Don't let the PFT people and other media morons like them make you believe it came down to Tannenbaum vs Cowher, either. I'm sure it wasn't as simple as that. But that sure makes for a good story and another way to attack the "same old Jets".
if Cowher really wanted to coach the Jets, he would coach the Jets. you don't need to be the GM with final say to have a significant impact on personnel decisions. I'm sure he could easily get his men in with the Jets in roles that could influence Tannenbaums decisions, so refusing to coach the Jets because Tannenbaum is staying is just an excuse. unless Tannenbaum sits in a dark, sound proof room alone with no interaction with anyone else and deciding on players without any sort of consultation, Tannenbaum as GM becomes irrelevant.
Cowher's heart isn't into coaching this year. I think that's what this comes down to. It's been written that he wants two years to 'refresh' and then he'll be back. So, that's what will happen.
That makes absolutely no sense. If Tanny is the GM and has final say over personnel decisions, then that's what he'll be doing. It most certainly would affect BC's, or anyone else's for that matter, ability to form the roster in his image. Final say means final say.
That's not a look at the Tannenbaum Era. That's you picking and choosing what you like from the Tannenbaum Era. Let's really take a look: 2006: Draft 1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson - journeyman tackle, improving but has yet to justify 4th overall 1. Nick Mangold - excellent center, Pro Bowl caliber (trade John Abraham for the pick) 2. Kellen Clemens - ??? (traded up) 3. Anthony Schlegel - sometimes I forget we even drafted this guy 3. Eric Smith - sucks horribly 4. Brad Smith - excellent STer 4. Leon Washington - amazing 5. Jason Pociask - unemployed 6. Drew Coleman - should be unemployed 7. Titus Adams - New England Patriots Significant Non-draft transactions - Designated defensive end John Abraham as a franchise player. Subsequently traded to Falcons - Signed defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen, who had been with the Pittsburgh Steelers, to a three-year contract. - Signed wide receiver-punt returner Tim Dwight, who had been with the New England Patriots. - Signed cornerback Andre Dyson, who had been with the Seattle Seahawks. - Signed Ben Graham, a former Aussie-rules football player as punter - Acquired tight end Sean Ryan from the Dallas Cowboys for an undisclosed draft pick, traded Jolley to the Bucs - Signed defensive back Hank Poteat; acquired defensive end Bobby Hamilton from the Oakland Raiders for an undisclosed draft pick. 2007: Draft 1. Darrelle Revis - top flight corner (traded up) 2. David Harris - excellent second half of his rookie year, slumped in his sophomore year, injured for half the season (traded up) 6. Jacob Bender - San Francisco 49ers 7. Chansi Stuckey - servicable #3 wideout Significant Non-draft transactions - CB Hank Poteat re-signed one-year contract; RB Kevan Barlow cut - RB Derrick Blaylock cut; WR Jerricho Cotchery signed - RB Thomas Jones traded for switching 2nd round draft; RB Thomas Jones re-signed Four-year contract - DE Kenyon Coleman signed/unrestricted free agent - QB Marques Tuiasosopo signed/unrestricted free agent One-year contract - Signed defensive end David Bowens - Traded left guard Pete Kendall to the Washington Redskins for a fourth-round draft pick in 2008. - Signed Brett Ratliff to PS - Signed safety Abram Elam - Signed wide receiver David Clowney to PS - Signed linebacker Marques Murrell 2008: Draft 1. Vernon Gholston - invisible so far 1. Dustin Keller - dynamic rookie year 4. Dwight Lowery - in over his head as a starter in rookie year, possibly servicable nickel back down the road 5. Eric Ainge - IR'd almost entire rookie year 6. Marcus Henry - ??? 7. Nate Garner - Miami Dolphins Significant Non-draft transactions - Signed safety Artrell Hawkins. - Acquired defensive tackle Kris Jenkins from the Carolina Panthers for undisclosed draft picks; signed defensive tackle Sione Pouha to a contract extension. - Signed guard Alan Faneca, linebacker Calvin Pace and offensive lineman Damien Woody. - Released tackle Anthony Clement - Signed fullback Tony Richardson. - Signed running back Jesse Chatman. - Signed safety Kerry Rhodes to a five-year contract extension - Cut CB Hank Poteat - Traded for Brett Favre - conditional pick - Released quarterback Chad Pennington mid-season: - Waived punter Ben Graham; signed punter Reggie Hodges - Re-signed Hank Poteat - Signed Ty Law I posted all of that to give people an overall look at the SIGNIFICANT moves made in addition to the drafts (which, if you get past the few elite players we acquired, weren't really ALL THAT). I left out scores of insignificant signings and cuts. Up until this past offseason, Tanny and crew did not seem to take the personnel acquisition game very seriously, and I wanted to put that all on Bradway, even if I didn't truly believe it. Tanny was here for Herm's entire regime, too, as assistant GM, during that horrible fraudulent attempt to build a team. I was willing to give them a pass with this Mangini experiment as they fiddle around with the order of who was in charge of the FO as Herm fled town to ruin the Chiefs... they made Tanny GM, removed Bradway from the position but basically made his Tanny's right-hand man in player acquisiton, brought in some decent scouting personnel...but if you look at 2006 and 2007, the player acquisition approach outside of the draft didn't change. All second-tier bums. I'm sick of this. I'm sick of the shadily-continued regime in the FO. If Woody wants to admit he made a mistake with Mangini, fine by me. But CLEAN HOUSE, WOODY. No more of this Parcells family nonsense. Bring in a marquee HC like Cowher and let him bring his own people with him. I don't think Tanny is all that bad. He's done some very good things while he's been here, but he's also made a number of head-scratching decisions as GM. I want an elite team to take us there, because half-ass isn't good enough anymore. Not good enough for me, anyway.
Good post. Say what you want about Tanny, but the facts are that we had 7 pro bowlers (1 alt PB), with a 9-7 record. That's the sign of a good GM and not so good coaching. Tanny should remain with the Jets for a long time in some capacity. If Cowher comes in with his guys and complete f's up I want Tanny around to pick up the pieces. Re-organize and make it work, it's that simple.
of course he has final say, I didn't intimate otherwise so I am not sure why you have misunderstood a very simple point: Tanny's decisions aren't made in isolation. he consults with other people, who can very easily influence the decision he makes with his final say, so having the final say isn't the only way to get personnel decisions made the way you would like to have them made. how does that not make any sense to you?
Im on the fence with Tannenbaum, hes young and he my turn out good... But In this situation if that were Cowhers demands, Woody and Tannenbuam would be right to pass on Cowher.. The problme is when you give total control to a coach(parcells) when they split you have to rebuild not only the coach the whole front office..I don't want to go through that again.
HAH!! I'm totally stealing that and sticking it on some other board as my own. :up: Plus, I'm reposting this part here, because it perfectly reflects my thoughts. Woomp, dey it is.
Query: Who picked that coach? And, are we still calling Brett Favre a ProBowler? I thought that was just some sort of honorary thing. Like a free sandwich after you've bought five.
I have no problem getting rid of tannenbaum or putting in a position as a non-personnel executive if it means we can get Cowher.
Mangini was a good coach when he was 8-3. Hell he was a Mangenius his first year. It was a bold selection at the time that was a brilliant move at first but didn't work out in the long run for many reasons. Mangini's meltdown has nothing to do with Tanny. As for BF and the PB, he clearly made it on his name... just like Faneca. OK, so that leaves just "legit" 5 probowlers (and 1 alt "journeyman LT) brought in by Tanny.
I'd be ok with bringing in Cowher and his personnel guys IF Tannenbaum is kept around in a very important capacity. He's done a great job here.
rereading it, the first part makes sense...anyone working with the GM will be able to have influence, but as you get to the end it doesn't make sense. There is no way to conclude that Tanny's final word is "just an excuse" for BC not to come here. Equally untrue is the last thing you said about his presence as GM with final say being irrelevant just because he's surrounded by BC's football people. Many good coaches over the years have had their hands tied by GM's decisions. I just don't think it's sensible to say that a GM as powerful as the one in the scenario we are talking about will become "irrelevant" just because he has advisers at the coach's behest. Take away some power, then it's a different ballgame altogether.