Source: Ex-coach Eric Mangini pushed New York Jets to draft disappointing linebacker

Source: Ex-coach Eric Mangini pushed New York Jets to draft disappointing linebacker Vernon Gholston

BY Rich Cimini
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Wednesday, November 11th 2009, 4:00 AM
Vernon Gholston (50) hasn't made an impact for the New York Jets in two season, and to make matters worse, he seemed to be a favorite of ex-coach Eric Mangini.

Rex Ryan predicted big things for Vernon Gholston, vowing to turn the disappointing former No. 1 pick into a productive player. That hasn't happened, and it's fair to wonder if it will ever happen.

Gholston is 24 games into his NFL career, and he has yet to record a sack. How is that possible? His playing time has almost disappeared (only about a dozen defensive snaps in the past two games), and the coaching staff needs to take a hard look this week at whether he should be active Sunday against the Jaguars.

Because Gholston's role on defense is so small, it might not make sense to dress him because it creates a dropoff on special teams. He's not as good as Marques Murrell and Ahmad Carroll, core special teamers who got squeezed in the numbers game and were inactive in the last game. That decision came back to bite the Jets (see Ted Ginn Jr.). Even special teams coach Mike Westhoff seemed puzzled by it. You can bet there will be an extra emphasis on special teams for Sunday.

So it has come to this for Gholston, the sixth pick of the 2008 draft: He's extra baggage. But he continues to play because sitting him would be a self-indictment for a team paying him $21million in guarantees. It's a cover-your-backside move, not uncommon in the NFL.

Here's the troubling part: Gholston's lack of progress isn't surprising to some in the organization. Now we're hearing he wasn't a popular choice to begin with. Opinions in the draft room were mixed on Gholston, but the Jets picked him because then-coach Eric Mangini lobbied hard, according to multiple sources.

"That one's on Eric," one source said.

Now they have a potential bust on their hands. Asked if Mangini was the driving force behind the Gholston choice, GM Mike Tannenbaum said, "On all draft decisions, I have the final say. But, organizationally, we felt good about Vernon. Although his rate of improvement isn't where we want it to be, we're still happy he's here and we feel good about his future."

Sounds like spin control. Since starting the first four games at outside linebacker for the then-suspended Calvin Pace, Gholston has been used sparingly in sub packages as a down lineman. His best moment was a hustle play in Week 3, when he made a touchdown-saving tackle on the Titans' Chris Johnson 30 yards downfield.

What did the Jets, or Mangini, see in Gholston? They were seduced by extraordinary measurables - size, speed and strength.

"He had two sacks against (Michigan's) Jake Long in college and that drew a lot of attention," an AFC scout said last week, referring to the Dolphins' No. 1 overall pick in 2008. "But when you went back and watched his tapes, he wasn't nearly as productive as he was in that one game. When people saw his body type and raw numbers, I guess they were willing to overlook what they actually saw on tape."

Gholston showed flashes in the preseason, stirring some excitement around the team. But as one player said recently, "He's kind of reverting back. There's no spark, no fire. He's stiff, not too athletic, limited. I think the scouts might have been wrong."

Somebody was wrong; that much is clear. One NFL insider wondered if the Jets may opt to cut their losses, releasing Gholston in 2010 - an uncapped year. That would allow them to absorb the heavy cap hit.

Edwards quite a catch so far

Braylon Edwards is on pace for a 46-catch season. Why is that number important? Because if Edwards hits 65, the conditional third-round pick sent to the Browns in last month's trade increases to a second-rounder. He'd have to average more than five receptions per game. Either way, it was a good trade because he's a legitimate No. 1 receiver.

So far, Edwards has made two highlight-reel catches, including a finesse-and-power touchdown play in the last game. He made a one-handed catch in traffic and bulled through two Miami defenders at the goal line. "It was a statement of my will and determination, and the new attitude I have about playing football, being in a place where I'm happy, where I'm comfortable," he said. "That's the kind of effort and desire I have for this team."

Perhaps not coincidentally, Edwards is in a contract year. ...CB Lito Sheppard, who has missed five of the last six games with a quadriceps injury, should be ready to return Sunday. His playing time over the final eight games will determine if the Jets have to send another draft pick to the Eagles to satisfy the conditions of the trade last March. If he plays in 40% to 70% of the defensive snaps, the Jets have to give up a 2010 fourth-rounder and would get a 2010 fifth-round pick in return. If it's less than 40%, they don't owe anything to the Eagles, who already received the Jets' 2009 fifth rounder. Another four games should put Sheppard over the 40% mark. ...The run defense, which has held up nicely without NT Kris Jenkins, faces another stiff test. Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew is the NFL's sixth-leading rusher (737 yards) with a league-high 11 rushing touchdowns.

 

one quick addition from the guys at The Jets Blog:

So Clinkscales and crew had a talented great draft pick to hand mangini and would have given the Jets one of the best secondaries in recent history. But the asshole napoleon man had to take the one douche he thought was going to be the next mike vrabel.

I makes me hate mangini more.

 

the other drafts with Mangold, Revis, Brick, Leon, Harris, etc is why Mangini is praised - but when you pull a power move over the entire front office for the biggest bust a LB in the history of the NFL, i think it should go on your tombstone.

and the fact that reports had all signs pointing to the Pats taking Gholston, Mangini probably shit his pants and took him. The the pats trade back, get more picks, and select a great ILB in Mayo.

 

not when i've read reports about Mangini pulling this power move for Gholston a few months back, and then seeing what he's done with another GM who is his friend in George Kokinis and causing Kokinis to basically quit his job because mangini was being a douchebag and not allowing power to be allocated.

I guarantee you what mangini is doing in Cleveland he did with Gholston, but behind closed doors. If the whole FO wanted Mckelvin and this dope got his way with Gholston, obviously something is up.

 

its not crazy when its been reported by the media.

you obviously haven't read anything about what this man has done in the past 14 games he coached, and what kind of person he is around the facility. I'm merely reporting what I've read.

And you telling me Mangini hired Kokinis doesn't tell the story about what happened inside that organization. You didn't read the reports.

read up about it and maybe you'll see my point. I don't know if you'll agree with it, but you'll at least see where i'm coming from.

 

since you could care less about the browns and what happened there i now know why you don't see my point or where i'm coming from..

whatever.

 

even mangini knows he fucked up so bad with that player no one will take him.

Gholston will be the first Jets draft pick to be cut after two years since the awful drafts in the 80s.