While Woody Johnson is on the receiving end of much ridicule from assorted VOS Gasbags and mouths from other media precincts, he is rarely given credit for presiding over the NFL’s most entertaining reality show.
Johnson has even surpassed Jerry Jones. His production of “Dallas” works off a predictable script while Johnson runs a fun house with trap doors. He shocked the jock world by firing Robert Saleh on Oct. 8. Six weeks later he pushed the button on GM Joe Douglas’ ejector seat.
Now, that’s showbiz.
Yet, serendipity also sticks to the Jets owner. Stuff that fuels the chaos but is beyond his control. Like Rex Ryan, a perceived confidant of Johnson, using his ESPN platform to regularly hype his own candidacy for Gang Green head coach.
Ryan’s blatant campaigning is done at the expense of other football analysis he should be delivering. ESPN brainiacs have no problem with this blabbermouth because, in essence, Ryan is making news (totally slanted to benefit him) on a variety of ESPN platforms.
Is this Woody’s fault?
Then there is Mike Tannenbaum. Johnson hired the former Jets GM’s company to conduct his search for a new head coach and general manager. Tannenbaum also works for ESPN. So, on the Jets story he is conflicted up to his eyeballs. He can’t tell the truth because it would jeopardize his Jets consultancy. Again, ESPN doesn’t care because the situation makes them a direct “player” in the Jets reality show. The Bristol Faculty has not taken Tannenbaum off the air, right?
Moving (far) up the celebrity ladder we get to the star of Johnson’s Follies, Aaron Rodgers. Did anyone listen to what Fox’s Joe Davis and Greg Olsen had to say about Rodgers during the fourth quarter of the Jets win in the finale against Miami?
The two (emotional) voices verbally wrote the quarterback’s football obituary. If you had any doubts about whether Rodgers was playing in his last game, they were erased by the hearts-and-flowers sendoff Davis and Olsen gave him.
While the Fox broadcasters have no idea what Rodgers intends to do, they only added another storyline(s) to carry Johnson’s carnival into and through the offseason: Will Rodgers (who is still under contract to Gang Green) be a Jet in 2025?
That will be the first question asked during the new coach and GM’s introductory press conference. It will also be the question Ambassador Johnson is asked if he decides to talk to Jets reporters. So, until Rodgers makes a decision, or the Jets make it for him, the Hall of Fame bound QB is the leading man in Woody’s production.
There are also co-stars like: Garrett Wilson, Davante Adams and Sauce Gardner
They are passengers on Woody’s unpredictable caravan. It’s a tour with a twist, which has NFL pontificators howling at the moon. Johnson, whose team just finished the season 5-12, dared to applaud the Jets for winning the Miami finale.
“I don’t care about anything else, but a win at the end was good,” Johnson said. “They played well. They didn’t give up. Everybody showed up. We did some really nice things. I’m proud of the guys.”
While others — those who invented football — reacted to this with a disdainful “What?” Johnson again showed he’s familiar with some axioms of show business: Always leave them laughing.
Or in this case, crying.
NO BARKING AT MARA
If anyone doubted Giants CEO/co-owner John Mara occasionally receives preferential treatment from the media, SiriusXM’s Christopher (Mad Dog) Russo provided concrete proof during his weekly appearance on ESPN’s “First Take.”
Doggie was ripping into NFL owners who preside over “dysfunctional” franchises, including Woody Johnson and Jags boss Shad Khan, who Russo characterizes as Public Enemy No. 1.
Suddenly, one of the “FT” crew, Jeff Saturday, interrupted asking why Russo did not mention Mara. Saturday accused Russo of protecting the Giants co-boss.
In a few seconds, and more than once, a sheepish Mad Dog admitted to being friends with Mara. Russo, who has verbally destroyed Khan on numerous occasions, admitted he cut Mara slack because of the friendship. He did not try to hide it.
How could he after Saturday called him out?
SOLO KAY IS SAME OLD MIKE
If anyone expected Michael Kay’s move to 1 p.m. and shifting to a solo act on 880-AM, would produce big change, think again.
After listening to two shows, at similar times, we heard Kay go on the defensive — twice — about skeptical listeners offering their theories why he is no longer with his long-time partners Don La Greca and Pete Rosenberg.
Kay’s trademark thin skin was showing. He was in full Charmin mode, lashing out at those who dared to express an opinion. Some listeners described Kay as an egomaniac who coveted a solo show.
Kay explained the move will provide him with a better quality of family life, including giving him the opportunity to spend more time with his two children.
Anyway, it was reassuring to hear that working alone in an earlier time slot won’t stop Kay from losing his mind while over-reacting to those who take issue with him.
NO MORE SIMULCAST
On his new show, Kay said the 1-3 p.m. offering won’t be simulcast on the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network.
While either the Kay show or a WFAN afternoon-drive product (“Mike and the Mad Dog,” then Mike Francesa solo) has been simulcast continuously on YES for 22 years, the two outlets could not reach an agreement on a new contract for Kay’s solo show.
Now YES, the regional sports network, will save money by not having to pay an exorbitant rights fee or production costs. The simulcast business, like the radio biz, is not exactly robust.
And that’s a kind way of putting it.
AROUND THE DIAL
If recent history is precedent, the carriage dispute between Optimum (owned by Altice) and MSG Network, home of the Knicks, Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Monica McNutt could drag on. A similar financial standoff between Comcast and MSGN, which impacts Xfinity subscribers in New Jersey and Connecticut, is in its fourth year. While some politicians are taking sides on Optimum vs. MSG, we can’t feel any concentrated heat from fans. That’s why Garden boss James (Guitar Jimmy) Dolan needs his Knickerbockers to get hot and become as compelling as Jeremy Lin was in 2012 when he captured the imagination of fans and provided the impetus to settle a carriage dispute between MSG and Time Warner Cable. … MGM+ is back with Season 4 of its revealing NFL Films docuseries “NFL Icons.” Episode 1, on Jan. 17 features Kurt Warner. It never gets old revisiting his storybook journey. Zero major college scholarship offers. Undrafted by the NFL. Cut by the Packers after a 1994 tryout. Five years later, the league MVP and Super Bowl champ. … ESPN suits must believe the millions of casual fans watching the CFP know who the various voices are. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy turned in a masterpiece Thursday working Notre Dame- Penn State, but ESPN did not graphically ID them enough during the game leaving many fans wondering: “Who are those guys?”
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DUDE OF THE WEEK: DAN CAMPBELL
The manner in which he has rejuvenated the Detroit Lions’ perennially failed franchise is epic. Sunday night’s 31-9 rout of Minny was just another example. And as a bonus, the coach is a soundbite machine.
DWEEB OF THE WEEK: REX RYAN
Publicly declaring you’re the best candidate — once — for the Jets head coaching gig is enough. Using your ESPN platform to declare it over and over again is a brilliant way to get yourself disqualified. Or is it just further confirmation that Ryan fancies himself a football genius.
DOUBLE TALK
What Joe Schoen said: “We have a plan in place that we believe in, and we’re going to stick with that.”
What Joe Schoen meant to say: “What matters is one guy — John Mara — actually trusts our failed process.”