Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bolwes Battling Conflicting Interests?

Are Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles on the same page?  One sees the team for the long-term in Maccagnan, while Bowles is trying to win now, with some speculating that he may even be trying to save his job.  While we don’t know if either one has been given any assurances behind closed doors, we do know that Bowles has given several older veterans far more playing time than you might expect for a team that’s building toward the future.

When healthy and active, Bowles has leaned heavily on veterans in positions where the Jets have some youngsters who could use some valuable playing time to show whether or not they’re part of the team’s long-term plans.

Running back Matt Forte, wide receiver Jeremy Kerley and cornerback Buster Skrine have seen a large chunk action this season while running back Elijah McGuire, wide receivers Chad Hansen and Ardarius Stewart and cornerbacks Derrick Jones and Rashard Robinson have had to live on the leftovers.

Are Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan on the same page?

It’s entirely possible that some of the kids have simply not looked good enough to earn more opportunities, or in some cases any opportunities, but there does seem to be a disconnect between Maccagnan and Bowles when it comes to the quarterback position as evidenced by the handling of Bryce Petty.

Because of the season-ending injury suffered by Josh McCown last week, Petty will finally get his shot after a stellar performance this pre-season.  This, however, does not change the fact that Bowles made himself clear before the injury in saying he could not envision a scenario in which he would bench McCown in favor of Petty.

That’s fair enough if the Jets brain trust has no faith in Petty, but if we’re to believe NFL insider Ian Rapoport in regards to Petty, McCagnan clearly saw something he liked as multiple teams contacted the Jets to make an offer for the third-year signal caller only to have Maccagnan refuse to make a deal.

As #Jets prepare to start Josh McCown today, worth noting: 2 teams inquired about trading for Bryce Petty this summer. NYJ wouldn’t deal him

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 10, 2017

When you have a player on your roster whom the coach has no interest in playing, and the GM has little interest in trading, something’s not adding up.

The Jets are one of several teams who employ a system in which Maccagnan and Bowles are on equal footing, meaning Maccagnan may like a player, but isn’t able to insist he be on the field.

Is the disconnect a lone incident, or will there be more to come as Maccagnan enters year two of his first teardown and rebuild?

Glenn Naughton

Glenn was Born in the Bronx, New York and has followed the Jets religiously despite being stationed in several different countries and time zones around the world. He now resides in England and has been a JetNation member since 2005. Glenn will bleed green with the rest of us through the highs and lows.

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