Cramden
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
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http://www.nypost.com/sports/jets/60346.htm
January 14, 2006 -- DENVER — If the Jets want Eric Mangini as their next head coach, the feeling is very mutual, The Post learned exclusively last night.
Although Bill Belichick has been trying to talk Mangini out of taking the Jets job, Mangini will make his own decision, and that decision would be to accept a fair Jets' offer if one is, indeed, made.
The Jets' heavy-breathing interest in the Patriots' defensive coordinator and Belichick disciple is one of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL. The Jets are scheduled to interview Mangini tomorrow near Foxborough, Mass., and he's believed to be at the top of the team's wish list.
The level of Mangini's interest in the Jets has been a question of significance that's been raised in recent days.
One question has been whether Belichick, who has no love for the Jets, the team he jilted in 2000, would try to talk Mangini out of taking the Jets job if offered.
Another has been whether Mangini's loyalty to Belichick, who has raised him in his NFL career to date, would keep him in New England awaiting an offer from another team down the road.
The answers to those questions are "Yes" and "No."
Yes, Belichick already has started whispering in Mangini's ear that the Jets job is not a good one and he should wait for a better opportunity.
And, no, Mangini will not listen to Belichick on this issue and is prepared to accept the Jets' job if it's offered to him, provided they don't completely low-ball him financially. Mangini, who makes between $600,000 and $700,000 a year with New England, probably would need to be offered $2 million per year. Herman Edwards was making a shade less than $2 million.
"From what I hear, this is not about whether Mangini will turn [the Jets] down," a current NFL assistant coach told The Post. "There is zero chance of Belichick talking him out of it. That's not happening. From what I'm hearing, if they offer him the job, he's going to end up taking it."
Jets owner Woody Johnson is borderline obsessed with the Patriots' way of doing things and is believed to covet Mangini despite the fact Johnson initially preferred a head coach with previous experience. It appears Johnson is willing to make an exception in this case.
For those skeptical about Mangini's age (he'll be 35 on Jan. 19) and one year of experience as a coordinator, there is recent precedent. The Jaguars hired Jack Del Rio after one year as defensive coordinator in Carolina.
The Jets obviously are rooting hard for the Patriots to lose to the Broncos tonight, because it would expedite their proceedings with Mangini. If New England wins, the Jets cannot make a formal offer to him until the Patriots' season is complete.
Either way, we should know a lot more about the Jets' direction in the coming days.
Should New England win and the Jets drag on their search, that would be a clear sign they have a handshake agreement with Mangini, much the same way the Browns did with Romeo Crennel last year.
Should New England lose and Mangini is, indeed, the Jets' man and wants in, the Jets could have a press conference announcing their new head coach by midweek.
The Jets have interviewed six candidates (Jim Haslett, Joe Vitt, Donnie Henderson, Mike Heimerdinger, Mike Westhoff and Tim Lewis), and have Mangini and Mike Tice (Monday) scheduled.
Heimerdinger said yesterday of his interview, "I think it went well. They didn't kick me out after 15 minutes."
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January 14, 2006 -- DENVER — If the Jets want Eric Mangini as their next head coach, the feeling is very mutual, The Post learned exclusively last night.
Although Bill Belichick has been trying to talk Mangini out of taking the Jets job, Mangini will make his own decision, and that decision would be to accept a fair Jets' offer if one is, indeed, made.
The Jets' heavy-breathing interest in the Patriots' defensive coordinator and Belichick disciple is one of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL. The Jets are scheduled to interview Mangini tomorrow near Foxborough, Mass., and he's believed to be at the top of the team's wish list.
The level of Mangini's interest in the Jets has been a question of significance that's been raised in recent days.
One question has been whether Belichick, who has no love for the Jets, the team he jilted in 2000, would try to talk Mangini out of taking the Jets job if offered.
Another has been whether Mangini's loyalty to Belichick, who has raised him in his NFL career to date, would keep him in New England awaiting an offer from another team down the road.
The answers to those questions are "Yes" and "No."
Yes, Belichick already has started whispering in Mangini's ear that the Jets job is not a good one and he should wait for a better opportunity.
And, no, Mangini will not listen to Belichick on this issue and is prepared to accept the Jets' job if it's offered to him, provided they don't completely low-ball him financially. Mangini, who makes between $600,000 and $700,000 a year with New England, probably would need to be offered $2 million per year. Herman Edwards was making a shade less than $2 million.
"From what I hear, this is not about whether Mangini will turn [the Jets] down," a current NFL assistant coach told The Post. "There is zero chance of Belichick talking him out of it. That's not happening. From what I'm hearing, if they offer him the job, he's going to end up taking it."
Jets owner Woody Johnson is borderline obsessed with the Patriots' way of doing things and is believed to covet Mangini despite the fact Johnson initially preferred a head coach with previous experience. It appears Johnson is willing to make an exception in this case.
For those skeptical about Mangini's age (he'll be 35 on Jan. 19) and one year of experience as a coordinator, there is recent precedent. The Jaguars hired Jack Del Rio after one year as defensive coordinator in Carolina.
The Jets obviously are rooting hard for the Patriots to lose to the Broncos tonight, because it would expedite their proceedings with Mangini. If New England wins, the Jets cannot make a formal offer to him until the Patriots' season is complete.
Either way, we should know a lot more about the Jets' direction in the coming days.
Should New England win and the Jets drag on their search, that would be a clear sign they have a handshake agreement with Mangini, much the same way the Browns did with Romeo Crennel last year.
Should New England lose and Mangini is, indeed, the Jets' man and wants in, the Jets could have a press conference announcing their new head coach by midweek.
The Jets have interviewed six candidates (Jim Haslett, Joe Vitt, Donnie Henderson, Mike Heimerdinger, Mike Westhoff and Tim Lewis), and have Mangini and Mike Tice (Monday) scheduled.
Heimerdinger said yesterday of his interview, "I think it went well. They didn't kick me out after 15 minutes."
[email protected]
