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Jetting in to general manager Mike Maccagnan's brain
Manish Mehta
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Friday, January 15, 2016, 12:13 AM A A A
We venture inside Mike Maccagnan’s head with this disclaimer: Forgive him for the half-truths, generalities and overall nothingness that spilled out of his mouth during Thursday’s season-ending press conference.
Maccagnan is a genuinely nice guy — he probably apologizes to bugs right before dousing them with Extra-Strength Raid — but NFL general managers don’t exactly divulge their offseason plans to the public. So, we’ll sift through the company lines and reveal what he really thinks about the hot-button topics facing the Jets in the coming months.
Do you expect to re-sign impending free-agent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick?
What he said: “We’d like very much to get him back… We’ll see how this thing works out.”
What he thought: “We better or we’re kind of screwed. We need to buy more time to develop Bryce Petty and/or draft a potential franchise quarterback in the next year or two.”
What do you see for Bryce Petty and Geno Smith in the future?
What he said: “Bryce has made a lot of progress. We’re kind of excited to have another offseason with him... With Geno, he’s under contract. We like the progress he’s made.”
What he thought: “Bryce has made a lot of progress. We’re kind of excited to have another offseason with him…. Geno is toast.”
Are you targeting a quarterback in the draft?
What he said: “That’s always a big question. The draft is such an opportunity to add players at any position.”
What he thought: “Duh.”
Did the 10-win season exceed your expectations?
What he said: “Our goal was try to make ourselves a better team and ideally build a team that could consistently compete for the playoffs… We’re happy with the progress we made.”
What he thought: “Considering the trash that was left behind when I got the job... yes.”
Do you want to sign impending free-agent DL Muhammad Wilkerson to a long-term deal?
What he said: “I would kind of like to defer on those questions at this point in time.”
What he thought: “Sure, if Wilkerson wants to take 65 cents on the dollar. But I really want to tag-and-trade him for a Top 10 pick in the 2016 draft. Know of any interested teams?”
Did you get a good return in the first year of your $70 million investment in Darrelle Revis?
What he said: “I’m very happy we have Darrelle back in the organization... I know it’s a very aggressive move on our part with what we did, but I’m very happy with the results.”
What he thought: “Everyone can plainly see that Revis is not the same player he once was. We badly overpaid. We get it. Thankfully, we can cut him after the 2017 season if need be. Get off my back, Mehta. You’re far from perfect. Believe me, I’ve read your stuff.”
What’s your assessment of the offensive line?
Maccagnan isn't about to criticize Geno Smith, but...
What he said: “I thought the offensive line did some good things.”
What he thought: “WANTED: Right tackle.”
Are you going to approach certain players like D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Antonio Cromartie about taking pay cuts?
What he said: “Those are kinds of questions that will work themselves out over time.”
What he thought: “Brick? Obvi. Cro? Maybe... or just cut him.”
Todd Bowles was effusive recently when discussing impending free agent nose tackle Damon Harrison. How much of a priority will it be to re-sign him?
What he said: “In a perfect world, we’d like very much to have Damon back.”
What he thought: “I have a feeling that Snacks might wind up being too pricey for us. Looking for someone to break the news to Todd. Any takers?”
How would you assess your first draft class?
What he said: “For the most part, we like the guys we drafted.”
View attachment 1366
Damon Harrison and Sheldon Richardson are half of a ferocious defensive line.
What he thought: “It was a hell of a lot better than the Idzik 12.”
There’s a school of thought that there’s no way you can financially keep that defensive line (Wilkerson, Richardson, Harrison and Williams) together.
What he said: “It’s not impossible.”
What he thought: “It’s impossible.”
If you don’t re-sign Fitzpatrick, would you be comfortable with Geno?
What he said: “I think Geno, again, played well in the limited amount of time he was in there during the regular season.”
What he thought: “Hell no.”
How do you think you did in your first year as GM?
What he said: “Honestly, I’ve been so busy. I haven’t even had a chance to think about it.”
What he thought: “A-plus if we’re grading on a curve. Did you see what the last guy did?”
Manish Mehta
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Friday, January 15, 2016, 12:13 AM A A A
We venture inside Mike Maccagnan’s head with this disclaimer: Forgive him for the half-truths, generalities and overall nothingness that spilled out of his mouth during Thursday’s season-ending press conference.
Maccagnan is a genuinely nice guy — he probably apologizes to bugs right before dousing them with Extra-Strength Raid — but NFL general managers don’t exactly divulge their offseason plans to the public. So, we’ll sift through the company lines and reveal what he really thinks about the hot-button topics facing the Jets in the coming months.
Do you expect to re-sign impending free-agent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick?
What he said: “We’d like very much to get him back… We’ll see how this thing works out.”
What he thought: “We better or we’re kind of screwed. We need to buy more time to develop Bryce Petty and/or draft a potential franchise quarterback in the next year or two.”
What do you see for Bryce Petty and Geno Smith in the future?
What he said: “Bryce has made a lot of progress. We’re kind of excited to have another offseason with him... With Geno, he’s under contract. We like the progress he’s made.”
What he thought: “Bryce has made a lot of progress. We’re kind of excited to have another offseason with him…. Geno is toast.”
Are you targeting a quarterback in the draft?
What he said: “That’s always a big question. The draft is such an opportunity to add players at any position.”
What he thought: “Duh.”
Did the 10-win season exceed your expectations?
What he said: “Our goal was try to make ourselves a better team and ideally build a team that could consistently compete for the playoffs… We’re happy with the progress we made.”
What he thought: “Considering the trash that was left behind when I got the job... yes.”
Do you want to sign impending free-agent DL Muhammad Wilkerson to a long-term deal?
What he said: “I would kind of like to defer on those questions at this point in time.”
What he thought: “Sure, if Wilkerson wants to take 65 cents on the dollar. But I really want to tag-and-trade him for a Top 10 pick in the 2016 draft. Know of any interested teams?”
Did you get a good return in the first year of your $70 million investment in Darrelle Revis?
What he said: “I’m very happy we have Darrelle back in the organization... I know it’s a very aggressive move on our part with what we did, but I’m very happy with the results.”
What he thought: “Everyone can plainly see that Revis is not the same player he once was. We badly overpaid. We get it. Thankfully, we can cut him after the 2017 season if need be. Get off my back, Mehta. You’re far from perfect. Believe me, I’ve read your stuff.”
What’s your assessment of the offensive line?
Maccagnan isn't about to criticize Geno Smith, but...
What he said: “I thought the offensive line did some good things.”
What he thought: “WANTED: Right tackle.”
Are you going to approach certain players like D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Antonio Cromartie about taking pay cuts?
What he said: “Those are kinds of questions that will work themselves out over time.”
What he thought: “Brick? Obvi. Cro? Maybe... or just cut him.”
Todd Bowles was effusive recently when discussing impending free agent nose tackle Damon Harrison. How much of a priority will it be to re-sign him?
What he said: “In a perfect world, we’d like very much to have Damon back.”
What he thought: “I have a feeling that Snacks might wind up being too pricey for us. Looking for someone to break the news to Todd. Any takers?”
How would you assess your first draft class?
What he said: “For the most part, we like the guys we drafted.”
View attachment 1366
Damon Harrison and Sheldon Richardson are half of a ferocious defensive line.
What he thought: “It was a hell of a lot better than the Idzik 12.”
There’s a school of thought that there’s no way you can financially keep that defensive line (Wilkerson, Richardson, Harrison and Williams) together.
What he said: “It’s not impossible.”
What he thought: “It’s impossible.”
If you don’t re-sign Fitzpatrick, would you be comfortable with Geno?
What he said: “I think Geno, again, played well in the limited amount of time he was in there during the regular season.”
What he thought: “Hell no.”
How do you think you did in your first year as GM?
What he said: “Honestly, I’ve been so busy. I haven’t even had a chance to think about it.”
What he thought: “A-plus if we’re grading on a curve. Did you see what the last guy did?”
