The bad year isn't the determining factor in during Bowles. His decision making reveals a complete incompetence that warrants firing.
I think Mac has been fine, and as a first time GM, I'd like to see how he matures into his position. 1) Being hired at roughly the same time, I'd bet he had zero input into Bowles. 2) To give Bowles the best chance to succeed, Mac brought in Secondary players to fit the new defensive scheme. So Mac had to bid up that market and overpaid for the best available DB free agent Revis, and for Skrine, Gilchrist and Cro. We wont know if Mac would have been as aggressive had he had free reign. 3) He has been pretty good managing the cap. Next year, the Jets could jettison most of the underperforming veterans with small dead money and can choose to rebuild. 4) Some of the FA signings have been brilliant. Marshall for one. Forte is having a pretty good year in a bad season. Carpenter has been solid. Clady was a nice selection, had it worked out. Even Fitz was a good signing at the time. 5) We wont know, but you wonder how much the coaching staff and veteran players pressured Mac resign Fitz. As an aside, it wouldn't shock me to see Decker get traded in the offseason. I like him but he has been very verbal in critiquing the GM's and HC moves. If I was Mac that would absolutely rub me the wrong way. Especially with how it all turned out. 4) Draft pics have been OK. Williams was a layup, but then again how many Jets GM of the past bypassed the layup to select their guy? Dewayne Robertson? Quinton Coples? Overall I think his drafts are a combination of too soon to tell to pretty good. All depends on the QB's and where they end up. I think Dak Prescott's success has been harmful to Mac and I'm not sure that is fair as there were 20 other teams that missed on him and his success is a byproduct of a stellar OL and a great running game.
I think it was Macagnan who hired Bowles. But nevertheless, the Jets chain of command has been the same for a long time. I don't see it changing anytime soon. By the way, I don't think seniority has anything to do with. Mac and Bowles are not equals. Although they both report to Woody, I think Bowles is still a subordinate. But then with the Jets crazy chain of command, who knows???
