Is there any good coach in NFL or college that never speaks with any player on the sideline during a game? Any other coach who never communicates unhappiness, disgust or encouragment with a player during a game. Mangini was so self contained. How could a player be expected to respond to him? You could only determine his reaction by the speed that he chewed his gum. Once the league figured out how to deal with some of the things the Jets did against the Pats and the Titans which brought success, it became easy because the Jets never brought creative thought into offensive and defensive game plans again. Straegy aside, the biggest problem keeps coming back to Mangini’s psychological makeup. At the most important moments, his passion and emotion remained inward. His frown became hardened, the jaws were working the gum relentlessly, his mouth was silent and when his players needed a connection with the leader, the leader crouched in the corner of the foxhole, staring numbly, straight ahead. No eye contact, no acknowlegment of reality…..nothing……???
The only thing missing on Sunday was the “Goodby Eric” song made famous by the Giants in the 60’s when their then coach, Allie Sherman had to go. I can still hear “Goodbye Allie” reverberating through the old Yankee Stadium.