Is Woody Johnson Going About This GM Search All Wrong?

Jan 8, 2013; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets owner Woody Johnson reviews the 2012 season and address changes for 2013 at the New York Jets Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

The Jets search for a general manager is going into a second week. The candidates are starting to fall off the market as other positions are being filled. On it’s face, this is not the end of the world. I know that we as Jets fans would prefer to see them take their time and pick the right man for the job, rather than rushing to judgement for the sake of putting someone in the position. But, when you look at the circumstances surrounding the position, you have to start to wonder if Woody and the Jets are going about this all wrong.

You know what I am talking about, Jets fans. I’m talking about forcing a head coach onto a GM coming into the organization. One by one, the top candidates that the Jets have brought in, have gone to other teams. Oh, we have the reasons leaked, but what’s the truth? Woody Johnson talks a good game, as we all know that he does, but does it stand to reason that NONE of these candidates have any trouble with Rex? He has to have gotten resistance from someone, right? And you could understand it too.

Think about all of the controversy that has surrounded this team in recent years. We don’t need to rehash all of it, we have LIVED through all of it. All of that controversy has to weigh on the mind of any of these candidates coming in. They know that they are coming into a place that dominates the headlines, for all of the wrong reasons. That, in and of itself, is reason to give second thoughts to coming here. It certainly is a challenge, to clean this organization up, but it will take a special candidate who is up to the challenge. Now add to that the fact that this candidate doesn’t get to pick his coach. Furthermore, that coach has a say in picking HIM. That is a lot to ask a new guy coming in here to accept. If you really think about it, it would be more surprising if the Jets had signed someone quickly. From the incoming candidate’s perspective, it’s really an impossible situation.

There are only 32 NFL general manager positions in the world, somebody will take the Jets job. But it’s clear that the Jets are going about this in a questionable way. They would have had a candidate by now if that candidate had the opportunity to fire Rex. You could make the argument that they ARE doing it all wrong, and the delay in hiring someone is clear evidence.

I just hope they know what they are doing.