Has The New York Jets' Failed Season Sealed John Idzik's Fate?
By Tyson Rauch
As the New York Jets play out the remainder of this very forgettable season, the spotlight moves to owner Woody Johnson and the management decisions that he has to make. At this point it is a foregone conclusion that head coach Rex Ryan will be fired as the fourth consecutive year of missing the playoffs has sealed his fate. The remaining questions surround the status of general manager John Idzik, who has only been on the job for two seasons.
There is a growing notion that Idzik should be fired at season's end as he has failed to significantly upgrade the Jets roster over the past 2 years. John Idzik took calculated risks in free agency and for the most part failed with the Dimitri Patterson signing as the primary example. Idzik promised that he would build his team through the draft, but after 19 picks only Sheldon Richardson has emerged as a franchise player. Most importantly, John Idzik tied his name to quarterback Geno Smith and that move has been a colossal failure.
The opposing point of view counters with the opinion that it is too soon to pull the plug on John Idzik's program. Is it fair to fire a general manager after the second year of what was most likely a 4-year rebuilding process? Furthermore, is it wise to fire a GM without even allowing him to hire his own head coach?
The money game
Lost in the debate of John Idzik's job status is the financial implication of the Jets downward spiral. The New York Jets as they currently exist are not a marketable team. The media and fans are calling for the general manager to be fired. Rex Ryan, the face of the franchise, will be gone at season's end. There is a negative aura surrounding the team, as the organization seems to be heading in the wrong direction. How exactly do you sell this team to your PSL holders? How do you sell this team to prospective ticket buyers?
With today's ticket prices, fans are no longer happy to just attend an NFL game. Fans want to see a quality product on the field along with some star performers, and right now the New York Jets are not bringing either to the table.
The final decision
As an owner of an NFL team, Woody Johnson has to strongly consider the financial ramifications of retaining John Idzik. If Johnson keeps Idzik will the Jets owner alienate his passionate fan base? Will ticket sales continue to decline? Will PSL holders start to default on their contracts?
Then there is the option of staying the course and allowing the Jets general manager to proceed with his rebuilding plan, which includes hiring his own head coach. If John Idzik brings in a prominent head coach does that change the culture and perception of the organization?
This is obviously going to be a very difficult decision for Woody Johnson as it affects the future of his franchise on and off the field. A failure to correctly assess this situation could set the New York Jets back another 3 to 4 years. At this point, the Jets nation can only hope that Woody Johnson has an accurate pulse of this situation.
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Tyson Rauch is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
