Whereas Woody Johnson is on the receiving finish of a lot ridicule from assorted VOS Gasbags and mouths from different media precincts, he’s hardly ever given credit score for presiding over the NFL’s most entertaining actuality present.
Johnson has even surpassed Jerry Jones. His manufacturing of “Dallas” works off a predictable script whereas Johnson runs a enjoyable home with lure doorways. He shocked the jock world by firing Robert Saleh on Oct. 8. Six weeks later he pushed the button on GM Joe Douglas’ ejector seat.
Now, that’s showbiz.
But, serendipity additionally sticks to the Jets proprietor. Stuff that fuels the chaos however is past his management. Like Rex Ryan, a perceived confidant of Johnson, utilizing his ESPN platform to commonly hype his personal candidacy for Gang Inexperienced head coach.
Is that this Woody’s fault?
Then there may be Mike Tannenbaum. Johnson employed the previous Jets GM’s firm to conduct his seek for a brand new head coach and common supervisor. Tannenbaum additionally works for ESPN. So, on the Jets story he’s conflicted as much as his eyeballs. He can’t inform the reality as a result of it could jeopardize his Jets consultancy. Once more, ESPN doesn’t care as a result of the state of affairs makes them a direct “player” within the Jets actuality present. The Bristol College has not taken Tannenbaum off the air, proper?
Transferring (far) up the celeb ladder we get to the star of Johnson’s Follies, Aaron Rodgers. Did anybody hearken to what Fox’s Joe Davis and Greg Olsen needed to say about Rodgers through the fourth quarter of the Jets win within the finale in opposition to Miami?
The 2 (emotional) voices verbally wrote the quarterback’s soccer obituary. If you happen to had any doubts about whether or not Rodgers was taking part in in his final recreation, they had been erased by the hearts-and-flowers sendoff Davis and Olsen gave him.
Whereas the Fox broadcasters don’t know what Rodgers intends to do, they solely added one other storyline(s) to hold Johnson’s carnival into and thru the offseason: Will Rodgers (who remains to be below contract to Gang Inexperienced) be a Jet in 2025?
That would be the first query requested throughout the brand new coach and GM’s introductory press convention. It would even be the query Ambassador Johnson is requested if he decides to speak to Jets reporters. So, till Rodgers decides, or the Jets make it for him, the Corridor of Fame sure QB is the main man in Woody’s manufacturing.
There are additionally co-stars like: Garrett Wilson, Davante Adams and Sauce Gardner
They’re passengers on Woody’s unpredictable caravan. It’s a tour with a twist, which has NFL pontificators howling on the moon. Johnson, whose group simply completed the season 5-12, dared to applaud the Jets for successful the Miami finale.
“I don’t care about anything else, but a win at the end was good,” Johnson mentioned. “They played well. They didn’t give up. Everybody showed up. We did some really nice things. I’m proud of the guys.”
Whereas others — those that invented soccer — reacted to this with a disdainful “What?” Johnson once more confirmed he’s aware of some axioms of present enterprise: At all times depart them laughing.
Or on this case, crying.
NO BARKING AT MARA
If anybody doubted Giants CEO/co-owner John Mara sometimes receives preferential therapy from the media, SiriusXM’s Christopher (Mad Canine) Russo supplied concrete proof throughout his weekly look on ESPN’s “First Take.”
Doggie was ripping into NFL homeowners who preside over “dysfunctional” franchises, together with Woody Johnson and Jags boss Shad Khan, who Russo characterizes as Public Enemy No. 1.
Instantly, one of many “FT” crew, Jeff Saturday, interrupted asking why Russo didn’t point out Mara. Saturday accused Russo of defending the Giants co-boss.
In a couple of seconds, and greater than as soon as, a sheepish Mad Canine admitted to being mates with Mara. Russo, who has verbally destroyed Khan on quite a few events, admitted he lower Mara slack due to the friendship. He didn’t attempt to conceal it.
How might he after Saturday referred to as him out?
SOLO KAY IS SAME OLD MIKE
If anybody anticipated Michael Kay’s transfer to 1 p.m. and shifting to a solo act on 880-AM, would produce large change, suppose once more.
After listening to 2 reveals, at related instances, we heard Kay go on the defensive — twice — about skeptical listeners providing their theories why he’s now not together with his long-time companions Don La Greca and Pete Rosenberg.
Kay’s trademark skinny pores and skin was exhibiting. He was in full Charmin mode, lashing out at those that dared to specific an opinion. Some listeners described Kay as an egomaniac who coveted a solo present.
Kay defined the transfer will present him with a greater high quality of household life, together with giving him the chance to spend extra time together with his two youngsters.
Anyway, it was reassuring to listen to that working alone in an earlier time slot gained’t cease Kay from dropping his thoughts whereas over-reacting to those that take challenge with him.
NO MORE SIMULCAST
On his new present, Kay mentioned the 1-3 p.m. providing gained’t be simulcast on the Yankees Leisure and Sports activities Community.
Whereas both the Kay present or a WFAN afternoon-drive product (“Mike and the Mad Dog,” then Mike Francesa solo) has been simulcast constantly on YES for 22 years, the 2 shops couldn’t attain an settlement on a brand new contract for Kay’s solo present.
Now YES, the regional sports activities community, will lower your expenses by not having to pay an exorbitant rights payment or manufacturing prices. The simulcast enterprise, just like the radio biz, will not be precisely strong.
And that’s a sort approach of placing it.
AROUND THE DIAL
If latest historical past is precedent, the carriage dispute between Optimum (owned by Altice) and MSG Community, residence of the Knicks, Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Monica McNutt might drag on. The same monetary standoff between Comcast and MSGN, which impacts Xfinity subscribers in New Jersey and Connecticut, is in its fourth yr. Whereas some politicians are taking sides on Optimum vs. MSG, we will’t really feel any concentrated warmth from followers. That’s why Backyard boss James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan wants his Knickerbockers to get sizzling and develop into as compelling as Jeremy Lin was in 2012 when he captured the creativeness of followers and supplied the impetus to settle a carriage dispute between MSG and Time Warner Cable. … MGM+ is again with Season 4 of its revealing NFL Movies docuseries “NFL Icons.” Episode 1, on Jan. 17 options Kurt Warner. It by no means will get previous revisiting his storybook journey. Zero main faculty scholarship presents. Undrafted by the NFL. Lower by the Packers after a 1994 tryout. 5 years later, the league MVP and Tremendous Bowl champ. … ESPN fits should imagine the hundreds of thousands of informal followers watching the CFP know who the varied voices are. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy turned in a masterpiece Thursday working Notre Dame- Penn State, however ESPN didn’t graphically ID them sufficient through the recreation leaving many followers questioning: “Who are those guys?”
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: DAN CAMPBELL
The style wherein he has rejuvenated the Detroit Lions’ perennially failed franchise is epic. Sunday evening’s 31-9 rout of Minny was simply one other instance. And as a bonus, the coach is a soundbite machine.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: REX RYAN
Publicly declaring you’re the perfect candidate — as soon as — for the Jets head teaching gig is sufficient. Utilizing your ESPN platform to declare it over and over is an excellent solution to get your self disqualified. Or is it simply additional affirmation that Ryan fancies himself a soccer genius.
DOUBLE TALK
What Joe Schoen mentioned: “We have a plan in place that we believe in, and we’re going to stick with that.”
What Joe Schoen meant to say: “What matters is one guy — John Mara — actually trusts our failed process.”
