On Long Island, Bob Glauber noted Jets Chair & CEO Christopher Johnson "faces his most consequential decision since stepping into the role of the franchise’s top executive" in finding a replacement for fired coach Todd Bowles. Johnson and GM Mike Maccagnan will "head up the search for a coach who can quickly turn the Jets into a contending team" (NEWSDAY, 1/1). In New Jersey, Andy Vasquez writes Johnson's decision to move on fire Bowles was "necessary and understandable." However, the move to keep Maccagnan "should be highly scrutinized." Johnson said that he "believes Maccagnan has the right plan for the team," centered around QB Sam Darnold. Johnson: "I've worked with Mike for awhile. And we've developed, I think, a good plan." Vasquez notes if Johnson is right, and the Jets "take a big leap, his decision to keep Maccagnan will look like a stroke of brilliance." If Maccagnan "continues to struggle with drafting the right players and signing the right free agents, it will be yet another failure in judgement" (Bergen RECORD, 1/2).
Wilks was fired following just one season in Arizona after posting a 3-13 recordgetty images
CARDINALS FLY ON FROM WILKS: YAHOO SPORTS' Terez Paylor wrote under the header, "Cardinals' Firing Of Steve Wilks Is Unfair And Outrageous." If Cardinals President Michael Bidwill was "honest with himself about the state of his football team, he would know the truth, which is that the Cardinals’ roster stinks." Paylor: "It is through that prism that I feel comfortable saying the Cardinals’ decision to can Wilks is one of the most unfair, outrageous firings the NFL has seen in years." If Bidwill really "wanted to hold someone accountable for this 3-13 season," he should have started with GM Steve Keim, who just "completed his sixth season in his current position." Even that "would have been short-sighted" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/31).
LEWIS' LONG REIGN IS OVER: Marvin Lewis was let go as Bengals coach on Monday after 16 seasons, and in Cincinnati, Paul Dehner Jr. noted despite signing a two-year extension after the '17 season, there was a "mass exodus of season-ticket holders." The Bengals this season "played in front of a nearly half-empty stadium for late-season games against Oakland, Denver and Cleveland." Crowds were "at their lowest" since the '11 season, averaging 50,754 tickets distributed, the "lowest number in the league" outside of the Chargers. Those numbers "matter" to Owner Mike Brown, who "opted to move a different direction" (CINCINNATI.com, 12/31).
