In N.Y., Ben Shpigel writes the offseason will be "critical" for the Jets. Aside from possibly "hiring a new coach, they figure to pick high in the draft." They also "could have more than" $30M in salary-cap space. Jets Owner Woody Johnson "must weigh his frustration against his confidence in the long term plan" that GM John Idzik has charted. Johnson "must determine whether Idzik has executed that plan to his satisfaction -- and if not, whether Johnson trusts him to continue carrying it out." There have been "no indications that Idzik could be fired, or that Johnson is contemplating a change, but everyone has a threshold for suffering and embarrassment" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/1).
TANGLED UP IN BLUE: ESPN N.Y.'s Dan Graziano wrote under the header, "The Giants Have Hit Bottom, And No One's Job Should Be Safe." The Giants "don't fire GMs, as a matter of policy." They have "had only three different GMs in the past 38 years." But an "honest evaluation" for GM Jerry Reese "should put that job in jeopardy." His drafts have "consistently failed to produce building-block players, and the deterioration of the offensive and defensive lines is the result of draft negligence" (ESPNNY.com, 11/30).
BRUCE ALMIGHTY? In DC, Mike Wise asked, "Has anyone seen or heard from Bruce Allen lately?" The Redskins President & GM "has failed to provide any calming voice amid the circus." It is "just another leaderless moment from another drama-filled, lost season." Allen has "worked harder to broker a deal with Native Americans over the team’s name than he has to put together a viable roster." If Allen "didn’t have his last name -- if his father never coached this franchise to its first Super Bowl -- he already would have been fired" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/28).
