The Jets’ Woody Johnson is New York’s worst sports owner

There shouldn’t be many tears shed for Robert Saleh. There are 201 men in NFL history who have had a head coaching career that included part or all of the fourth season. In terms of winning percentage, Saleh ranks 181st on this list. His final record for the Jets is as follows: 20 wins, 36 losses (.357).

These numbers lead to coaches being fired. They got Saleh fired. On merit.

But as a Jets fan you can still cry and sob a lot because this is still as sloppy an operation as we have in American sports. Forget history. Forget all the hexes, curses and hexes that fans invent to make themselves feel better, as if there was something more mystical that could explain decade after decade of deplorable football.

Woody Johnson is the curse. Woody Johnson is the curse.

After a quarter-century on the Big Square, Johnson has settled nicely into a rare and exclusive spot: He’s the worst owner in New York sports. This applies in the here and now. And he’s quickly becoming the absolute leader in the clubhouse.

(Though even Johnson – or anyone else – will have a lot of time trying to oust John Spanos, who “owned” the Islanders for five months in 1997.)

Think of it like this:

For years, the most unlikely story of a New York owner was that George Steinbrenner somehow went from pariah to patriarch to rich favorite uncle in less than a decade. Now it’s James Dolan who would certainly wear the belt as long as he chose to own Madison Square Garden. He once complained that he was treated worse than any other property owner in New York history.

“George hit you,” I once said to Dolan. “Trust me.”

“George?” Dolan asked. “They loved him in the end.”

“Yes,” I said. “In the end.”

“Well,” he said, “maybe they’ll love me when I’m dead!”

Dolan didn’t have to wait for such an extreme solution; All he had to do was find competent lieutenants in Leon Rose and Chris Drury, continue happily signing checks, retreat to the owner’s seat, and let Woody cook.

Johnson’s quarter-century as owner began by scaring off two Hall of Fame coaches, Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells, firing the franchise’s most popular coach (Rex Ryan), and then hiring a series of coaches and GMs, all of whom have succeeded. to descend the bar exponentially. This is all under Johnson’s supervision.

It’s one thing to be incompetent. It’s different to have delusions.

Follow the latest on the New York Jets’ firing of head coach Robert Saleh:

“This is one of the most talented teams ever assembled by the New York Jets,” were words Johnson actually said on Tuesday that Joe Namath and Gerry Philbin might find interesting (not to mention Curtis Martin and Darrelle Revis could say). “I wanted to give this team the best possible chance to win this season.”

When Woody Hayes tells you the intricacies of building a winning football team, he might be worth listening to. Woody Johnson? Here were some other gems:

“This will bring new energy and positivity and lead to more wins from now on.”

“We have an incredible team.”

“We have to give these great players on both sides of the ball a chance to win.”

And even these absurdities were just warm-up exercises. Here’s what Woody Johnson said about the Haason Reddick situation right before he dropped the mic at the end of a conference call:

“Haason, get in your car. Come down 95 (Actually in his case it’s “up” 95; Johnson should alert his limo driver) and join the New York Jets. You will be welcomed with open arms. We will meet you and accompany you.”

So Johnson not only fired his coach, but also pistol-whipped his general manager, causing Joe Douglas to lose any influence he might have had over Reddick. If Johnson wasn’t born into a bundle, would you even let this guy run a lemonade stand?

Unsurprisingly, he largely absolved Aaron Rodgers, to whom he handed the keys to the kingdom a year and a half ago and who, with every gesture, every response and no response, sets both the narrative and policy toward the Jets. He already had major problems as the Jets’ quarterback; It will be fun to see how he plays the position now, even though his hands are covered in blood.

“I have a lot of experience with these things,” Johnson said, and he certainly does. He’s done as much damage as an owner can do in 25 years and seems eager to get ahead of himself in the next 25 years. “Ultimately, it’s my decision and mine alone.”

Want to know what the Curse of the Jets really sounds like? Read these 12 words over and over again.