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New York Jets: Todd Bowles, Mike Maccagnan should stay or go together

By Michael Pallas

FLORHAM PARK, NJ - JANUARY 21: New York Jets Owner Woody Johnson (C) poses with new General Manager Mike Maccagnan (L) and new Head Coach Todd Bowles after they were introduced to the media during a press conference on January 21, 2015 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)
FLORHAM PARK, NJ - JANUARY 21: New York Jets Owner Woody Johnson (C) poses with new General Manager Mike Maccagnan (L) and new Head Coach Todd Bowles after they were introduced to the media during a press conference on January 21, 2015 in Florham Park, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) /
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If the New York Jets fire Todd Bowles, they should also fire Mike Maccagnan, because they’re a package deal.

The New York Jets are in a tough spot. Fans are calling for the head of Todd Bowles. They want him gone by the end of 2018. It’s been suggested that you can’t fire both, because Bowles has too much of the blame on his shoulders. Let’s examine both sides of the coin, because one should not go and the other stay, which includes keeping Bowles and firing Maccagnan.

Let’s start with the Bowles side of the coin. He has had quite a few clock management blunders. The latest of which happened in Week 7 when he failed to call timeout at the end of the half after a catch was made, which subsequently was followed by a missed field goal (which compounded the blunder).

Player discipline also falls in the purview of the head coach, but it can be argued that should come from the leadership in the locker room, not necessarily the coaching staff. However, it falls under the responsibility of the head coach, so those two things have been a constant issue.

As far as Maccagnan is concerned, he’s in charge of one thing, roster construction. He’s responsible for signing free agents and drafting players, and while the head coach has input, it’s his responsibility, similarly to player discipline.

He’s had a bad record in his four seasons as Jets general manager in both the draft and free agency. Teams might be able to get away with some misses in the draft or free agency, but not swings and misses in both.

Maccagnan may have done a good job getting the Jets out of salary cap hell, but it should’ve been done sooner. While that may partially be due to Woody Johnson, Maccagnan could’ve done a better job at convincing the owner that the Jets rebuild needed to begin when he was hired.

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In the end, it’s not a situation where one is more deserving of staying over the other. Both of these guys have had a hand in the failure of the team to some extent. So, either they both go or stay.

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