewbank is Christopher Johnson doing handing over controls of Gang Green Airways to a man with a sub par record in three seasons as head coach of Ryan Tannehill and the Miami Dolphins? They're not even fish; they're mammals. What the hell good is living in water if you're consistently having to come up for air!? And why the hell is a head coach hired four months ago suddenly in a position to hire the Jets next general manager?
I'm sure somewhere even Rich Kotite is laughing at this one ...
Stop this vicious cycle of pitting incompatible head coaches and general managers against each other.
The Brothers Johnson need to hire an alpha executive and get out of the way.
