New York Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum has overseen vetting eight candidates to replace his fired friend Eric Mangini as the Jets’ new coach, but Tannenbaum has been wrestling with his decision on whom to recommend to owner Woody Johnson.
Although Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was recently labeled the frontrunner to land the job, Tannenbaum remains conflicted on what to ultimately do, a league source familiar with the Jets’ coaching search told Newsday.
“Mike’s having a hard time pulling the trigger,” the source said.
The article notes the importance of this decision for Tannenbaum, who first joined the Jets in 1997. And it references how Ryan and New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo have alternately been labeled as favorites based on Tannenbaum’s moods ranging from day to day.
Tannenbaum is reportedly likely to choose from either Ryan, Spagnuolo, or Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. While Tannenbaum is weighing whether he should hire Schottenheimer, the son of former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, he’s aware that hiring the 35-year-old Schottenheimer would probably leave fans and media non-plussed.
“Mike has been more sensitive to the media and fan reaction than he has been,” the source told Newsday.
The Jets are also concerned about a potential mass exodus from the staff following Mangini being named the Cleveland Browns’ head coach with quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll already joining him in Cleveland as offensive coordinator.
Meanwhile, Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm apparently trails in the race. Jets assistant head coach Bill Callahan, fired Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, and Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks are regarded as longshots at this point.
JETS' TANNENBAUM STRUGGLING WITH HEAD COACHING DECISION
Posted by NBC Sports on January 13, 2009, 9:22 AM EST
Permalink
26 Comments 
Latest Stories in: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New York Jets, Rumor Mill, Teams
Email
Latest Stories in: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New York Jets, Rumor Mill, Teams
26 Responses to “JETS' TANNENBAUM STRUGGLING WITH HEAD COACHING DECISION”
he needs a NAME to get the staff righted and start winning.
but then that would cut into his ‘power base’.
loser.
[“Mike has been more sensitive to the media and fan reaction than he has been,” the source told Newsday.]
I think it’s a huge mistake to let the media/fans influence this. At this point, Tannenbaum needs to recommend whoever he thinks gives the team the best chance to succeed and not worry about anything else, because the only thing that can keep him there long term is to be successful.
If he picks someone that the media gushes over initially, but ultimately doesn’t perform well, it won’t save his job.
Not to worry, Tannenbaum is a genius in eveluating talent. Just ask the Jests fans.
Thanks for my laugh of the day!!Maybe he can flip a coin.LOL
That headline is awful.
Objective and informative reporting on the Jets. Refreshing.
Sounds like maybe Tannenbaum needs to find his own replacement.
Hey Jagodzinski,
Was it worth giving up a multi-million dollar job in a recession to join this cattle call?
The Jets have got to be thinking “if he was dumb enough to do that, is he smart enough to coach our team”?
Tannenbaum doesn’t know what he’s doing, there’s no way he’ll pick a good coach.
Did a 13 year old text you that headline?
Both Tannenbaum and Woody Johnson are idiots. They both thought Favre was the answer but made Eric the scapegoat. You can tell how out of touch Woody is when he keeps referring to the team as the Varsity. What the hell is that? This guy still thinks he’s at the frat house with his buddies drinking kegs of Steg.
I agree with the vet700…. they both are idiots…. maybe they should cry like brette favre every year, then sign with another team to ruin their playoffs
This guy went all out to get Favre…now he get’s to pick a coach?
isn’t there an old saying that if a coach listens to much to the fans that he will soon be joining them? That probably should apply to GMs as well…
Hire Brett Favre and have him be a player/coach.
He can run to the sideline and call the play into his own helmet and….. dammit it just isn’t as fun anymore. The Jets are a mess and it is just too easy.
Thanks Mike, you have made me want to actually go back to work.
“Mike’s having a hard time pulling the trigger,”
Funny, he pulled the trigger on his “brother,” Fredo Corleone fast enough when his own fat arse was on the line.
Let’s be honest here, his most important criteria is who can most easily be throw under the bus when things go poorly.
“The Jets are also concerned about a potential mass exodus from the staff following Mangini being named the Cleveland Browns’ head coach”
We all know Fredo has a history of stealing everything and everybody in sight on his way out the door but that didn’t seem to concern Tannenbaum when he was the beneficiary.
The headline refers to when Bill Belichick resigned on the same day he was named coach. He wrote on a napkin, “I resign as HC of the NYJ.”, just before the press conference.
i thought the headline worked. if memory serves me, bellichick resigned from the jets a few days after taking over for parcells with a hand written note that said something to the effect of “bb resigning as hc of nyj”, yes?
The Jets are said to be worried about a mass exodus after
Mangini was named head coach of the Browns. Well the Jets
ownership and Tannenbaum should have figured it out. The
Jets significantly improved their record. They lived and
died on the arm of a 39 year old quarterback who tore his
bicep muscle the latter part of the season. Did Mangini
really need to be fired. Perhaps Tannenbaum should have
been fired.
And it was the best decision Bill Belichick ever made. That orginazation is a goddamn joke.
Oh Tannenbaum oh Tannenbaum… du grenst nich nur der branches.
Brett Favre could probably help him make a quick decision. (Just a joke, I like Brett)
You all are idiots…if he made a quick decision, you’d give him a hard time too. Half the candidates are still in the playoffs. Florio, get off the guy’s back.
First off, Aaron I don’t know you from Adam, but come on man. You just regurgitated the whole Newsday article (without plagiarism). At least Florio would have thrown in some fun tidbits of info to fluff it up… you got some work to do son…
Second, “non-plussed”??? WTF?!?!? Not only is that not a word, it’s not even lingo or jargon. I mean REALLY, who says that?
Third, T-Balm was always a numbers guy. Basically if Woody would have fired him the ENTIRE organization right down to Mr. Johnson’s wallet would have been right in the crapper. This way Mike is forced to finagle another 11th hour salary cap miracle prior to the beginning of the new league year.
Forth, Mangini was definitely run out of town in haste. Everyone knows it was T-Balm that wanted to bring in Favre and Mangini was stuck with the results. Anyone who says Mangini held back Schotty’s offense only need think of 2006 when the Jets’ offense was very dynamic and motion oriented. Now look at the 2008 QB and think how Brett would have ever been able to run all those formations and shifts… not gonna happen.
Fifth, Jets fans get upset when the ‘real’ media or bloggers suggest the franchise stinks or is a joke (as any real fanatic would do), but the problem is both the fans and the media are WRONG. The Jets are cursed!!! Anyone who would ever guarantee a Super Bowl victory is either sick, or has some kind of pact with the Football gods, and even though Namath was/is a bit wacko, I would have to go with the later.
“mikes having a hard time pulling the trigger”
of course he’s having a hard time,he’s a moron.
if he pulls the trigger,there’ll be another person
in new york with a gunshot wound in their leg.
Time to cut out all the stupid talk here. Mangini was the Farve enabler nad thats why he’s gone. Christ he even named his freakin kid after him. Smell the coffe genius’s.
That said we all know it’s all about the D. So quit screwin arounfd with Schottenheimer and give Ryan the chance.
non-plussed is a word. get a dictionary.
1. to render utterly perplexed; puzzle completely.
–noun 2. a state of utter perplexity.
Mike T… is like the misfit pulling a trigger on Rudolph and shooting jelly… I personally want to thank him for giving us his coach, that was 4-2 in their division both winning years… Woody is a perfect name for the owner, he’s about as bright as a stick laying on the ground in the woods…. hence I’m sur Jet fans will continue to let themselves be the dirty doormat in the big apple where opposing teams come to wipe their dirty cleats on…. Hey Woody… maybe Mangini will leave you two Superbowl tickets at the gate…. when Cleveland beats the Minnesota Vikings in 2011