A Writer Who Gets It

Long Time Jet Fan · Jan 20, 2009

First order of business for Ryan: Let Favre go
by STEVE SERBY, New York Post

The Rex Ryan inauguration is tomorrow, and the Jets need him to be a difference-maker as much as this country needs Barack Obama to be one.

Here's hoping Ryan doesn't think he can make a difference with a 40-year-old Brett Favre.

Here's hoping, for the sake of landing the job, Ryan didn't tell team owner Woody (PSL) Johnson everything he wanted to hear about Favre coming back to try again.

Ryan has made his living sacking the quarterback. His first order of business must be sacking Favre.

Ryan should pick up the telephone in his new office and put in a call to the Favre farm informing the quarterback politely but firmly that the organization has decided to go in a different direction, whether Favre eventually decides to return or not. The last thing Ryan needs is to be held hostage by one of Favre's "To Play or Not To Play" dramas.

Rookie coach, rookie quarterback worked this season in Atlanta. Rookie coach, rookie quarterback worked this season in Baltimore with Ryan as an eyewitness. It can work in New York if Ryan builds the dominant defense we all expected former coach Eric Mangini to build.

The organization kowtowed to Favre with the expectation he would deliver a postseason berth, at the very least. It was worth a shot last summer. The shotgun wedding didn't work. It would be unbecoming of Ryan to jump through hoops for a faded Hall of Fame icon with a war-torn arm who couldn't defend Giants Stadium from Chad Pennington .

Here's the Serby Game Plan, then, for Rex Ryan to blitz New York:

BYE-BYE, BRETT: You just got to the AFC Championship with Joe Flacco at quarterback. Though it is true you have inherited a win-now team, you will have the benefit of a honeymoon period. Drafting and developing a franchise quarterback of your choosing will enable you to be up and rolling in time for the new stadium's debut in 2010. If Favre comes back and you miss the playoffs, then you've wasted your rookie season.

PLAY TO WIN: Mangini shockingly lost his nerve down the stretch and coached scared, which hardly inspired his players. There are four No. 1 draft choices on your new offensive line: Challenge them to get that damn yard on fourth-and-1. If Thomas Jones is gashing the opposing defense, don't kick a field goal when you've driven inside your opponents' 5. Fourth-and-2 at their 38? Go for it. Jets fans long for a head coach who will go down swinging.

KILL THE QUARTERBACK: Your MO. If Tom Brady doesn't come back for the start of the 2009 season, then plaster a bull's-eye on Matt Cassel. And put one on that Chad Pennington guy. That means fixing Vernon Gholston so that everyone stops calling him a bust; you don't know how much that embarrasses your new GM, Mike Tannenbaum.

It means somehow turning Gholston into Terrell Suggs, and prohibiting Calvin Pace from dropping back in coverage. Send Kerry Rhodes. Send Abram Elam. Show them all how to be junkyard dogs.

This is Fun City, for crying out loud! The New York Sack Exchange wasn't meant to be on the other side of the river.

BE YOURSELF: Just because your dad once punched Kevin Gilbride on the sidelines doesn't mean you should throw a left hook at offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer on those occasions when he forgets to get Leon Washington at least 10 touches.

BELI-CHECKMATE: Do not believe a word out of Bill Belichick's mouth when he gives his Gettysburg Address on the powerhouse football team that resides in Florham Park. Don't let him escape with a postgame fish handshake when you beat him. Oh, and if you see any strange game-day videotaping on his sideline, alert stadium security ASAP.

GOODBYE, PARANOIA: Mangini cut his teeth under Bill Parcells and Belichick, so you can understand why he shrouded his every move in secrecy. No one is saying you have to pass out X-rays of player injuries, but this is as good a time as any to remind the organization that football isn't rocket science.

Why, year after year, are we outsiders led to believe the Jets are hiding weapons of mass destruction? If it's broken, fix it. It's broken, Rex, and it has been broken for 40 years. Be the breath of fresh air that blows through the locker room and invigorates deflated players who have spent too much time walking on eggshells, worried that Big Brother is watching. The culture needs changing.

WEAR THICK SKIN: Don't take anything personally. When you are reading your New York Post with your morning coffee, do not spit it up the day after a bad loss to the Patriots when a "WRECKS RYAN" headline is staring back at you. Parcells always used to say that it was either euphoria or disaster here. Do not listen to talk radio . . . in fact, limit your exposure to your weekly paid spot on the station of your choice.
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Hobbes3259 · Jan 20, 2009

Favre > Dilfer.

The decision on Favre has to come after legnthy deliberation with the OC.

NDmick · Jan 20, 2009

hell of an article... I don't think the Gholston pick can destroy Tanny when he has hit HRs with Brick, Mangold, Keller, and Revis.

4 out of 5 1st rounders being immediate contributors and going to pro bowls early in their careers is great work.

puddnhead · Jan 20, 2009

Actually this article is pretty vapid. It hardly says anything.

Or at least nothing more insightful than the equivalent of "make it a priority to score more points than your opponent each game." Gee, do you think?

MexJetinBcn · Jan 20, 2009

I actually think he read some posts here and made an article out of them. I'd wishhe had read other posts as well.

jetsaholic1094 · Jan 20, 2009

GOODBYE, PARANOIA: Mangini cut his teeth under Bill Parcells and Belichick, so you can understand why he shrouded his every move in secrecy. No one is saying you have to pass out X-rays of player injuries, but this is as good a time as any to remind the organization that football isn't rocket science.
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In other words, Serby wants Rex to make his job easier.

GSourJr · Jan 20, 2009

Spot on commentary.

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