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Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Woody Johnson on Jets' poor NFLPA report card: 'My first read is I think it is totally bogus'
The New York Jets dropped from 21st to 29th in the most recent NFLPA report card rankings with players unhappy with a lack of commitment and investment into building a winner, a poor team culture and a food program that has gone in the wrong direction. During the NFL's annual league meetings on Monday, Jets owner Woody Johnson responded to the criticisms, which included an "F" grade for ownership. "My first read is I think it is totally bogus," Johnson said via The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt. "I thought this whole setup the way it was done is all … that's enough said on that. But we want to get better every day, in every category. I want to be No. 1 in everything. All of our people do. We want to be No. 1, like we are in girls flag football. We're No. 1 or 2 in the country and that's where went to be in everything, including on the field but also off the field in all of our philanthropy. So if there's areas we can improve, and there's always areas we can improve — not because of this bogus report — we are going to do it." Advertisement Johnson's use of "bogus" to describe the report was because of his objection to how the data was collected and who it was collected from. "[I]t's supposed to be a process where we have representatives and they have representatives so we know it's an honest survey," Johnson said. "And that was violated in my opinion. So I'll leave it at that. But there's a lot of owners that looked at this survey and said this is not fair, not balanced, it's not every player, it's not even representative of the players." (There were 1,695 players who responded, but the survey did not specify how many players from each team participated.) Jets players expressed that the problem areas they brought up in last year's survey were not addressed and that ownership decided to make "conditions worse" as a response. 'They talked about the culture — it's a problem, top down,' NFLPA chief strategy officer J.C. Tretter said of the Jets' response. '[They said,] 'It's a culture of fear here.' And I think that stood out in those grades.' The Jets have not made the playoffs since reaching back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010. (Photo by) (Ed Mulholland via Getty Images) Johnson went on to say Monday that the team's relationship with its players is "very, very important" and that players will be involved in providing feedback about life as a Jet inside and outside the training facility. Advertisement As for the food options, Johnson said, "If they like souffle or fish or steak, they should tell us. If they're bored with the food or the way the place looks, let me know. I can't do anything if you don't tell me. We're going to have a lot better communication in terms of what they're looking at every day. If I was looking at the same thing every day, I might get bored too. But it is good, our food is something I take a lot of pride in so to get graded in a way that — this is the food I would want. It's the finest quality, best ingredients, no GMOs, the highest price for everything. The quality of our food is the best." Johnson's comments came hours after a report that the Jets had offered buyouts to 170 out of their 250 employees earlier this month. The Jets are coming off their ninth straight losing season and the franchise has not made the playoffs since reaching back-to-back AFC title games in 2009 and 2010. Bringing in Aaron Rodgers, which Johnson dubbed "a good experiment," did not work out, and the owner's hands-on approach to running the franchise came under scrutiny following a December report that included details about a Jerry Jeudy trade being nixed by Johnson because the wide receiver's rating in the "Madden" video game was not high enough and that Johnson's sons have had influence on decision-making.
USA Today
15-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Of all the positional needs, what's the Colts' biggest this offseason?
Of all the positional needs that the Indianapolis Colts have, which one is the biggest this offseason? General manager Chris Ballard mentioned in his season-ending press conference that the emphasis this offseason was going to be on infusing competition throughout the roster. As we evaluate which positions could use an added boost in either free agency, the draft, or even both, there are a lot of options for this Colts team. However, in terms of the biggest, The Athletic's beat reporters recently answered that question for the respective teams that they cover. For the Colts, James Boyd would select the safety group, and for good reason. The need for the Colts at the safety position is more than just about getting better play from the secondary, as Ballard said. Although that is an important factor, for sure. Last season, the Colts' pass defense ranked in the bottom 10 of the NFL in completion rate, pass deflections, yards per pass attempt, and passer rating, according to Pro Football Reference. But in addition to that, depth and that aforementioned competition is a massive need as well currently under contract for the Colts in 2025 are Nick Cross, Rodney Thomas, and Marcel Dabo–that's it. Lastly, in new Lou Anarumo's defensive scheme, versatility is critical as is the ability to disguise coverages, with both elements helping to keep opposing offenses off-balanced and guessing. However, that also can put a lot on the safety's plate. 'New Indy DC Lou Anarumo puts a lot of pressure on the backend, and when analyzing the success his defenses previously had in Cincinnati — when the Bengals went to back-to-back AFC Championship Games — it coincided with having a high-IQ and experienced safety,' wrote Boyd. Boyd also adds that because the safety is asked handle a lot in Anarumo's defense, the Colts may be better off filling this role in free agency with an experienced presence rather than the draft. Also, with Cross playing strong safety last season, the Colts need to fill the free safety role specifically.
Fox News
28-01-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Why Cowboys hiring Brian Schottenheimer might not be a ‘missed opportunity'
Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin spoke for many Dallas Cowboys fans when addressing the team's in-house promotion of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach of "America's Team." Irvin had lobbied for a former Cowboys teammate to take over for Mike McCarthy, who parted ways with the team after an impasse in contract negotiations. "We missed an opportunity," Irvin said on his podcast. "I was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the head coach. And I still stand 10 toes down on that push." Irvin went on to say that the Cowboys had fallen behind their NFC East rivals, as evidenced by the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders playing for the NFC Championship on Sunday. The Cowboys are the only NFC team that has not played in the conference title game in the past 30 years. The fan base has grown accustomed to a once-proud franchise not competing for Super Bowls. The Cowboys certainly deserve criticism for not casting a wider net in their head-coaching search, interviewing just four candidates before settling on Schottenheimer when other teams interviewed twice as many coaches. Add in the fact that the Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world, and it's fair to wonder why 82-year-old owner Jerry Jones didn't take a bigger swing once McCarthy was out of the picture. That said, signing Schottenheimer to a four-year deal at a reasonable salary is a low-risk move for a family-run team that values continuity. Schottenheimer already has a good relationship with star quarterback Dak Prescott, who's coming off a season-ending hamstring injury. "One of the things about me taking over this prestigious position is we can hit the ground running pretty fast because I don't need to learn the decision-makers," Schottenheimer said at his introductory press conference on Monday. "I don't need to learn the quarterback. I don't need to learn how things work. And so, I feel like we're kind of ahead of the curve with some of these other teams that made changes." Although McCarthy called the plays for the past two seasons, the 51-year-old Schottenheimer has plenty of experience calling plays in previous stops with the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and St. Louis Rams. Schottenheimer served as the offensive coordinator for QB Mark Sanchez when the Jets reached back-to-back AFC Championship Games in the 2009-2010 seasons. And when Russell Wilson was the quarterback from 2018 to 2020 in Seattle, Schottenheimer's offenses averaged 26.1 points per game. He should get similar if not better production with the Cowboys if Prescott returns healthy next season. Prescott and a handful of other Cowboys attended Schottenheimer's press conference on Monday. That continuity should serve them well as they move on from McCarthy, who won 12 games in three of his four seasons as head coach. Schottenheimer handled the presser admirably, emphasizing his relationships and communication skills gleaned from serving as an assistant coach in college and pro football for 25 seasons. Those who have played for Schottenheimer say he commands a room, holds players accountable and offers a detailed approach to his craft, so he should not be overwhelmed by the multitude of tasks head coaches must handle. Schottenheimer also had a good coaching mentor in his father, Marty Schottenheimer, who had a 200-126-1 record in 21 seasons as an NFL head coach. No, Schottenheimer is not a sexy choice, and Jones is understandably taking heat both nationally and in Dallas for the hire when more experienced choices were available. "I get my proverbial ass kicked over needing people in my comfort zone," Jones said Monday. "Without this thing being about me in any way, if you don't think I can't operate out of my comfort zone, you're so wrong it's unbelievable. "This is as big a risk as you can take, as big a risk as you can take. No head-coaching experience." Jones and Cowboys fans can take comfort in knowing that there have been other underwhelming hires recently that have worked out just fine. The Cowboys can look within their own division, where Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was criticized after a cringy introductory press conference. Sirianni now has the Eagles in their second Super Bowl in three seasons. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked about biting kneecaps during his introductory presser but has built the team into one of the best in the NFC. Schottenheimer is a coaching lifer and the son of one of the most successful coaches in NFL history. The Cowboys should be competitive with him in charge. Of course, winning regular-season games hasn't been the issue in Dallas; winning in the postseason has. As Jones hires the ninth head coach in team history, the question remains: Will this move lead the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl after a 30-year absence? [Related: Ranking the Cowboys' 9 head coaches in franchise history: Mike McCarthy top 5?] That's the plan, according to Schottenheimer. "The main thing is we want to win the Super Bowl," he said. "My dad always talked about that. He said, 'Well, why would you have any other goal?' It should be about winning the Super Bowl. Only one team [wins], but that doesn't mean you don't strive for that." Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Saquon Barkley's Season Made the Eagles UNSTOPPABLE
The NFC and AFC Championship Games delivered drama and standout performances! McCoy and Van Noy break down the Eagles' dominant win over the Commanders and how Saquon Barkley's "middle finger year" transformed their season. Plus, Mahomes' calm brilliance in the Chiefs' narrow victory over the Bills, key coaching hires, and end-of-season awards, including MVP and underrated stars. Don't miss McCoy's heartfelt praise for Van Noy making the Pro Bowl! 1:30 - NFC Championship Game: Eagles 55, Commanders 23 - How did the Eagles dominate and Saquon transform their season? 18:57 - AFC Championship Game: Chiefs 32, Bills 29 - Mahomes' calm performance leads the Chiefs past the Bills 36:00 - Teams Picking Up Coaches for Next Season - Breaking down key coaching hires across the league 41:35 - End of Season Awards - Recognizing MVPs, standout players, and underrated stars 48:00 - Game Wreckers & Playmakers - Shining a light on key game-changers like AJ Brown 49:00 - Tell Us How You Really Feel, Gerald! - McCoy praises Van Noy for earning a Pro Bowl spot 🖥️
Fox Sports
27-01-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
Why Cowboys hiring Brian Schottenheimer might not be a ‘missed opportunity'
Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin spoke for many Dallas Cowboys fans when addressing the team's in-house promotion of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach of "America's Team." Irvin had lobbied for a former Cowboys teammate to take over for Mike McCarthy, who parted ways with the team after an impasse in contract negotiations. "We missed an opportunity," Irvin said on his podcast. "I was pushing for Deion Sanders to be the head coach. And I still stand 10 toes down on that push." Irvin went on to say that the Cowboys had fallen behind their NFC East rivals, as evidenced by the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders playing for the NFC Championship on Sunday. The Cowboys are the only NFC team that has not played in the conference title game in the past 30 years. The fan base has grown accustomed to a once-proud franchise not competing for Super Bowls. The Cowboys certainly deserve criticism for not casting a wider net in their head-coaching search, interviewing just four candidates before settling on Schottenheimer when other teams interviewed twice as many coaches. Add in the fact that the Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world, and it's fair to wonder why 82-year-old owner Jerry Jones didn't take a bigger swing once McCarthy was out of the picture. That said, signing Schottenheimer to a four-year deal at a reasonable salary is a low-risk move for a family-run team that values continuity. Schottenheimer already has a good relationship with star quarterback Dak Prescott, who's coming off a season-ending hamstring injury. "One of the things about me taking over this prestigious position is we can hit the ground running pretty fast because I don't need to learn the decision-makers," Schottenheimer said at his introductory press conference on Monday. "I don't need to learn the quarterback. I don't need to learn how things work. And so, I feel like we're kind of ahead of the curve with some of these other teams that made changes." Although McCarthy called the plays for the past two seasons, the 51-year-old Schottenheimer has plenty of experience calling plays in previous stops with the Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and St. Louis Rams. Schottenheimer served as the offensive coordinator for QB Mark Sanchez when the Jets reached back-to-back AFC Championship Games in the 2009-2010 seasons. And when Russell Wilson was the quarterback from 2018 to 2020 in Seattle, Schottenheimer's offenses averaged 26.1 points per game. He should get similar if not better production with the Cowboys if Prescott returns healthy next season. Prescott and a handful of other Cowboys attended Schottenheimer's press conference on Monday. That continuity should serve them well as they move on from McCarthy, who won 12 games in three of his four seasons as head coach. Schottenheimer handled the presser admirably, emphasizing his relationships and communication skills gleaned from serving as an assistant coach in college and pro football for 25 seasons. Those who have played for Schottenheimer say he commands a room, holds players accountable and offers a detailed approach to his craft, so he should not be overwhelmed by the multitude of tasks head coaches must handle. Schottenheimer also had a good coaching mentor in his father, Marty Schottenheimer, who had a 200-126-1 record in 21 seasons as an NFL head coach. No, Schottenheimer is not a sexy choice, and Jones is understandably taking heat both nationally and in Dallas for the hire when more experienced choices were available. "I get my proverbial ass kicked over needing people in my comfort zone," Jones said Monday. "Without this thing being about me in any way, if you don't think I can't operate out of my comfort zone, you're so wrong it's unbelievable. "This is as big a risk as you can take, as big a risk as you can take. No head-coaching experience." Jones and Cowboys fans can take comfort in knowing that there have been other underwhelming hires recently that have worked out just fine. The Cowboys can look within their own division, where Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was criticized after a cringy introductory press conference. Sirianni now has the Eagles in their second Super Bowl in three seasons. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked about biting kneecaps during his introductory presser but has built the team into one of the best in the NFC. Schottenheimer is a coaching lifer and the son of one of the most successful coaches in NFL history. The Cowboys should be competitive with him in charge. Of course, winning regular-season games hasn't been the issue in Dallas; winning in the postseason has. As Jones hires the ninth head coach in team history, the question remains: Will this move lead the Cowboys back to the Super Bowl after a 30-year absence? [Related: Ranking the Cowboys' 9 head coaches in franchise history: Mike McCarthy top 5?] That's the plan, according to Schottenheimer. "The main thing is we want to win the Super Bowl," he said. "My dad always talked about that. He said, 'Well, why would you have any other goal?' It should be about winning the Super Bowl. Only one team [wins], but that doesn't mean you don't strive for that." Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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