According to scout.com (Jets confidential) a close friend of Cowher's says he is not interested in the Jets job.
That comes as no surprise. I think Cowher has agreed to have lunch with Woody Johnson as a personal favor... maybe even get a "consulting fee" for the trip. The whole "we can share personnel decisions" was just an excuse for the Chin... to agree to "interview". Here is another thought... rememebr 2 years ago? Schotty JR was interviewed by Miami for the 2007 HC job. He of course was not ready, and since, his stock has dropped considerably.
Now... the Jets say to Marty, you sign a 3 year contract, your son as asst HC. You groom him for 2 or 3 years, he replaces you as HC. They all live in New Jersey happilly ever after. BTW, there are some nice places to live in Jersey, especially near the PA state line in the NW corner of the state. Pretty nice country, actually.
The more I think about it, the more sense it makes... which means the likelihood of it playing out like this diminishes exponentially...
Why not bring in his other kid as DC and make it a family reunion! Problem is Brian was AWFUL in playcalls this year and last! I could live with Marty Ball but he is #3 on my list behind Cower and Shanny - close with just starting over with Spags.
I
agree, Schotty lite hasn't done well, but I also have to wonder how much influence Mangini had on Schotty lite's play calling. Lil Schott is still young, and still developing as a coach. A couple-three years under Marty could only help his development. Frankly, I would like this plan, if it is indeed not just my personal conjecturing, but something Woody and Tannenbaum might even implement. The Jets need a high profile HC. Now we know Cowher is not an option, and I think everyone including myself knew that. Cowher wants the Carolina job, and I think he'll wait it out for however long it might take. Fox managed to salvage this season, so Cowher will stay on the shelf for now.
Spagnola is not going to be able to handle Favre. Any interview with him can be filed under "due diligence".
Shanny is nuts if he doesn't take a few million and take some time off. He earned that.
Back to Marty ball. He can handle Favre, and again, a 3-4 guy, a name HC, a guy who would not be insistant on having 100% control over personnel. Woody will pay him a ton of $$, assure Brian Schotty's future... it just fits too well.
If the Jets don't end up hiring Marty, I will wear black socks when wearing shorts next summer.
I agree. If you remember in Shotty and Mangini's first year (when Mangini couldn't be full of himslef yet) the Jets ran a very innovative and creative offense. There was alot of misdirection and they used Brad Smith in a Wildcat type role before it was fashionable.
Yes, Brian Schottenheimer ran a nice package in 2007... then went ultra-conservative under Mangini.Now, Spagnuolo is getting a lot of attention, this from the NY Post:
By BRIAN COSTELLO
HOT CANDIDATE: Giant defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has moved to the top of the Jets' list to replace Eric Mangini as coach - but other teams are in hot pursuit, too.Last updated: 7:07 am
January 2, 2009
Posted: 12:56 am
January 2, 2009
One of the first calls that Jet management made, only hours after firing Eric Mangini on Monday, was to the crosstown rival Giants.
It did not take long for the Jets to identify Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants' defensive coordinator, as a candidate for their head coaching job.
And when Bill Cowher bowed out Tuesday, Spagnuolo shot to the top of the list.
The 49-year-old is expected to interview with the Jets tomorrow - but Gang Green has plenty of competition for his services.
He interviewed with the Lions and Browns yesterday, and is scheduled to meet with the Broncos tomorrow when he finishes with the Jets.
"You can't argue with what the Giants have done defensively under Steve Spagnuolo," said former Jet quarterback Boomer Esiason, now a CBS football analyst.
"I could see how Jets fans could say that would be a hell of a head coach."
That's what Jet management is banking on.
Dealing with an angry fan base and with PSLs to sell, the Jets need this hire to go over well with their fans. Once Cowher declined to even meet with the Jets, Spagnuolo quickly became the team's top target.
He has presided over the Giant defense the past two seasons, helping them to the Super Bowl victory last year, and he brings the fire and passion fans craved from Mangini.
There's no questioning his Xs and Os acumen, but head coaches in the NFL have become administrators as much as game planners.
"I was talking to a head coach the other day who said, sometimes you have to pick out things like paint, things that don't even involve football," Giant great Carl Banks said.
"[spagnuolo's] got an excellent example of what a head coach should be about in working under Tom Coughlin. I think he has just from his time here he has a pretty good example.
"He has great instincts for the game. I'm assuming if he's interested in that job I don't see why he wouldn't be an excellent head coach."
There are five NFL teams actively looking for a head coach, along with the Raiders, who may keep Tom Cable.
The Jets would seem to be an attractive destination, coming off a 9-7 season, compared to the mess in Detroit or St. Louis.
"It's got to be near the top of the list for a number of reasons," ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said. "First and foremost, there's a core of a good football team there. The first thing a coach is going to ask is, 'What am I stepping into?'
"You can see there's a lot of good people on that football team. Whoever comes in will inherit a good core. You have an incredible new facility, a new stadium, New York City. I think all those things would be exciting for a new coach."
Of course, there is that one big question mark. Here's a hint: He wears Wranglers ... and No. 4.
Brett Favre's future is the cloud hanging over the Jets' Florham Park facility. His Jet teammates have ripped him publicly and off the record this week. Cowher wanted no part of him. Now prospective coaches are all going to want to know what the Jets' plans are for Favre.
"They've got to know what the Brett Favre situation is," said Jaworski.
"We've seen this play out in Green Bay the last few seasons. The quarterback position is the most important position on a football team. You've got to know who's going to be there. It will affect free agency, the draft. Whoever comes in, they may want an answer to the Favre situation before they will consider the job.
"I'm not sure any new coach is going to be looking at a 40-year-old quarterback."
On the surface, the Favre trade ended up costing the Jets a third-round pick, but it may prove much costlier in their coaching search.
"It turned out to be a decision that ultimately cost Eric Mangini his job," Esiason said. "You think one of these other coaches will be able to control him? I'm telling you, he will not be the starting quarterback of the Jets next season."
to me. It would be bad for this franchise if Cowher refused to talk to them at all. Look at the reaction of Browns fans when Cowher would not even talk. If that is what Tannenbaum had to say to get an interview with the Chin, he said what he had to say. The Jets may just want a date, not a marriage proposal with him. PR... it's about PR.
Truth hurts sometimes and the truth is BB left the Jets because he knew it was a bad situation; it was then and it still is now. Coaching in NY is tuff and doing it with a meddlesome owner who doesn't know what he is doing makes it close to impossible.
