NFL: Another Offseason Of Tumult For Jets Fans

It never changes.

The New York Jets, no matter what year or what owner or what coach or what quarterback, will always remain one of sports' most idiosyncratic franchises. The things that happen to this team, to its fans, are not like anything any other team could suffer through.

Name one team that has had three coaches in one calendar year. While the Washington Redskins have an owner in Daniel Snyder that constantly is in the public eye, the New York Jets have owner Woody Johnson, a shy man, no doubt because he realizes just what he owns.

One of the world's greatest loony bins.

Head coach Al Groh's departure after one year is the epitome of this franchise. The unstable is the norm, the weird is the common. The future of the Jets is now uncertain, but then again, when is it ever not?

Groh's reasoning is that the University of Virginia, his alma mater, is an emotional home that he couldn't turn down. That may be all well and good. But that won't turn away any of the bitterness that fans will have.

As a coach, Groh's season in charge will be remembered as the year that the Jets returned to its old ways instead of the halycon years of Bill Parcells. His career record will be listed as 9-7, but not too many will remember as above .500 overall.

Groh seemed a genuis at the start of the season. He led the Jets to a 6-1 start, capped off by the Monday Night Miracle against Miami. But his team stuttered at the end and made history, ignamious again for the Jets as the only team to start 6-1 but not make the second season.

The Jets, even while starting out hot, had problems from the start. Vinny Testaverde never was comfortable and didn't come close to his 1998 form. While Curtis Martin was outstanding, the offense as a whole was too reliant on him.

That goes back to the trade of Keyshawn Johnson, the first such move that Groh made as coach. The trade netted the Jets a number of draft picks, notably John Abraham and Chad Pennington, but the rewards turned out not to be worth the risk.

Sean Ellis proved to be a nice defensive lineman, but not a difference maker. Tight end Anthony Becht showed very little and contributed minimally to the team. Neither of those players made the impact that Johnson would have.

Testaverde admitted at the end of the season that he missed Johnson. Wayne Chrebet showed that he can't do it alone going downfield. Martin was keyed on and despite several stellar performances, couldn't put the team on his shoulders.

The decision to trade Keyshawn Johnson was Groh's. That will be the decision and the moment that defines his term as Jets coach. Groh's team started out fast, proving something to critics, but faded. As a coach, Groh could not motivate this team. The Jets wore down down the stretch. That, for better or worse, is a reflection of the coach.

The question is now where the Jets go from here. Despite all the various pleading from fans, it is a near certainty that Parcells will not come back to the sidelines. He may not even be with the Jets much longer, leading to the question of who could possibly lead the franchise into the future.

And if Parcells does decide to leave, this leaves the Jets without anyone in the front office to make decisions during this, one of the most important times of the year, along with no head coach. Who would hire a new sideline general if there is no one in upstairs?

On-field personnel must be evaluated as well. Resigning linebackers Brian Cox and Mo Lewis were good moves by the team, but the defense wasn't the weak point. Special teams were horrific between John Hall's kicking problems and the punt coverage unit. Also is the quarterback question and whether or not the future with Chad Pennington should become the present.

Should Pennington be the starter, what does that mean for Testaverde and Ray Lucas, the forgotten man? There is also the small matter of another wide receiver to complement Chrebet and Dedric Ward. There was a revolving door in the spot at third wideout between rookies and veterans that didn't work out.

Last year, the offseason for the Jets was tumultuous with Parcells leaving, Bill Belichek as head coach for one day and then the Groh hiring and trade of Keyshawn Johnson. This year, the offseason looks to have some of the same madness.

Only one organization could pull this off. The Jets.