Jet Crash
How did the Jets go from this.....
to this.....
in less than two years? Is it because of a general manager who began to believe in his own hype? Or was it because of a head coach who is really more suited to be a defensive coordinator? Or could it be because of their "franchise quarterback" who never really lived up to the team's expectations? I'm going to look at all three of these men, Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan, and Mark Sanchez, and let you come up with the conclusion.
The Rise
Mike Tannenbaum was a Bill Belichick guy. He got his start in the NFL working as an assistant with Belichick in Cleveland in the early nineties. In fact, it was Belichick that recommended Tannenbaum to Bill Parcells in 1997 to be hired on as the Jets Director of Player Contract Negotiatons. Known as a master "capologist", Mr. T was very good with numbers. He eventually worked his way up to Assistant General Manager, before replacing Terry Bradway in 2006 as the Jets GM.
After firing Eric Mangini in 2008, the Jets went in a completely different direction from the mild-mannered Mangenius. In stepped a character that was larger than life. Rex Ryan is a blue-collar guy that Jets fans could relate to (a guy you wouldn't mind having a couple cold brews with). He didn't kiss rings, but he loved to lick feet, and was always ready to eat Goddamn snacks. His bravado mixed with a great sense of humor took New York (and the national media) by storm.
With it being clear that Brett Favre wouldn't be coming back to New York, the first big decision Mr. T and Rex made was to draft a franchise quarterback. The man they chose was USC junior Mark Sanchez. Taken fifth overall, Sanchez was a star before he even took his first snap in the NFL, appearing shirtless in a now infamous GQ article.
In 2009, the team was playing with house money. Nobody expected them to play well with a rookie head coach and quarterback, but they caught a couple lucky breaks (yes, I'll finally admit it 3 years later) and wound up making it to the AFC Championship Game, losing to Indianapolis. With a reloaded roster (including LaDanian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes, and Antonio Cromartie) Rex began his second year with more swagger than the first year. HBO's Hard Knocks featured the team in it's annual series following an NFL training camp. The team backed up the talk, making it to another AFC Championship Game, this time losing in Pittsburgh. With a young nucleus of players, this was supposed to just be the beginning of Rex's Gang Green's run at a Lombardi Trophy.
The Fall
Prior to the 2011 season, the Jets made a few questionable decisions by letting go of some of their veteran locker room leaders. The organization parted ways with Jerricho Cotchery, Shaun Ellis, Damien Woody, Jason Taylor, and Tony Richardson (they let also Thomas Jones and Alan Fanceca go before the 2010 season). Mike Tannenbaum signed a fresh out of prison Plaxico Burress to replace Braylon Edwards, and we all know how well Derrick Mason worked out replacing Cotchery. In addition to that, Mr. T never really replaced Faneca or Woody, instead choosing to give Matt Slauson/Vlad Ducasse, and Wayne Hunter the jobs at their respective positions.
While they weren't as good as in previous years, going into their Week 15 matchup with the Eagles, the team controlled it's own destiny with an 8-5 record. After getting thrashed by Philly, the Jets met their Stadium rivals, the Giants in a game that changed the fortunes of both franchises around. The Jets held the lead until Victor Cruz caught a pass and ran it 99 yards for a touchdown, that gave the Giants the lead that they never relinquished. Big Blue took the momentum from this game all the way to a Super Bowl win.
The Jets meanwhile, ended their season in Miami, as Santonio Holmes sat and sulked on the sideline as the season ticked away. This was just the tip of the iceberg, and as the offseason began many anonymous Jets and ex-Jets took to the airwaves to say that this was the worst locker room they have ever been in. Rex Ryan had his first strike against him.
Before the 2012 season, the Jets released offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Wayne Hunter, two guys who became scape goats for the offense's struggles. Rex brought in former Dolphins head coach, Tony Sparano, to help install his ground and pound offense. Rex and Mr. T made another decision though, that could wind up fatal to their Jets careers.
On March 22, the Jets traded a 4th round pick to the Broncos for their controversial quarterback Tim Tebow. Not only did the trade bring in un-needed media attention and raise expectations, but the only thing it was successful in doing was undermining their "Sanchise" quarterback. After every mistake Sanchez has made this season, the Metlife crowd has serenaded him with chants of "We Want Teeeeeebowwwww". Instead of building around their quarterback, by bringing in a good lineman or a play-making receiver or running back, they brought in the NFL's most famous backup.
The low point of the season had to be this past Thursday's game against the Patriots. Gang Green was embarrassed on national tv, giving up 35 points in the second quarter to their biggest rivals. Never during the Rex Ryan era has the talent level between the two teams been as far apart as they are this season.
The Future
At this point, the Jets are in limbo. They still have some really good players (Mangold, Revis, Cromartie, Harris) and some other pieces you can build around (Ferguson, Pouha, Coples, Wilkerson, Landry, Bell). However, I don't believe that the team has a true starting quarterback. Mark Sanchez can still be a good quarterback in this league, but with everything that has gone on the past two years, he and the Jets need a divorce. Unfortunately, Sanchez is guaranteed a little under $9 million for the 2013 season, so the team is practically handcuffed to him for next year. Tebow should be traded, perhaps to the Jaguars where the Florida fans will get behind him.
While I still like Rex, his act has grown stale. He used to be the funny fat guy, now he is skinny and people are tired of his schtick. He has tried to tone down a little bit, but now he seems almost phony by making a complete 180. The two most damning things on Rex is that his pride and joy, defense, has taken a step down every season. Secondly, the two teams Rex attacked the most, the Giants and Patriots, met in the Super Bowl for the second time in 4 seasons (a game the Jets haven't seen in 43 years). In Hard Knocks Rex said he wants to lead the league in "fucking wins" but the team is 4-10 in their last 14 games.
Mike Tannenbaum hasn't had a great draft since 2008. Vernon Gholston, Mark Sanchez, Vad Ducasse, and Kyle Wilson are all considered busts. When you look across the city and see how well the Giants are drafting every year it is even more apparent. When things were going well "Mr. T" felt like he could do no wrong, bringing in guys with checkered pasts. Both he and Rex need to look in the mirror now because the blame of the locker room problems fall on both of their shoulders.
Jets fans want blood, so I'd be surprised if Mike Tannenbaum is brought back. The only way I can see him staying is if Woody wants to give this trio of guys one last chance to turn things around before clearing house before the 2014 season. In 2009 when Tannenbaum hired Rex, and then made the decision to draft Sanchez, he tied the careers of these three men together. After reaching the mountaintop of back-to-back AFC Championship Games, the curse of the Same Old Jets has reared it's ugly head again. Let's go eat some Goddamn snacks.
We will rebuild. We are a few OLBs away from contending. A true FS and RB and we will be set. Season is far from over. We will finish 9-7.
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