Jets Get Rid of One Problem (Brian Schottenheimer), Now Must Tackle the Other (the Locker Room)

(It’s embarrassing that the Jets’ put up a big front last week about how he was going to be back if he didn’t get a head coaching job, but that’s not even worth getting into. It was just a pathetic smokescreen that absolutely nobody believed. It’d be a massive PR blunder, but thankfully the Giants made the playoffs and won a game, so not many people care.)

Quickly, the Jets’ snapped up former Miami head coach Tony Sparano to be their new offensive coordinator, and Todd Haley might be coming to join him in some fashion. (Does the axiom, “if you’ve got two QBs, you don’t have any,” hold true for offensive coordinators? Hope not.) I’d dive into a massive analysis of what the Dolphins’ did offensively the last few years – it’s obvious he likes to run the ball and kick field goals – but that can be saved for later in the offseason because of this next story.

Anonymous Jets – or former Jets, cough, Schottenheimer, cough – hate Mark Sanchez! He’s lazy!

"“We have to bring in another quarterback that will make him work at practice,” said one player. “He’s lazy and content because he knows he’s not going to be benched.”"

These anonymous Jets want Peyton Manning. It seems like they’d rather have a neckbrace-wearing Manning in the huddle than crappy Sanchez.

"“Come on. That’s a no-brainer,” a Jets source said. “If you have a chance to get a healthy 36-year-old Peyton Manning and you don’t do it, then you’re stupid. If I could get a healthy 36-year-old Peyton Manning, then, hell yeah, I would trade Sanchez.”"

Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News was already called out by Nick Mangold of the Jets for the story, but frankly, I’m all for getting this out in the open, just like Greg McElroy’s outburst last week. Rex Ryan must call the team’s owner, Woody Johnson – who apparently is out campaigning with Mitt Romney – huddle with him, and find out how they can purge the garbage from this locker room. My guess is that some of this came from Antonio Cromartie – if you follow Mehta on twitter, you know he’s friendly with the mouthy Cro – and Schottenheimer unloaded as well on his way out the door. I’d also guess some of this came from Plaxico Burress, who was such a model citizen with the Giants that Eli Manning lobbied hard to bring him back after Plax was released from prison. Oh, wait, that never happened. Gosh, I hope Plaxico isn’t with the Jets next season.

Is there a kernel of truth to Sanchez being lazy? Maybe. Tough to tell. I do think Sanchez crumbled badly this year behind a weakened offensive line and did a poor job trying to keep two me-first receivers happy. He made none of them happy.

Ultimately, I do think all the calling out will be positive. Take the trash out and clean up that toxic locker room. As for Peyton Manning, today, I stand by this.