The NFL Jets last night "in two swift moves ... remodeled their franchise" when they "apparently reached an agreement" with Todd Bowles to become their next coach just a few hours after announcing the hiring of Mike Maccagnan as GM, according to Ben Shpigel of the N.Y. TIMES. Jets Owner Woody Johnson "has altered the power structure so that Bowles and Maccagnan both report directly to him." That means Maccagnan "would be an 'equal partner'" with Bowles. Maccagnan, whose ties to Jets consultant Charley Casserly "may have helped to endear him to Johnson, still must prove his aptitude as a general manager, but he possesses an extensive background in player evaluation that his failed predecessor, John Idzik, sorely lacked during his 23 months with the team" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/14). In Newark, Dom Cosentino reported Maccagnan "will have the final say over the 53-man roster," while Bowles "will decide who plays." All of the Jets' GM interviews "lasted a minimum of three hours," with Johnson, Casserly and consultant Ron Wolf "sitting in." Team President Neil Glat "was also present, but Glat was simply there to represent the business side of the operation, which he oversees" (NJ.com, 1/13). ESPN N.Y.'s Rich Cimini noted Maccagnan is "regarded in league circles as a grinder, a quiet and unassuming background player with solid evaluation skills." However, some wonder whether he will be able to "handle the glare" of the N.Y. spotlight (ESPNNY.com, 1/13). SNY’s Adam Schein noted Maccagnan is "well respected in league circles." Schein: "He’s a football guy, and he likes to go out and scout and roll up his sleeves and identify talent and unearth prospects. This is what the Jets need." However, he wondered how Maccagnan is "with the press." Schein: "There’s concern talking to people close to the situation in Houston" ("Loud Mouths,” SNY, 1/13).
THE CONSULTANT: In N.Y., Manish Mehta writes the Jets’ 15-day search for a new GM and coach had "Casserly’s fingerprints all over it," seeing as Maccagnan "was hired by Casserly" for positions with both the Redskins and Texans (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/14). Also in N.Y., Gary Myers writes, "I like what Johnson has done. He relied on Casserly and Wolf, football lifers who have built Super Bowl teams, to identify a GM with a background in personnel ... and a head coach who will be the head coach of the entire team." Myers: "It's not easy hiring a GM and coach at the same time, and the record the next few years will determine if he picked the right guys, but I think he got it right" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/14).
