Jets Owner Woody Johnson Is Hopeful Favre Returns, Thinks Mangini Is a Good Coach

The holiday season doesn't bring good tidings for everybody. Just ask those head coaches who are spending the New Year cleaning out their offices.

As promised, Jets owner Woody Johnson held a 10 AM EST press conference to discuss the state of the franchise. Given that he'd just canned Eric Mangini, and that Brett Favre's future remains unclear, there was a lot to cover.

Johnson called Mangini a good coach; so good, in fact, that he saw fit to fire him after three seasons. Actually, he added the "he's just not a good fit for this team" caveat, which is a nice way of saying: "Yeah, Eric, it was either you or Brett, and, well, we're going with Favre."

Of course, this assumes that Brett will return in 2009. Johnson could only muster an "I hope so" when asked about that possibility, but he did point out that having an entire year in the offense should benefit both Favre and the offense. I'm skeptical, particularly since Favre is 39 and, well, he plays like it.

Apparently, some Jets players feel similarly:

"We're out there busting our butts and (Favre) is turning the ball over," said the player, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because his comments would be frowned upon by the organization. "You can't win like that.

"We never got any rhythm on offense. Instead of us pounding the ball with TJ (Thomas Jones), we're doing all of this other stuff. It's not just me, a lot of guys weren't happy with the play-calling. They (the coaches) were always catering to Favre instead of doing what we were built to do, which is run the ball."

So, basically, Favre has thrown two teams into upheaval in as many seasons. And unlike the Packers, who decided to move on without him, Johnson is hopeful that Favre will be the face of the franchise for at least one more season.

I'm pretty sure he's in minority among Jets fans, and if FanHouse's resident Packers fan is representative of other Lambeau faithful, nobody misses Favre in Green Bay: "You want to let Favre run your team? Go right ahead, old man. Because we had enough of that in Green Bay. Thanks for the extra third-round pick in exchange for a bunch of interceptions and a coaching change. Nice work..."

Nice work, indeed.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

12-29-2008 @ 12:31PM

Marty said...

Why not keep Mangini,since Woody Johnson likes him so much and get a younger quarterback,so you lose a season or two but it could develop into a winning season in later years. the players were dissatified with the game plays,dissatified players do not play well because they are always griping about what is going on. they may not be verbal in public but when they get together socially that is when they voice there opinions. A disgruntled player does not put his heart and soul into a play.

12-29-2008 @ 1:39PM

Mike said...

I can't believe he would want Favre to return. You don't "move forward" by firing your HC and sticking with an over-the-hill, under-motivated, beaten QB who didn't have the stamina to make it through a 16 game season.

Favre looked old, tired, and haggered yesterday and acted as if he just wanted to just fast-forward the game clock so he could bug out and return to Ole' Mississippi and start catfishing as soon as possible.

12-29-2008 @ 12:34PM

Roger Brock said...

Brett? "You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em !! know when to walk away, know when to run." Walk away now before you have to run away.

12-29-2008 @ 12:43PM

Brooklyn Paul said...

Favre was a mistake from day one. He is going to be 40 in the NFL...hello, what were you guys thinking? One year, maybe two and then what? I have watched these painful decisions from the Jets for over 40 years and they continue to break my heart.

12-29-2008 @ 12:56PM

DAVE said...

Can we please focus on some truth? Farve has a weak arm, but the Jet's receivers dropped a TON of balls! Why doesn't anyone talk about that? Coles and Cochery were great in their prime but they both lack either skill or desire to more than average. Sometimes they're significantly less than average, like when they don't even put their hands up to catch the ball. Yes, Coles, that's you. I've been looking for Clowney all season, and to me it's inexcusable to have a Leon Washington and David Clowney with such little playing time when the team spiraled into complete failure in the second half of the season.
The Jet's better figure out what's with Kris Jenkins too. The guy goes from being the mainstay of the number two run defense in the league to an NFL zero in the last six games.

All in all; get rid of the 2 WR's, Brett Favre, Mangini and Schottenheimer. Bring in Matt Cassell. Make Calhoun HC, and make Washington the premier running back instead of this Special Teams BS. Thomas Jones needs Leon Washington; and Leon needs no one; he rocks.

This team needs some serious restructuring, and I'm the guy to do it.

12-29-2008 @ 1:58PM

liza said...

RIGHT, Matt Cassell going to be a Patriot for along time. It looked like Mangini didn't even care about yesterdays game, even if Baltimore had lost, it wouldn't of mattered to him.

12-29-2008 @ 1:03PM

stephen laskin said...

mangini got fired for a lot of mistakes a high school coach wouldnt make.....he had no guts or flair for the moment...he was nothing special...a herm edwards clone who didnt lead or inspire...his hardass tactics resulted in zilch.....favre still had it and mangini had no clue what to do with it....even kotite knew how to a coach a defense....after 3 years of this crap, get a real coach...mangini sleeps with the fishes like his sopranos appearance...good riddance

12-29-2008 @ 1:07PM

ktk said...

Wah Wah Wah, Jets fans. You were big-time losers last year and Favre gave you a chance to win and make the playoffs. What did you expect him to do? Lead you to the Super Bowl? Put your reality caps on........

12-30-2008 @ 3:08PM

Nick said...

Your right ktk. I'm a Jets fan but i'm a realistic Jets fan. All I heard from other Jets fans as soon as they signed Favre wuz that its now Super Bowl or Bust now that they got Favre. I was like "Are you kidding me." Now as the season got going and the Jets got to 8-3 after dominating the Titans, I myself started getting ahead of myself, but at the same time i was like "This seems to good to be true that the Jets would have this record especially after last year. I had a feeling with December around the corner that the Jets would come back to earth as they always seem to do every year in December. But they came crashing back with a loud explosion. So I think these other jets fans need to realize that maybe this team wasn't the "Super Bowl" contender that they thought they were after beating the Titans.

12-29-2008 @ 1:21PM

cashman said...

I'm going to miss calling him mankini

12-29-2008 @ 1:27PM

matthew said...

Favre always been overrated.Legend my ass!!.One superbowl in 17 years.Just as many picks as touchdowns.Brett do everybody a favor and leave you jackass.Jets fans you deserve what you got.Hey Eric M have a job as a waterboy for Belchick you jerk.

12-29-2008 @ 3:50PM

Jfrancois said...

Does anyone remember that the Jets were 4-12 last season? Some might look at going from 4-12 to 9-7 and 1 game out of the playoffs as pretty good. Hell that's a great turnaround for some teams. Except here's all this talk about Brett Favre being too old and never that good in the first place. He took your team got 5 more wins, be grateful. This reminds me of the Green Bay 2005 season when the Packers went 4-12. Brett depends on his receivers a lot to go up and make catches and he hasn't developed that kind of trust with the Jets' receivers yet. If you look at his receiving corps last year with Donald Driver and Greg Jennings he had some decent receivers. If the Jets should do anything it's get some star receivers not 2nd stringers like Coles and Cochery.

12-30-2008 @ 12:26PM

TL said...

C'mon! Does anyone remember the Jets were in the playoffs before they went 4-12! Hard to catch balls thrown ; short,behind you,low ,high,etc.
With this offensive line ,Chad would have done better than Farve.
The only time the Jets win is when they keep the defense off the field. Mangini defensive brillance??? We had the talent!? Watching Mangini was like watching "Weekend At Bernie's."

HUSKERDIVA said...

What a mess!!! An aging QB who won't give up the spotlight and a head coach who let a winner slip away. It's a shame. In my opinion, they both got what they deserved. If the Jets keep Favre, they will continue to get what they deserve...a QB who is not a team player nor a motivator...and that's really too bad.

12-29-2008 @ 6:40PM

John said...

Brett Favre The most over rated player in NFL history. As a Pats fan I can only hope he comes back and plays for the Jesters again next year.

12-29-2008 @ 4:45PM

Skippy said...

AN OPEN LETTER TO FAVRE:

Please, Bret, please please please come back. Don't ever retire!

Signed,
NFL DBs

12-29-2008 @ 5:21PM

clank mulligan said...

Mangini is a lying rat snake. Favre needs to pull up a rocking
chair...

12-29-2008 @ 5:31PM

Wow, these same clown posters were singing Favre's praises when the Jets were 8-3. Shut up you whiners.

12-29-2008 @ 7:06PM

Kim said...

Gotta agree with you. Just because the Jets aren't in the playoffs now, everyone's calling for Farve's head. Sorry, I am a true Brett Farve fan and think he is fantastic! Haven't any of you complainers ever heard the new phrase.... "40 is the new 30?" You go, Brett! Hotter than ever and stronger than ever. He will be back and will prove all the haters wrong. Brett can hang with the youngins just fine, thank you.