Jets Owner Woody Johnson on Thursday said that he "doesn't expect to raise ticket prices" in '17 following the team's 5-11 campaign, according to Connor Hughes of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. Johnson: "We haven't decided what we're going to do with ticket prices this year. We probably won't raise them." After finishing the '15 season 10-6, the Jets "raised their ticket prices" roughly 4% heading into this year. It was "an average of $5 on all non-premium seats at MetLife Stadium." The team has missed the postseason for six straight seasons (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/6).
STAYING THE COURSE: Johnson on Thursday said that there is "no playoff mandate" for Jets coach Todd Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan during the '17 season. On Long Island, Kimberley Martin notes there is "patience for a plan that is in the process of taking shape." Johnson said that he is "as committed to Bowles as he was when he hired him" in January '15. Johnson: "I’m still very, very in his corner. He’s very talented. I think he’s going to get better, as we all are -- including me -- at what they do. I’m just so happy to have him. Both he and Mike." He said "changing a lot of moving pieces makes it a lot more difficult" to achieve long-term success. He added, "Over time, their plan is going to yield." Meanwhile, Johnson stressed that he "understands the frustration of his fans" (NEWSDAY, 1/6). Also on Long Island, Bob Glauber writes, "It may turn out that Bowles and/or Maccagnan can’t get the job done, but two years isn’t enough time to make a final judgment. That’s why it makes sense for Johnson to stay the course for now and not make sweeping changes that might feel good in the short term but don’t work over the long haul" (NEWSDAY, 1/6). In N.Y., Brian Costello writes Maccagnan on Thursday "had a chance to show some leadership to his fans, show how upset he was with this season and let them know what he is doing to fix it." Instead, he "talked about the long-term plan and how happy he was with some of their young players." It would be nice for Jets fans to "get a little passion" from Maccagnan or Bowles, who "delivers his own lifeless press conferences during the season." There "has to be a happy medium" between what the Rex Ryan era "delivered publicly and what the current one does." Costello: "No one needs Super Bowl guarantees, but a little passion would go a long way" (N.Y. POST, 1/6).
UNION JACK: In N.Y., Zach Schonbrun notes there has been "considerable speculation" that Johnson could be part of President-elect Trump's administration, with "posts such as United States ambassador to Britain among those that have been mentioned." Johnson "declined to address the reports when asked how a move overseas would affect his role with the team" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/6).
