There is an in-depth article in this week's "New Yorker" magazine on past calendar year with the Jets.
The writer was given some behind-the-scenes access and the article features some interesting nuggets.
Among them:
Some more details of how the trade for Tim Tebow went down.
The writer talks about the Jets' loss to the Broncos last year in Denver against Tebow's Broncos and quotes coach Rex Ryan saying, "Kid's a [bleeping] winner. Can't throw a lick against us and they beat us."
Flash-forward to March 19 and Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum are eating Mexican food at Newark Airport when Tannenbaum brings up the idea of trading for Tebow.
"On the third appetizer I say if Peyton signs at Denver, what do you think of Tebow?" Tannenbaum said.
Ryan said he found the idea "exciting." Ryan met Tebow at the Super Bowl and discovered that Tebow was not "judgmental" as Ryan had perceived him.
As Ryan went to buy a milkshake, Tannenbaum called the Broncos to express interest in Tebow.
The article describes wide receiver Santonio Holmes as shocked at the trade and recounts the phone conversation between Holmes and quarterback Mark Sanchez with Sanchez struggling to understand the move.
Holmes said Sanchez felt better once he saw Tebow in practice.
"It allowed Mark to relax," Holmes said. "He sees Tim Tebow has no qualities he does. He sees he can be a great teammate and football player, but not the same kind of quarterback. All he can do is line up and play football. Run, score a few touchdowns, and the people love me! Don't expect slants or curls, just expect football from Tim Tebow."
The article also describes the divide between the offense and defense last year with the defense blaming the offense for many of the team's struggles.
Former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said, "I'd be lying if I said it didn't piss us off. But we used it as motivation."
Schottenheimer is criticized by one unnamed defensive coach as saying he wanted to "reinvent the offense every week."
The article said Tannenbaum and Ryan replaced Schottenheimer with Tony Sparano because they wanted an offense that would stand up to the defense.
There are also some details about Ryan's reinvention this offseason. The writer describes the final team meeting last year with Ryan's voice cracking as he says "I will get better. Will you?" He then left the room in tears.
As for Ryan's mysterious "sensei" it is revealed that he is an executive counselor whom Tannenbaum hired.
Ryan describes him as a "Chinese guy. Old dude. He's helpful. I'm an extrovert. Now I realize I pull away from introverts. I'm learning to be more inclusive."
There is also details of a meeting at the beginning of training camp with Tannenbaum discussing left guard Matt Slauson and how his $1.3 million salary was too high. The Jets received a trade offer for Slauson, according to the story, but decided to keep him once he agreed to a pay cut to $1.05 million.
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