Report: Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles’ Job Is Safe – For Now
Todd Bowles has come under fire this season for falling short of expectations this season with the New York Jets. He’s also been criticized for poorly handling his quarterback situation, only recently turning the team over to Bryce Petty from the poorly performing Ryan Fitzpatrick.
But one thing he won’t have to worry about, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, is his job. As he reported on NFL Gameday this morning, Bowles won’t be replaced, but expect the team to clean house.
From @NFLGameDay: #Jets not inclined to clean house with coach Todd Bowles. But expect a very different team with many big-money vets gone
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 11, 2016
Major #Jets focus for the offseason: Leadership. There’s a major void among the players. As #NYJ settles into its rebuild, it’s important
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 11, 2016
According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, his sources also indicate Todd Bowles’ job is safe for now.
“[Owner Woody] Johnson hasn’t made any public comments, but the sense from people familiar with the situation is that he’s not planning to fire Bowles after only two seasons. He can be an impulsive owner, so who knows how he’d respond to another loss or two like last Monday night? One banner-toting plane over practice could influence the man’s thinking, but as of right now, he’s still a Bowles supporter, I’m told.”
He also thinks Johnson is aware that last season’s magical 10-6 run was more mirage than fact.
“Maccagnan tried the quick-fix approach last year, bringing in older players, but that only prolonged the inevitable swoon. He called it a “competitive rebuild.” That sounds nice in the boardroom, but it’s difficult to execute. The upside was that it created a winning culture and credibility — they almost made the playoffs — but you need to win to sustain that culture and credibility. Now they’re having the kind of year that many expected them to have last year.”
But not everyone thinks that Bowles’ job is as safe as some are reporting. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks that a few more performances like Monday night’s against the Colts this season where the players seemingly quit on their coach could spell doom despite the assurances.
“Basically, Rapoport says Bowles is safe unless the team continues to perform like it did on Monday night against the Colts. Which is a softer way of saying Bowles is coaching for his job at this point, and that he needs to get a team that seemed to quit six days ago to reverse its attitude and its performance in the final four games of the season.”
But Florio acknowledges that the release or trade of several high priced, under performing veterans is more likely in the Jets future. Darrell Revis, Brandon Marshall, and Sheldon Richardson could all be on the move in the offseason, with Sheldon on the trading block earlier this year.
“The Jets tried to trade Richardson prior to the October deadline for doing so, but they ultimately could find no taker — possibly because they wanted too much. In the offseason, they may have to take whatever they can get if the goal is to move on from the player who once was regarded as the future cornerstone of the defense.”
The Jets take on the San Francisco 49ers in what could be their only winnable game going forward, with three division games left and second-year project Bryce Petty behind center. But if the team can show progress, it’s likely Bowles will be there to rebound from this year’s disappointing season.
What do you think? Should Todd Bowles be fired?
[Featured image by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images]
