In N.Y., Zach Braziller writes Jets Owner Woody Johnson "didn't use" the word rebuilding, but he "may as well have been saying wins and losses don’t matter next season." Appearing on ESPN Radio N.Y. 1050 yesterday, Johnson said, "The way I want to be judged this year, hopefully from the fans standpoint, is watch how we improve during the year, look at each individual on the team and see how they’re getting better. If they’re getting better, that’s a mark of progress. That’s what we’re looking for." He added, "This is a direction we’ve never tried in the 17 years that I’ve been involved with the Jets. We’ve never gone this way" (N.Y. POST, 5/3). In N.Y., Manish Mehta writes Johnson has "made it clear that there will be no playoff mandate" for GM Mike Maccagnan and coach Todd Bowles in their third season together (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/3).
THE MAN IN CHARGE: In Buffalo, Vic Carucci wrote in lieu of Bills GM Doug Whaley being fired on Sunday, the power structure of the Bills' football operation will "continue to work as it has since Sean McDermott was hired as coach in January." The "overall vision on how the team is put together will be McDermott's." While Bills co-Owner Terry Pegula made a point to "reiterate that he and his wife, Kim, were the ones who made the decision" to fire GM Doug Whaley and the entire scouting staff, the moves had been "inevitable since McDermott's hiring" (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/2).
GOOD START: In S.F., Kevin Lynch asked if the 49ers could "finally be getting it right?" It is "far too early to tell, but the early reviews from this draft indicate" that new GM John Lynch "knows how to run an organization." He "delegates, he recognizes a job well done, he wants roles well-defined" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/2).
FLYING HIGH: In Atlanta, Mark Bradley wrote the "forced marriage" between Falcons coach Dan Quinn and GM Thomas Dimitroff is a "blissful union." The Falcons "just completed the third draft under Quinn/Dimitroff, the first having been quite good and the second flat-out great." For that, "credit the arranger," Falcons Owner Arthur Blank, but "mostly the parties themselves." There is "no question that Quinn’s vision holds sway" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/2).
