Rex Ryan safe, GM Mike Tannenbaum, OC Tony Sparano fired
Jets announced they fired GM Mike Tannenbaun and are keeping HC Rex Ryan.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2012
Well this is bad news for us Patriots fans. Mainly because the Jets are making moves that make sense. If they were to stick with everyone they have now and keep Mark Sanchez as their starter, that would be amazing. Alas, after a terrible collapse of going from Super Bowl contender to missing the playoffs the last two years, some moves needed to be made.
This doesn't change the fact that the Jets are in need of some rebuilding. The talent on their team is few and far between and they lack it significantly at the quarterback position. Also, firing the GM doesn't change the fact that their GM, Mike Tannenbaum, gave Sanchez over $8 million guaranteed for next season. You literally couldn't trade Sanchez for a bag of balls.
Keeping Rex Ryan was the right move though. He easily becomes the most highly sought after head coach/defensive coordinator candidate if he's let go. With the dearth of good players on the Jets, 100% of blame cannot be put on Ryan. While there have been some tumultuous locker rooms on that team the last few years, the Jets have never really quit and have remained in at least contention for a playoff spot until the last few weeks. He's never completely lost his team (ex. Andy Reid this year, Jeff Fisher in 2010) despite the circus the Jets have been. That's a credit to Ryan.
A lot of attention is paid to his candid personality and Super Bowl boasts in the media. However, that stuff obviously is a little bit overblown. It's a lot more significant in our world than it is in that of the players. At the end of the day it comes down to whether you can play well on the field. The first two years with Ryan, the Jets did. The last two, they didn't. And that's regardless of what Ryan said to the media.
When Ryan had a team with good players, you saw what they were capable of. The Jets went to two straight AFC championship games, beating the top seeded Patriots in Foxborough in the divisional round in 2010. Patriots fans will have to hope it takes them much longer to get back to that level.
In another logical move, the Jets have let go offensive coordinator Tony Sparano.
ESPN New York speculated that Norv Turner or Cam Cameron could be brought in to replace Sparano, before the firing became official. I really hope they go with Cam Cameron out of those two.
Ryan also could be looking for an offensive coordinator to replace Tony Sparano, whose days appear numbered. At least two names are on the radar -- San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner and former Ravens coordinator Cam Cameron, according to sources.