Sometimes, as a professional sports franchise, it’s important to be progressive. And sometimes it’s just a terrible idea.
The Jets are considering stripping Mike Tannenbaum‘s role in personnel decisions, while still trying to keep him on to manage the salary cap, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. New York has already started reaching out to possible candidates for the position, including Houston’s director of college scouting, Mike Maccagnan.
It seems the chief reason to keep Tannenbaum around is his reported close relationship with owner Woody Johnson. Many of the problems surrounding the Jets’ quarterback controversy stem from the extension Tannenbaum gave Mark Sanchez before the 2012 season. Without that extension, it would be easy to cut Sanchez. Now, the Jets would have to more than double their salary cap hit if Sanchez is released. The Jets have 40 players under contract for the 2013 season, and they’re already well over the salary cap.
La Canfora spoke to “several potential general manager candidates,” who said they would not consider taking the job under those circumstances. Over the last few years, the Jets have had issues with personnel decisions and salary cap management. While it’s normal to have multiple decision makers in the front office, one person typically has final say, and it’s unheard of to strip someone of that responsibility while keeping them on board in another role.
At this point, nothing would be a surprise coming out of the Jets’ camp, though.
Photo via Facebook/Jets – Fire Mike Tannenbaum
