FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- General manager Mike Maccagnan spoke to reporters Wednesday for the first time since training camp, a 20-minute fireside chat (sans fire) in which he was asked about several topics surrounding the New York Jets. My quick takeaways:
Ryan Fitzpatrick has a place in the team's future plans. Geno Smith, not so much. Sheldon Richardson still hasn't regained the full trust of the organization. Muhammad Wilkerson's contract talks are on hold until the offseason. Maccagnan doesn't view this as a playoffs-or-bust season.
That latter comment may strike some as a bit curious, considering the Jets (5-4) are in the wild-card chase. In my opinion this is a win-now team, considering the payroll and age of the roster. Maccagnan disagreed, saying short-term success (or failure) won't over-ride the organization's long-term goals.
Asked point blank if the season would be a failure if they fail to reach the postseason, Maccagnan said: "I don't view it as a benchmark, saying, 'We have to be here at some point in time.' We want to build a team that can compete for the playoffs and then, hopefully, at some point in time, beyond that. But I wouldn't necessarily say playoffs-or-not [is] a benchmark."
The fan base has suffered through four straight non-playoff seasons. It deserves a playoff team ... right now, especially in a watered-down AFC. Especially after a 4-1 start.
Interestingly, Todd Bowles offered the opposite take, saying 2015 would be a disappointment if they come up short.
"For me, yes," he said. "You want to get to the playoffs every year. You don’t accept not going."
That the coach and GM have different viewpoints isn't unusual. Actually, it's quite common in the NFL. The coach lives Sunday to Sunday, the GM thinks about the big picture. If the relationship is sound, it sets up a checks-and-balances system.
A few other notes from Maccagnan's midseason "state of the union," which lasted roughly as long as John Idzik's infamous preamble last November:
The future at quarterback: Maccagnan said he's "very happy" with Fitzpatrick, who will be a free agent after the season. He raved about Fitzpatrick's intangibles, adding, "I think he has a lot of good football left in him." Indeed, Fitzpatrick, 32, might be their best bet for 2016. Maccagnan said he likes rookie Bryce Petty's potential, but "we're taking our time with him."
What about Smith? Maccagnan noted that Smith is under contract for 2016, often a kiss-of-death comment. The GM declined to say whether he considers Smith a potential starter for the Jets, describing the third-year quarterback as an unknown because of the time he missed because of a broken jaw. For what it's worth, he commended Smith on the way he handled the IK Enemkpali incident.
"The jury is still out, but not in a bad way," Maccagnan said of Smith's future.
I'm not buying that. This administration has been around Smith every day for seven months, so they know what he's about. His non-answer was telling.
Sidestepping the Wilkerson impasse: Maccagnan always seems uncomfortable answering questions about this subject. He offered little, saying, "I'd say for the record, Mo has done a very good job and we're very happy with what he's done so far." He said getting to know Wilkerson in the last few months has been "very positive." Remember, he wasn't around much in the offseason, skipping voluntary workouts because of his unhappiness with his contract. Maccagnan indicated the two sides won't talk about a contact until after the season. Of course, we knew that already.
You can see where this is headed. Wilkerson, in the last year of his contract, will be slapped with the franchise tag.
Not forgiving and forgetting (yet): I like the way Maccagnan responded to a question about Richardson. Unlike Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Maccagnan won't turn a blind eye to players who screw up off the field. Richardson, likely facing another suspension because of his July arrest, didn't get a hug and a pat on the back from his GM.
"He's done some good things for us in terms of how he's handled his business, but he's done things, so it's going to take time," Maccagnan said. "As we said early on, it's up to Sheldon what he wants to do and how he wants to handle himself. We're not necessarily judging him on a day-to-day basis, but as we go forward, we'll see how he does. We're doing everything in our power to be supportive. We'll see how it unfolds over time. It's not a case of where he's doing good or he's doing bad. It's been positive and we'll go from there."
Ryan Fitzpatrick has a place in the team's future plans. Geno Smith, not so much. Sheldon Richardson still hasn't regained the full trust of the organization. Muhammad Wilkerson's contract talks are on hold until the offseason. Maccagnan doesn't view this as a playoffs-or-bust season.
That latter comment may strike some as a bit curious, considering the Jets (5-4) are in the wild-card chase. In my opinion this is a win-now team, considering the payroll and age of the roster. Maccagnan disagreed, saying short-term success (or failure) won't over-ride the organization's long-term goals.
Asked point blank if the season would be a failure if they fail to reach the postseason, Maccagnan said: "I don't view it as a benchmark, saying, 'We have to be here at some point in time.' We want to build a team that can compete for the playoffs and then, hopefully, at some point in time, beyond that. But I wouldn't necessarily say playoffs-or-not [is] a benchmark."
The fan base has suffered through four straight non-playoff seasons. It deserves a playoff team ... right now, especially in a watered-down AFC. Especially after a 4-1 start.
Interestingly, Todd Bowles offered the opposite take, saying 2015 would be a disappointment if they come up short.
"For me, yes," he said. "You want to get to the playoffs every year. You don’t accept not going."
That the coach and GM have different viewpoints isn't unusual. Actually, it's quite common in the NFL. The coach lives Sunday to Sunday, the GM thinks about the big picture. If the relationship is sound, it sets up a checks-and-balances system.
The future at quarterback: Maccagnan said he's "very happy" with Fitzpatrick, who will be a free agent after the season. He raved about Fitzpatrick's intangibles, adding, "I think he has a lot of good football left in him." Indeed, Fitzpatrick, 32, might be their best bet for 2016. Maccagnan said he likes rookie Bryce Petty's potential, but "we're taking our time with him."
What about Smith? Maccagnan noted that Smith is under contract for 2016, often a kiss-of-death comment. The GM declined to say whether he considers Smith a potential starter for the Jets, describing the third-year quarterback as an unknown because of the time he missed because of a broken jaw. For what it's worth, he commended Smith on the way he handled the IK Enemkpali incident.
"The jury is still out, but not in a bad way," Maccagnan said of Smith's future.
I'm not buying that. This administration has been around Smith every day for seven months, so they know what he's about. His non-answer was telling.
Sidestepping the Wilkerson impasse: Maccagnan always seems uncomfortable answering questions about this subject. He offered little, saying, "I'd say for the record, Mo has done a very good job and we're very happy with what he's done so far." He said getting to know Wilkerson in the last few months has been "very positive." Remember, he wasn't around much in the offseason, skipping voluntary workouts because of his unhappiness with his contract. Maccagnan indicated the two sides won't talk about a contact until after the season. Of course, we knew that already.
You can see where this is headed. Wilkerson, in the last year of his contract, will be slapped with the franchise tag.
Not forgiving and forgetting (yet): I like the way Maccagnan responded to a question about Richardson. Unlike Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, Maccagnan won't turn a blind eye to players who screw up off the field. Richardson, likely facing another suspension because of his July arrest, didn't get a hug and a pat on the back from his GM.
"He's done some good things for us in terms of how he's handled his business, but he's done things, so it's going to take time," Maccagnan said. "As we said early on, it's up to Sheldon what he wants to do and how he wants to handle himself. We're not necessarily judging him on a day-to-day basis, but as we go forward, we'll see how he does. We're doing everything in our power to be supportive. We'll see how it unfolds over time. It's not a case of where he's doing good or he's doing bad. It's been positive and we'll go from there."
