The Jets Friday plan to begin the "first of a planned flurry of interviews" for the team's vacant GM position following the dismissal of Mike Tannenbaum, according to Bart Hubbuch of the N.Y. POST. Jets Assistant GM Scott Cohen and Giants Dir of College Scouting Marc Ross are "likely to be the first up," with former Browns GM Tom Heckert and 49ers Player Personnel Dir Tom Gamble "confirmed for some point during the weekend." Falcons Player Personal Dir Dave Caldwell is "thought to be in the mix this weekend." The Jets have also received permission to talk with Packers Dir of Football Operations John Dorsey (N.Y. POST, 1/4). SportsNet N.Y.’s Chris Carlin said with coach Rex Ryan not getting fired, “no good general manager is going to take this job.” Carlin: “A GM wants to have a say in who the coach is, and when you have the owner saying, ‘He’s our coach,’ well, that sends the message that the owner and the coach are very close” (“Loud Mouths,” SportsNet N.Y., 1/3).
THE SILENCE OF THE JETS: SNY’s Jonas Schwartz noted Ryan, who is reportedly vacationing in the Bahamas, continues to "get crushed for his silence” after the end of the regular season, but it is "not like Jets Owner Woody Johnson is talking, and that might be influencing Rex’s decision to go into hiding.” ESPN’s Eamon McAnaney said Johnson “deserves the bigger hit for their silence” because he is the “one who made the decision” to fire Tannenbaum and keep Ryan as coach. McAnaney: “Woody Johnson should stay in front of the media and answer those questions as to why he made the decision. But the fall guy is going to be Rex because now the media has turned on him. … Rex had an ally with the media. He was good copy, he was great entertainment and he made their jobs easier. Now that’s starting to turn.” The N.Y. Daily News' Frank Isola said Ryan is “just following orders" sent from Johnson by not talking to the media, because Johnson could “care less what the media thinks” (“Daily News Live,” SNY, 1/3). SNY's Sal Licata said, “It’s the same nonsense with this team but it starts at the top” (“The Wheelhouse,” SNY, 1/3).
