Dolphins End Jets Season, Possibly Favre's Career
New York fails to make playoffs after losing four of its final five games
By RYAN WILSON
Updated 9:15 AM EST, Mon, Dec 29, 2008
The New York Jets got no help from Buffalo and Jacksonville and for the fourth time in five games they failed to help themselves as they lost to the MIami Dolphins 24-17 to eliminate them from the playoffs and end a roller coaster season with Brett Favre at the helm.
The Jets were officially eliminated form playoff contention when the Jaguars tanked against the Ravens, making the outcome of the game against the Dolphins a moot point.. An abysmal 1-3 record against the AFC West, along with debilitating losses to the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks sealed the Jets' fate long before Sunday's game against Miami.
Favre, acquired this offseason to get New York back to the playoffs, threw three interceptions of the "what just happened?!" variety against the Dolphins. Meanwhile, Chad Pennington, the guy the Jets ran out of town to make room for Favre, efficiently ran Miami's offense, throwing two touchdowns and avoiding the game-changing turnovers that have become a calling card of Favre over the last five years.
After winning just four games a year ago, I'm guessing Mangini would've gladly welcomed a 9-6 record heading into the final week of the season. But given that New York was 8-3 six weeks ago, and didn't show up for any of their four West Coast contests, disappointing is the only way to describe the Jets' second-half meltdown.
As a result, Mangini's days at the head coach of the Jets may end as soon as Monday morning.
Jets owner Woody Johnson will address the media at 10 a.m. on Monday, and according to the Daily News, Johnson will appear with GM Mike Tannebaum - and not Mangini.
The News' Rich Cimini notes:
This is a highly unusual move by Johnson, suggesting he already has made a decision on Mangini's fate... "Time not determined yet for Coach and players," the Jets' announcement reads, not mentioning Mangini by name.
Making the offseason even more unbearable for fans, the conversation will undoubtedly be about Favre's retirement plans. Nobody wants to go through another six months of waiting for Favre to make up his mind about his future.
I'm not convinced Kellen Clemens is the long-term answer in New York, but I do know Favre is too careless with the ball to be a reliable option, even for another season. Maybe the Jets can work a trade for Pennington. And who knows, the Dolphins might even be willing to take rookie-bust Vernon Gholston off their hands too.
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Copyright NBC Local Media / NBC New York
First Published: Dec 28, 2008 7:53 PM EST
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