5. New York Jets
On Feb. 4 the Jets held a press
conference to make a "major announcement." They
introduced their new coach, former Patriots assistant Bill
Belichick. Off to one side was new "consultant"
Bill Parcells, who proclaimed that he would "sit
silently until
such time as I am able to be vocal." Yeah,
sure.
Six days later commissioner Paul Tagliabue sent four Jets
draft choices to the Patriots, and New England voided the
final year of its contract with Parcells, clearing the way
for him to
become the 11th coach in the 37-year history of one of pro
football's most inept franchises. And in this atmosphere of
duplicity and double-talk, Parcells began the task of
sweeping away the wreckage of a 1-15
season.
He was given total control, more than he had as coach of
the Giants' two Super Bowl championship teams, in 1987 and
'91. He could bring in his own people at every level of the
football operation. He would oversee personnel, which might
not prove to be
the best idea since it never was his strong suit (see his
objection to the
Patriots' drafting of wideout Terry Glenn). He would get
whatever he wanted. New practice fields, an indoor training
facility, a remodeled weight room. And why not? Owner Leon
Hess was only too happy to shell out
$3 million to
$3.5 million for the overhaul. In effect the club was saying,
"We don't know how to run a franchise. Please show us,
Bill."
The press corps would be barred from
regular-season practices. Interviews with assistant coaches
had to be cleared by Parcells. No more interviewing players
in the parking lot or by phone at home. This, friends, was
total
control.
Then came Keyshawn Johnson's book, the one in which the
first pick in the '96 draft ripped the offensive
coordinator (Ron Erhardt) and the quarterback (Neil
O'Donnell) and the team's most prolific receiver, fellow wideout
Wayne Chrebet. Johnson called
him former coach Rich Kotite's "mascot." How would
Parcells handle
that?
People forget that Parcells has always been good at
defusing turmoil. While with the Giants, Parcells was
warned by players that linebacker Lawrence Taylor was
having off-field problems. "I'll handle it,"
Parcells said. You can't argue about the
production he got out of the future Hall of
Famer.
Jets fans won't let Johnson off the hook. Every time he
drops a pass, like the three he missed in the Aug. 16
preseason game against the Giants, they'll let him have it.
Parcells knows that Johnson—an
imposing physical presence at
6'3", 210 pounds but a player with a weird, let-it-fly
attitude and a suspect pair of hands—has to light up his
offense.
The Jets will open it up with
O'Donnell throwing to Johnson, Chrebet and Jeff Graham. Tight
end Kyle Brady is a knock-'em-dead
blocker who did a number on Cardinals pass-rushing end
Simeon Rice last year, but he doesn't figure in the passing
game.
There is no big back; at
5'11" and 214 pounds, fifth-year veteran Adrian Murrell
is more of a darting type, and last year he was one of the
Jets' few bright spots, rushing for 1,249 yards and six
touchdowns.
The defense has a terrific pass rusher on the right wing,
Hugh Douglas, but not much else up front. The linebackers
have been switched around to accommodate 33-year-old Pepper
Johnson, Parcells's old inside linebacker from his
Giants days, who after
three years with the Browns and one with the Lions was rescued
from the scrap heap. Last year's man in the middle, Marvin
Jones, has shifted to the weak side, though playing in
space was never his strength. Mo Lewis, who at one time
showed real talent on
the open side, now plays over the tight end. Puzzling stuff,
to be sure, but Belichick is a terrific defensive
coach.
Parcells's mere presence has given the Jets the look of an
honest-to-goodness NFL franchise, and they'll certainly be
better than last year. But let's hold off
before we put them in the playoffs.
—Paul Zimmerman
SCHEDULE
SKINNY
The Sept. 14 game at New England will be the emotional
focus of the early season. But if the Jets come in at 0-2
after losing at Seattle and then to Buffalo at home, the
big slide could follow. The Raiders come in next, and
they've always been tough on
New York, having won the last five meetings between the teams,
including a 34-13 win last season. A 1-3 start is likely,
but 2-2 would be encouraging, especially if one of those
wins comes against Parcells's former
team.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
NFL rank: 13 (tie)
Opponents' 1996 winning percentage:
.504
Games against playoff teams:
7
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