Tannenbaum, Bradway Are Still a Green Team Published: 04-19-07 By Randy Lange Editor-in-Chief Article Permalink: http://www.newyorkjets.com/articles/tannenbaum-bradway-are-still-a-green-team The news conference at Weeb Ewbank Hall on Thursday was similar to the exercises going on in 31 other NFL headquarters this week. Mike Tannenbaum was loose and easygoing 10 days before presiding over his second draft as the New York Jets' general manager, and he even had a few one-liners for the assembled media members. Director of college scouting Joey Clinkscales provided some information ? but not too much ? on selected players expected to be available should the Jets still hold the 25th overall pick a week from Saturday. But one unusual aspect of the "presser" went uncommented upon. Tannenbaum and Terry Bradway shared the head table and the spotlight for the first time in more than a year. "The only thing different, I guess, is I have to write [player] reports. Before, I didn't," Bradway said with a smile. "Not a lot has really changed, except that now Mike gets the blame." Bradway's current role is director of player personnel. Back on Feb. 7, 2006, he was ending a five-year run as Jets GM by passing the baton to Tannenbaum and stepping into a personnel consultant's role. It was a stunning NFL development, finishing the complete reshaping of the top of the team's football operation two weeks after Bradway announced the hiring of Eric Mangini as head coach. And the rearrangement of the Jets' second-floor offices has worked out because of the bond between Bradway and Tannenbaum. "Mike and I have such a great relationship," Bradway reflectred. "I always thought it was important last year to give him a little space. But this year he and Joey asked me to go up there with them for this news conference and I was glad they wanted me there." "Terry," Mr. T has said, "is a special human being." The verbal manhugs are heartwarming, but of course Green & White fans want to know how this personal rapport will help their team win. This is in effect Bradway's first year setting up the draft board, although he had input last year when Jesse Kaye was the man at the head table with Tannenbaum. Clinkscales is in his second year of organizing the scouts. Tannenbaum also mentioned several others who have been getting this year's draft operation in order ? Jason Mandolesi, who replaced longtime college scouting coordinator John Griffin, and a team of "former heads of state" that includes Kaye, Dick Haley and Marv Sunderland. "I think things are a little more structured," Clinkscales said. "We have a special type of player we're looking for that encompasses a lot of different things, such as whether the player was a college captain or not." Those are some of the concerns that Mangini has brought to the equation. Last year's altered dynamic produced a strong draft. The offensive line sank two new anchors with the first-round selections of D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. A QB of the future is on the radar screen in Kellen Clemens. Brad Smith and Leon Washington were fourth-round finds. Sixth-rounder Drew Coleman started four games. "We had 47 starts from the draft class," Tannenbaum said Thursday. "Brick and Nick started every game. We had other starts from Leon, Drew and Brad. We also had five undrafted free agents still on the club ? Joe Kowalewski, Stacy Tutt, Wallace Wright, Jamie Thompson and Ed Blanton. That's another example of our philosophy, to go by what we see, the best players playing." That's part of the Tannenbaum-Mangini philosophy, but Bradway had a hand in helping shape that philosophy, and now his role is to help carry out Tannenbaum's and the Jets' evolving vision. "Mike's done a great job," Bradway said. "This is a program that continues to build. It's exciting from that standpoint." And the Tannenbaum-Bradway relationship is one reason the program is not only exciting but is on a firm footing.
This is the best news I have heard. I knew Bradway was still a huge part of this organization but didnt know him and Mike T. were this close. When a man is willing to step down from GM to a lesser role and do what he loves and is very best at and can still be a very happy man. That is helpful to this team and organization and between Mike T, Bradway and Mangini this team is truly being led in the right direction. I am pumped for next week. Youth
The press conference they just gave filled me with confidence. Theres definetly alot more going on there than just work buddies.
When Bradway was replaced last pre-season the big reason given was lack of accountability for the state the Jets found themselves in. Woody Johnson said "someone has to be accountable." Now we have Bradway saying that when something goes wrong Tannenbaum gets the blame. I wish Bradway had never come to this organization and I hope he leaves soon. We wasted 5 years on him while a dynasty formed up to the north. I guess that was somebody else's fault too.
Bradway was obviously kidding when he said that Tannenbaum gets the blame. "The only thing different, I guess, is I have to write [player] reports. Before, I didn't," Bradway said with a smile. "Not a lot has really changed, except that now Mike gets the blame."
Yes, but the fact that he chose to say it at all tells you where his head is at. The thing that was most maddening about him as GM was all the boasting when things were going good and none of the contrition when things were going bad. He was like that VP in the corner office who never gets it quite right but makes sure that he has perfect hair and always has an interview lined up with somebody in the media to get out his side of any story. Phony.
isn't it something to be part of the "fraternity"..... alot of ass licking, even amongst the sincere ones. do not gain too much confidence about reading these feel good stories, these guys are making good money so they better be working together towards a common goal. jil
Im glad he is still with us he has gotten some good talent over the years in the later rounds. I think that is where his niche is scouting players especially in the later rounds.
Agreed, that he was not the best GM. The Jets had a horrible combo with Bradway and Herman. But the position he is in now is where he excels. He is a very big part of this franchise where he is at. You can not compare him as a GM and where he is now. I know you hate him but can you really tell me that he is hurting the team that much?? When he was GM yes he hurt the team but not now, he is a huge part of drafting for the Jets and you need to realize he is no longer the GM. So time to evaluate him within his new position. Youth
I'm glad to hear that things are working out with him. If he had nothing more to contribute to this team I believe he would have already been packed up and shipped off.
Bradway "was not the best GM"? That's like saying Blair Thomas "was not the best first round pick the jets ever made."
I think Bradway's strength in this business is also his weakness. He is very good at completing, organizing, and overseeing all tha is involved w/ player evaluation, specifically associated w/ the NFL draft. He has a very good idea what a player's true value is, and generally how a draft will play out. I believe his problem always was that he looked at things alittle too deeply, overanalyzing situations, and made some not-so-good moves as a result. I think in this role he is kept kind of grounded within his thinking. He can help assemble the draft board, organize/oversee the franchise's scouting system, give his insight on specific players, but at the same time, does not have the final say, which many times was his downfall. I think this role is perfect for him, and I think it's perfect for the franchise as well.
I always thought Bradway's problem was that he was doing his GM job 3 days a week and the rest from home in Atlantic City. GM is a job that you want done by men who never leave the office, and are obsessed with making their team the best in the league. You can't half-ass it, and that is obviously what he did.
