Jets hire consultant for GM search, Sparano likely fired

[ThomasTomasz]

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson's unhappiness in a disappointing 2012 season is expected to be reflected in the moves he is planning to make.

According to sources, the Jets do not plan to bring back offensive coordinator Tony Sparano (the Jets are ranked 30th in total offense in Sparano's first season in the role) and Johnson has been putting out feelers for ideas to determine the ideal structure of his front office.

Some league sources believe coach Rex Ryan, who will return, would be best served working again with general manager Mike Tannenbaum, which they believe would provide Johnson the type of stability he respects in other organizations led by such owners as the Maras and Rooneys.

Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's contract is up and longtime special teams coach Mike Westhoff is retiring.

Tannenbaum, 43, kept his job in 2008 when coach Eric Mangini was fired after the 2008 season and he subsequently hired Ryan. The Jets are 34-29 in Ryan's four seasons but have missed the postseason each of the past two years.

The Jets were doomed by their unsettled quarterback position in 2012. Mark Sanchez struggled all season and ultimately was removed from the starting spot for Greg McElroy in Week 16, although he'll start the finale after McElroy was ruled out with a concussion. And Tim Tebow didn't have much of an impact after he was acquired in a trade with the Broncos as New York's Wildcat package was ineffective and the team wasn't sure how to use him in other packages.

Ryan and Tannenbaum's four-season run includes two conference championship game appearances and only one losing season -- the type of success that usually leads to other chances.

But in New York, everything is under scrutiny and up for debate.

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/8792986/new-york-jets-fire-tony-sparano-sources

No surprise here, and we could even hear confirmation of this tonight.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Also, looks like Tannebaum is gone. Should have no trouble finding a spot as a cap/contract guy, but definitely not a talent evaluator. Though with many coaches having some measure of control over player personnel, he could still technically come down with a "GM" title.

The New York Jets have hired Jed Hughes of Korn/Ferry International to lead their search for a new general manager to replace Mike Tannenbaum, according to a league source. Hughes is the vice chairman of the sports sector of the Korn/Ferry, which is an international, executive recruiting company. The Jets also used Korn/Ferry when they hired current team president Neil Glatt.

It has been reported for the past week that the Jets were planning to move on from Tannenbaum.

The Jets declined comment, per their organizational policy of not speaking about personnel moves during the season.

The Jets (6-9) will finish the season with a losing record for the first time since coach Rex Ryan was hired in 2009. Tannenbaum has been criticized for many of his personnel moves, including the trade for quarterback Tim Tebow and several of the team's large, long-term deals -- most notably, the contracts for wide receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Mark Sanchez , which have handcuffed the team as far as their cap flexibility.

Tannenbaum, who joined the Jets in 1997 as director of player contract negotiations was elevated to general manager in 2006, replacing Terry Bradway, who has remained with the team as a senior personnel executive. The team has gone to the playoffs three times in that time period -- the wild card game in 2006 and the AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/n...ecutive-to-lead-search-for-new-gm-source-says