The New York Jets finally did what everyone had pretty much expected them to do, as they fired offensive coordinator Tony Sparano after just one year on the job. Sparano was brought in to replace Brian Schottenheimer but it didn't take long for everyone to realize that the Sparano experiment was a failure. Sparano, whose offense ranked 30th in the league, never found a way to use QB Tim Tebow whom the Jets supposedly acquired to run the wildcat.
Quarterback coach Matt Cavanaugh was let go as well. He was hired in 2009, the year when the Jets drafted QB Mark Sanchez, who has steadily regressed in the last two seasons.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine turned out a contract extension and will reportedly interview for the same job with the Buffalo Bills. During today's press conference Rex Ryan hinted that Pettine's replacement would come from within the Jets organization, which might mean that secondary coach, Dennis Thurman, would be offered Pettine's job.
As for the GM search, Woody Johnson stated that Rex Ryan would be involved in the process. The GM selection process usually goes the other way around but Woody Johnson insisted on keeping Rex Ryan, so whoever the Jets pick will have to adapt. The Jets will meet with Atlanta player personnel director Dave Caldwell for a second time today. San Francisco's Tom Gamble is considered to be the leading candidate for the Jets' vacancy.
Answering questions about Mark Sanchez and his future with the Gang Green, Johnson stated that Sanchez would compete for the starting job, as it had been in the previous years. That, of course, was a blatant lie, as the Jets' mentally fragile signal caller never had any competition with the exception of his rookie year when he won the job against QB Kellen Clemens.
Answering the question about his infamous tattoo, Rex said that it was indeed real and he's had it for 3 years. He also stated that if Sanchez keeps playing the way he's been lately, the number on his tattoo would have to change...