WallyNoche
01-20-2005, 04:09 PM
Interesting...IMO Paul Hackett would have been dismissed even if the Jets won the Super Bowl...He and Herm Edwards never saw eye to eye...Herm is a people person...Paul is a door knob...IMO
Hackett resigns following mounting pressure; Heimerdinger hired
By ANDREA ADELSON, AP Sports Writer
January 19, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett knew the time had come for him to leave the team.
Following mounting pressure and constant criticism for his conservative play-calling, Hackett and coach Herman Edwards decided it was best for them to part ways. So Hackett resigned Wednesday after four seasons with the club, and Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger was hired hours later as his replacement.
Hackett's departure was expected after the Jets' 20-17 overtime loss to Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs Saturday.
``It's good for the program that we're headed in a different direction,'' Edwards said on a conference call.
The Jets showed little imagination in their version of the West Coast offense, ranking 17th in the NFL in scoring this season even though Curtis Martin led the league in rushing with 1,697 yards.
Chad Pennington threw for 2,673 yards and only 16 touchdowns, while the Jets ranked 22nd in passing yards and managed 51 points in the first quarter during the regular season.
Once Pennington returned from a strained right rotator cuff in December, Hackett went even more conservative. The tight ends were virtually invisible in the offense, and playmaker Santana Moss was hardly used after a breakout 1,000-yard season.
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Perhaps most upsetting to team officials was the lack of offensive scoring in four games against Pittsburgh and New England, where they managed a total of two touchdowns.
Hackett started losing his supporters midway through the season. Edwards never gave his longtime friend a ringing endorsement, while Pennington would only say that he supported any decision Edwards made on the coordinator's future.
``I leave knowing that I've worked extremely hard and had a hand in the organization's recent success,'' Hackett said in a statement. ``We've enjoyed some wonderful moments.''
Heimerdinger's contract was up in Tennessee, where he spent the last five seasons. He was immediately intrigued when Edwards called him Tuesday to see whether he would be interested in coming to the Jets.
``It's gone faster than I thought it would,'' said Heimerdinger, who signed a three-year deal. ``It's the fastest of anything that's happened to me. I'm still kind of spinning.''
Edwards wants more scoring, and he is sure to get it with Heimerdinger. The Titans had one of their best offensive seasons in 2003 when Steve McNair was co-MVP of the league. Tennessee scored its most points (435) since 1961, and posted a franchise record with six straight games scoring 30 or more points -- only the third NFL team to accomplish such a streak since 1970.
In 2002 and 2003, the Titans produced the first two 3,000/1,000/1,000 yard seasons in the 45-year history of the franchise with McNair throwing for more than 3,000 yards, Eddie George rushing for over 1,000 yards and Derrick Mason recording 1,000 yards receiving.
Even though the Titans struggled with injuries in 2004 -- McNair missed much of the season -- the offense ranked 11th in the NFL.
``I've watched him coordinate, I've watched their offense. It's always intriguing to me,'' Edwards said. ``He was the first call we made.''
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he started the search for a new coordinator last week when Heimerdinger interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers head job.
``That gave us a head start in the process. We will be looking for someone who will allow us to maintain and improve our offensive philosophy,'' Fisher said.
Hackett resigns following mounting pressure; Heimerdinger hired
By ANDREA ADELSON, AP Sports Writer
January 19, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- Jets offensive coordinator Paul Hackett knew the time had come for him to leave the team.
Following mounting pressure and constant criticism for his conservative play-calling, Hackett and coach Herman Edwards decided it was best for them to part ways. So Hackett resigned Wednesday after four seasons with the club, and Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger was hired hours later as his replacement.
Hackett's departure was expected after the Jets' 20-17 overtime loss to Pittsburgh in the second round of the playoffs Saturday.
``It's good for the program that we're headed in a different direction,'' Edwards said on a conference call.
The Jets showed little imagination in their version of the West Coast offense, ranking 17th in the NFL in scoring this season even though Curtis Martin led the league in rushing with 1,697 yards.
Chad Pennington threw for 2,673 yards and only 16 touchdowns, while the Jets ranked 22nd in passing yards and managed 51 points in the first quarter during the regular season.
Once Pennington returned from a strained right rotator cuff in December, Hackett went even more conservative. The tight ends were virtually invisible in the offense, and playmaker Santana Moss was hardly used after a breakout 1,000-yard season.
ADVERTISEMENT
Perhaps most upsetting to team officials was the lack of offensive scoring in four games against Pittsburgh and New England, where they managed a total of two touchdowns.
Hackett started losing his supporters midway through the season. Edwards never gave his longtime friend a ringing endorsement, while Pennington would only say that he supported any decision Edwards made on the coordinator's future.
``I leave knowing that I've worked extremely hard and had a hand in the organization's recent success,'' Hackett said in a statement. ``We've enjoyed some wonderful moments.''
Heimerdinger's contract was up in Tennessee, where he spent the last five seasons. He was immediately intrigued when Edwards called him Tuesday to see whether he would be interested in coming to the Jets.
``It's gone faster than I thought it would,'' said Heimerdinger, who signed a three-year deal. ``It's the fastest of anything that's happened to me. I'm still kind of spinning.''
Edwards wants more scoring, and he is sure to get it with Heimerdinger. The Titans had one of their best offensive seasons in 2003 when Steve McNair was co-MVP of the league. Tennessee scored its most points (435) since 1961, and posted a franchise record with six straight games scoring 30 or more points -- only the third NFL team to accomplish such a streak since 1970.
In 2002 and 2003, the Titans produced the first two 3,000/1,000/1,000 yard seasons in the 45-year history of the franchise with McNair throwing for more than 3,000 yards, Eddie George rushing for over 1,000 yards and Derrick Mason recording 1,000 yards receiving.
Even though the Titans struggled with injuries in 2004 -- McNair missed much of the season -- the offense ranked 11th in the NFL.
``I've watched him coordinate, I've watched their offense. It's always intriguing to me,'' Edwards said. ``He was the first call we made.''
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he started the search for a new coordinator last week when Heimerdinger interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers head job.
``That gave us a head start in the process. We will be looking for someone who will allow us to maintain and improve our offensive philosophy,'' Fisher said.