Given that all pre-server apocalypse posts are gone, I have decided to repost my ?centennial? posts. Since I wrote them all originally in Word, with the exception of a few edits, I should be able to repost them in their original form. I guess if I have a tgg.com identity, it is pretty much defined by these posts. So, for that reason, I?ll get them back on the system (no need to reply.....I just want them back on the server before I get to post 1,000). I?ll space them out a little so there isn?t a DbJ spam-a-thon on the front page. Originally Posted Jan 15, 2006 Hello Jet Fans. Well, here I am at post 700. It seem like less than I week ago that I wrote post 600 (oh yeah?.it was less than a week ago?.I gotta spend less time on this board). Anyway, the inspiration for this post comes from recent threads by Cman50 and ThunderbirdJet proposing a conspiracy theory about Hermgate. The following was written primarily for humor, but it does provide a record of public quotes by many of those involved (PLEASE NOTE ? While the quotes are accurate, they are out of context here). It is by far my longest post and the most time consuming to write (I had to break it into 2 parts because it is so long). This will be the last time I tackle anything like this for a long while. DISCLAIMER ? This post is not an accusation of any of the people mentioned?.it is fiction, written with much artistic license. DbJ And with that, I give you: ?N.Y.J.? An Oliver Stone Film Sept 9, 2005 Chester?s House of Ribs, Kansas City, MO (Carl Peterson, Herman Edwards, and Lia Edwards are having dinner) Carl Peterson: Herm, I am so glad you and Lia were able to meet me for dinner tonight. Herm Edwards: Hey, we are friends. That?s what friends do. They meet?they have dinner?they converse. Look we?re conversing right now. The thing about conversing is that it strengthens the friendship?. Lia Edwards: OK, Herm. Why don?t you take a break to eat?. Herm Edwards: Oh yeah?the ribs! I love ribs! Can?t get ribs like this in New York. Nothing like a slab of Kansas City ribs. Mmmm?mmmmm. That is good! CP: Yes, yes. There are lots of great things about Kansas City? HE: Wooo..boy. Don?t I know it. Great fans, great city, great people?.and great ribs. See if you can get the waiters attention. I need a refill of my kool-aid. CP: I always thought that was just an expression with you. HE: Oh no?if you?re gonna talk the kool-aid?.you gotta drink the kool-aid. And Herm Edwards drinks the kool-aid. Kool-aid is not just a drink?.it?s a philosophy. And I?m drinking that philosophy. CP: Ummm?well anyway, back to Kansas City. Have you ever thought about coming back to Kansas City? HE: Well, maybe someday?but right now. I?ve got the Jets ready to go to the Super Bowl. Chad is 100% and is gonna have his best season yet. And Curtis?man that guy is never gonna slow down. They are ready?yes sir. You know, I really took it easy on this team this training camp, because I don?t want them getting too tired during the regular season. All that conditioning stuff is overrated. This team is ready. CP: What if I told you Dick Vermeil is retiring at the end of the season and I?ll offer you more than double what you make now? HE: Well Lia?Kansas City here we come. Sept 11, 2005 In a secret room below Arrowhead Stadium following the Jets/Chiefs game. Terry Bradway: Hello? CP: Hi Terry, come on in. TB: Carl? I got a note to come down here. What is this all about? CP: Terry, I don?t know if you know this, but Herm told me he is interested in coming back to Kansas City?maybe as soon as next year. TB: What? Well you can forget that. He?s got a contract. CP: You and I both know there are ways around that. Say, did you know I am planning to retire in a couple of years? TB: No, but what does that have to do with?. CP: Well, y?know, I don?t just want to turn the team over to anyone?I want it in the hands of a friend. Someone I know is a great football mind. Someone keen and insightful. TB: Who? CP: You! TB: Me? CP: Yes, I think it would be a great situation for you. You could come back as my assistant. Then when I step down, you could take my place and run the franchise?.think about it?.it?s what you have always wanted. TB: Wow?.but how can we pull this off without being accused of tampering. CP: Oh....we?ll figure it out.. Sept 25, 2005 After the Jacksonville Game, in Terry Bradway?s Office HE: We?ll, be alright, we?ll be alright. Just gotta get ourselves another QB. That?s all we need. As long as he can make throws we?ll be alright. That?s what QBs do. TB: (giggling) Maybe we should call Vinny. HE: Now that?s the kind of thinking I?m talking about! Vinny is a QB and Vinny can make throws. I?ve seen him make throws?you?ve seen him make throws. He can make throws! TB: If that?s what you want?.OK. (Thinking to himself?.Wow, getting myself out of NY just got a lot easier) HE: Alright?.now we?re talking! (Thinking to himself?Wow, getting out of NY just got a lot easier). Oct 12, 2005 Woody Johnson?s Office (Mr. Johnson is sitting on the floor building a model of a stadium out of popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners when there is a knock at the door) Woody Johnson: Come in. TB: Woody?do you have a minute? WJ: Huh?oh yeah Bradway?sure?sure. (he places a toothpick with a Jets flag on it on top of the stadium) TB: I?ve been hearing some rumblings that Herm is looking for an extension and a raise. WJ: Now where is Crayola 128-pack? ?..An extension?!?!? What?!?!? Didn?t we just give him an extension? TB: Yes, but he feels, given the adversity we are facing this season, that he needs more security. WJ: That is a load of crap. Look Bradway?.can?t you see I?m busy in here? I?m working on important stuff. Just deal with this?.and no extension and no more money! Nov 10, 2005 Herm Edwards? House (Herm and Mark Cannizzaro are at the dinner table) HE: I?m glad you could make it, Mark?.would you like some fried calamari? MC: Wow, that would be great Herm! HE: You know Mark, we?re having a tough year?tough year. Y?know I?m starting to get the feeling they may not want me here after this season. I just don?t have a sense of security. MC: You?re crazy Herm?.everybody loves you here and you are doing a great job. Is that artichoke dip? HE: Yeah, but if I only had an advocate for me?.who could help convince the organization that I need a few more years to weather this storm. All I need is an extension?.that?ll keep me here and I can continue everything that I?ve been doing. (Lia Edwards enters the room wearing a low-cut top and carrying a plate of lasagna) LE: I made this especially for you Mark. MC: (Turning to Herm) Let me see what I can do?. Nov 20, 2005 Following the Jets 27-0 loss to Denver (A reporter is chasing down Woody Johnson) Reporter: What do you think of the Job Coach Edwards is doing? WJ: They gave everything they had to give. Nov 21, 2005 Herm Edwards Press Conference Reporter: Herm?what about all these rumors about you going to KC? HE: My situation is here. I plan on being here, period. I plan on coming back with the same energy level next year that I had this year, and get this thing going in the right direction. I'm not seeking another job. I plan on being the coach here. Reporter: Woody Johnson did not give you a very strong endorsement after the game the other day. Do you think they may not keep you on? HE: I don't talk about stuff like that. At the end, if I'm not holding up my end of the bargain or they feel they need to go in another direction, they have to do that. They have to do whatever is best for the team. I'm okay with that, I really am. You feel you had a goal coming in here and you didn't quite reach it. That happens sometimes in life. If that should be, I will feel bad for the organization. I would feel bad for the players. But then I also know that I did everything I could not to let that happen. That's the way it goes. Then you move on. The thing I always tell myself, when you leave, whatever the circumstances are, you always have to feel you made it better for the next guy. . . . When the other guy comes in, whoever it may be, he can say, 'You know what? The guy made it better.' That's all I care about. Make a difference. If it ain't good enough, you know what, they can't say I didn't try. That's all I can do. I can't do more than that. I'll be fine, trust me. Things will work out. Nov 22, 2005 Woody Johnson?s Office Jay Cross: You wanted to see me Woody? WJ: Have you seen the papers? I look like an idiot. What are you gonna do about this? JC: The West Side Stadium stuff still being reported? WJ: NO! Haven?t you been reading what Herm?s been saying? JC: Did he use one of those funny Hermisms? WJ: No stupid. He?s making it sound like we are gonna fire him. Draft up some stuff for me to feed the press later today about what a great job he is doing and that he isn?t going anywhere. JC: No problem, I?ll get right on it. Oh, and I have the plans for that other project you asked me to work on. WJ: New York Jets Airlines? JC: No, the cruise line?..New York Jets Cruise Line: Vactions from Port Jefferson to Newark. WJ: Great, show me the plans. END OF PART 1 ? CONTINUED IN NEXT POST
Nov 22, 2005 Woody Johnson addresses the media outside of Hofstra WJ: Herm’s not leaving. I think he's performing fabulously. We're not winning, but he's doing everything he can to win and I think the team is doing everything they can to win. When I'm down at league meetings and I talk to my colleagues down there, they say, 'Woody, this happens, unfortunately.' The answer of the question is that he wants to be here and I want him here. We're not going to talk about contracts and so on, but I can't make it any clearer: I think Herm's great. He's great for this team. What Herm is doing is trying to build a culture here, a culture of winning. If we have a bad year, we're still building the culture. We want the best for our young players on this team. We feel we have a responsibility to build a winning environment. (In the background, Mark Cannizzaro’s stomach rumbles with approval) Nov 22, 2005 Herm Edwards meets with reporters Reporters: What do you have to say about Woody Johnson’s comments. HE: He didn't have to do that because I know our stand with Mr. Johnson, we've had a relationship for five years, a very good working relationship. Our relationship was formed on one thing and one thing only: trust. We both trust each other, we both understand what we're trying to do here. Dec 26, 2005 Carl Peterson’s Office Dick Vermeil: Hi Carl, they said you wanted to see me? CP: Dick, I know you are leaving the organization and I really appreciate everything you have done for us. I just have one last favor to ask…. Dec 27, 2005 Dick Vermeil Press Conference DV: (Casting a glance at a nodding Carl Peterson) Herman Edwards right now maybe should be voted Coach of the Year. Dec 28, 2005 Herm Edwards Press Conference Reporter: Herm, Are you going to be with the Jets after this season? HE: Right now, I'm the Jets' coach. I'll be the Jets' coach Sunday against the Bills, and Monday I'll be the Jets' coach, and Thursday when we have our gathering, I'll be the Jets' coach. Reporter: But there are all these rumors circulating… HE: I'm the Jets' coach, as far as I'm concerned. Period. That's all I can say. I don't want to talk about it anymore. Done. Move on. Reporter: Dick Vermeil said you should be coach of the year. HE: Dick said what he said. I didn't call him and say, 'Dick, can you say this about me?' It puts me in a situation where I'm getting bombarded with something I didn't start. I didn't mention it. It was dead. Now it's raised its head again. Reporter: What do think about replacing Dick Vermeil: HE: I'm the Jets' coach. That's where it's at. Reporter: How do you explain this season for the Jets. HE: I hate to say it, a lot of it is not my doing. If you're looking for me to blame somebody, there's no blame. Who am I going to blame? You can't blame anybody. Facts are facts. ... The facts are, we've had the misfortune of losing a lot of good players. It's not an excuse, it's a fact. It's a season, it's not a condition. That's what I keep telling myself. It's what I believe. ... The season will end, and I'll try to get this going in the right direction. Dec 29, 2005 Woody Johnson’s Office (Johnson and Bradway are watching the Edwards Press Conference on TV) WJ: What the f*ck is this?!?!?! Nothing is his fault. What a crock of sh*t. If he thinks he is getting a contract a contract extension he’s got another thing coming. TB: Well…I guess we are just going to have to let him go…. WJ: Fine….whatever it takes. Mike Tannenbaum: (from a chair in a darkened corner of the room) Just a second. The Chiefs want Herm, and we are just going to let him walk to them, free as a bird? TB: Oh….h-hello Mike….I didn’t know you were there. MT: We need compensation. TB: Ummm….compensation? MT: Of course. The going rate at least 1 first round pick. Parcells, Belichick, Gruden, they all were compensated with first round picks. Even Vermeil was worth a second and a third….and he was out of football. (Bradway begins to turn pale) WJ: Mike is right. Bradway…as soon as the Buffalo game is over….call the Chiefs and work out a deal. (Bradway nods and smiles as he re-swallows the vomit that had entered his mouth). Jan 2, 2006 Terry Bradway’s Office (Bradway picks up the telephone and dials Carl Peterson’s number) CP: Peterson. TB: Oh high Carl, its Terry. CP: Terry…I’ve been waiting to hear from you. I’m surprised I haven’t seen any news reports that Herm has been fired. TB: Oh…ummm….well, you see, the Jets don’t want to fire him….but they would be willing to discuss a compensation deal for you to hire him. CP: OK…I’m listening….what are you going to give me to take Herm? TB: Uhhh…no they want you to give us something….ummm….like a first round draft pick….. (an eruption of laughter…and then ‘click’) TB: Hello? Carl? Hello? Jan 5, 2006 Woody Johnson’s Office (Mr. Johnson is drawing a picture on his desk of the Jets Blimp) TB: Well, I’ve got a deal, I think you will like: A 7th round choice AND a side of ribs. WJ: Are you crazy? We asked for a 1st and this is what we get in return? I told you nothing less than a 3rd round pick! OK…call them back and tell them our best and final is a 4th…and I still want the ribs…. Jan 9, 2006 Terry Bradway Press Conference (Shortly after Herman Edwards agrees to a contract to be HC of the KC Chiefs) TB: Have I been perfect in my job? No, I haven't been perfect and I won't be perfect, but . . . contrary to what some people might think, this is not the same old Jets, I can assure you. I think the last nine years can attest to that. Contrary to what some people might think, I've done a pretty good job here for five years and I've got a chance to do that here again with the next head coach. Reporter: What really happened with Herm’s departure? TB: (sweat begins to trickle down his face) This was Herm's decision to go to Kansas City, and we allowed that to happen with the compensation of the fourth-round pick. Like Parcells used to say, you can be someplace too long. Reporter: Did you or owner Woody Johnson tell Herm you wanted him to stay? TB: I think Herm knew that we wanted him. It may not have been the right thing to do. It was a decision that he had to make, and I wanted him to make it on his own without any real, real strong influence." Reporter (Firing a question from the Grassy Knoll): Are the Jets going to file tampering charges? TB: (Head moving back, and to the right) There was no tampering.
