http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jets/ny-spboomer1230,0,3782936.column Boomer Esiason has worked alongside former Steelers coach Bill Cowher the last two years on the set of the CBS NFL pre-game show. And while the former Jets' quarterback admits Cowher has not tipped his hand about the possibility of returning to the sidelines, Esiason thinks it's possible Cowher could be enticed into coaching the Jets. "He's played it close to the vest, but I will tell you this," Esiason said. "The guy sits and watches the games as intensely as ever. If somebody made a hard run at him, it would be hard for him to turn it down. If he got the money offered to him that I would think [the Jets] would have, I think he might come back." Esiason's advice to Cowher if the Jets offer him an absurd amount of money, perhaps $10 million or more per season: "I would say, 'Take the job. You're working in the biggest city and the biggest fish bowl in the world, but you should do it.' " Esiason said he has not spoken directly with Cowher about coaching the Jets, although Esiason has ribbed him a few times about it. "I've kidded him from time to time that if he comes here, I don't want to call plays. I just want to do the TV show." But Esiason admits it's impossible to read the tea leaves with Cowher. "He is not giving any of us at CBS the real insight into what he's looking at," Esiason said. "It will be interesting to see if he's on their radar." One potential red flag with Cowher's hiring would be the issue of sharing front-office power. Cowher is known to want an active role in personnel issues, and while Mangini had significant input on the draft and free agency, general manager Mike Tannenbaum had ultimate authority. Tannenbaum would likely have to cede some power if Cowher is hired. Jets owner Woody Johnson and Tannenbaum declined to address specifically whether they'd reach out to Cowher, other than to say they would consider all possibilities. It is believed the team will, in fact, contact Cowher. According to another person familiar with Cowher's situation, he has sent out signals to teams other than the Cleveland Browns that he is at least willing to listen to offers. And that includes the Jets. If the Jets cannot lure Cowher back to the sidelines, Esiason said he would expect the team to consider Giants' defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. They'd be crazy not to interview him; after all, Spagnuolo put together one of the most vibrant defenses in recent memory last season, and has helped the Giants earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs despite having lost defensive ends Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending knee injury. "He's a young coach with an aggressive defense," Esiason said of the 47-year-old Spagnuolo. "The Jets obviously have a quarterback issue, but they've got to get this defense right, too. This defense has not been right. They've got to find themselves defensively to get this team playing better. Why wouldn't you go after Steve Spagnuolo?" Another possibility, according to league sources: former Browns, Chiefs, Redskins and Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer. He has been to several Jets' games in recent weeks, although not in any formal capacity. Schottenheimer is the father of Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who would be expected to remain with the team if his father were hired. As for the question of what to do with Brett Favre, Esiason believes he will not be with the team next season, despite the assurances from Johnson and Tannenbaum that he is wanted back. "Barring any crazy Jon Gruden signing, I think Brett Favre is going to retire, especially if he has to have surgery on his shoulder," Esiason said. "Brett Favre's not 30 years old. He's had a great career and should be celebrated. But I can't pay a 40-year-old quarterback $13 million. You can't pay him for what he did for the Packers. You've got to pay him for what you think he can give to the Jets." Esiason never thought the Jets should have dumped Pennington for Favre in the first place. "It turned out to be the ultimate twist in fate," he said. "As luck would have it for Chad Pennington, his dumping led to Eric Mangini's firing. And that's on Tannenbaum. You're the one who evaluated that Pennington isn't good any more and that Favre is. Not only did you let him go, but to let him go to a team in your division ... " And now to ask Favre back for another year? "I'd much rather give Bill Cowher $13 million a year than Brett Favre," Esiason said. No argument there. That's why the Jets' search needs to start with the former Steelers' Super Bowl winning coach. Johnson needs to throw as much money as it takes to make it happen. --------- Get it done!
"I'd much rather give Bill Cowher $13 million a year than Brett Favre," Esiason said." Yeah, that's easy to say when you're dealing with somebody's elses $13M and not your own. Besides, what kind of Cowher jersey will the fans buy?
Oh please, I'm sure Boomer was against the Favre move. I could be wrong, but I don't remember him coming out and saying anything like that. And please, it wasn't Pennington who led to Mangini's firing. Pennington's performance last season got him benched, and then run out of town. Mangini gave Chad every opportunity, it was Chad's fault he lost his job to Clemens last year and wasn't beating out Clemens this year, not Mangini deciding "he's not good anymore." If Pennington was the team's QB this season, Mangini probably would've ended up fired anyway because the Jets would've been even worse.
The Dolphins didn't knock the Jets out of the playoffs either, they were out like halfway through the game when Baltimore was up 20...win or loss I don't think Mangini would have been coming back
This article is dead on, and I hope accurate. Getting Cowher and losing Favre would be the ultimate off-season.
"Esiason never thought the Jets should have dumped Pennington for Favre in the first place. "It turned out to be the ultimate twist in fate," he said. "As luck would have it for Chad Pennington, his dumping led to Eric Mangini's firing. And that's on Tannenbaum. You're the one who evaluated that Pennington isn't good any more and that Favre is. Not only did you let him go, but to let him go to a team in your division ..." So Esiason, a class act and a great player in the league wanted Penny to stay, meanwhile jerk act and never a player in any league Carton wanted Favre.
Well, you can bet that Cowher would never take the job, nor would it be offered if the options for QB next year are Ratliff or Clemens. Not in a million years. So, it may not be Favre but it will have to be somebody else that is not currently on the team even if it means giving away the entire draft to move up. Not sure there is anybody worth doing that for this year so it may mean they have to make another trade.
I think Cowher either coaches the Jets or he doesn't coach at all this year. His older daughter works in NY and his younger daughter goes to school at Princeton, it is a match made in heaven. Problem is that Cowher would want full control and Mike T seems to have Woodys ear, I could see Mike T talking Woody out of it.
Unless Woody already told Tanny that if Cower comes here, and wants control, then Tanny would have to take a back seat? Any way you look at it, we are going to need a transition guy at QB. We also need to know if Clemens(no!), or Ratliff(maybe?) are worth the time it would take to get them ready for a starting role.
That happens a lot. Just promote him, give him more money and tell him to go back to doing contracts. What is he going to do, quit? Boohoo.
I was not a fan of the Mangini firing, but Cowher is one replacement I would be excited for. He brings passion, which was lacking and experience with the 3-4, which is needed (please don't make us rebuild EVERYTHING), a true and proven belief in the running game, and instant lockerroom credibility. On the other hand, he was NEVER good at in-game adjustments... well, really, that's the only negative.
Yeah, I agree with all the above. Mike T is in solid with Woody, who appears to have needed Mike T by his side (and as a crutch) while making the anouncement, so I think Woody will basically go along with anything Mike suggests right now. And the one thing he WILL suggest is that there can only be one GM. But the location would be ideal for Cowher, who could be close to his daughters (they could attend the games and practices, even). So yeah, if anyone has a shot at Cowher, it's us. They'd just have to work out the GM thingy... which could involve Cowher "helping" to make personnel decisions. After Cowher, I'd hire "Spags." He's a no-nonsense guy with plenty of smarts and fire and he certainly knows the game, and he was within a c*nt hair of becoming the Redskins' HC last year.
Why does everyone think that Cowher's proximity to his daughters is going to be a huge selling point? Maybe since I'm NOT a father I just don't understand.
I don't understand this statement, because as a father I do completely understand. It's pretty common knowledge that Cowher is VERY close to his daughters... goes to all their games, very supportive, etc. For his daughters to both be within a 45-minute drive of the practice facility and the stadium and to be able to have them attend certain team-only functions, dinners, autograph signings, etc., with their father would not only be a thrill fo his daughters, it's be the best of all worlds for Cowher.
I bet Mike T is perfectly willing to let Cowher have a huge say in personel decisions and go back to being more of the Cap guru.... I feel like to make a move like this Woody and Tanny have something up their sleeve like the Favre full court press.... As in "Sorry Eric - Woody want Cowher - I'm saving my own ass"
I'm with you 100%. 1. Cowher 2. Spags Those would be the only two on my list and would do everything in my power to get either of them. Spags would be a distant second but a good fall back option if Cowher declines. Cowher to the Jets is just so perfect that the Jets fan in me thinks it is too perfect to ever happen to the Jets. This would be 97 all over again when we got Parcells except we have more overall talent then when Parcells came here. He brings instant respect and credibility to the entire organization and hope back to the fanbase.
