2112
12-27-2007, 07:04 AM
ROUGH RECEPTION LIKELY AWAITS FORMER JETS COACH
By MARK CANNIZZARO
December 27, 2007 -- There's probably more curiosity about the reception Herman Edwards will receive from whatever fans bother to show up at Giants Stadium Sunday to see his Chiefs play the Jets, his former team, than there is about the game itself.
Jets versus Chiefs in the final week of the regular season, and both teams combining for a 7-22 record, isn't exactly an attractive matchup.
The likely reception Edwards and the 3-12 Jets will receive is this: There'll be plenty of booing to go around.
The majority of fans who will be at Giants Stadium, braving a potentially bad football game between two offensively challenged teams in what's expected to be sloppy weather, will surely be there to vent their frustrations
Though Edwards brought the Jets to the playoffs three times (more than any coach in franchise history), there's a large contingent of Jets fans who rank Edwards on the same plane of disdain as Rich Kotite in Jets coaching history.
So you can expect a good dousing of boos to come his way. The catcalls will add insult to Edwards, because his Chiefs have lost their last eight games after a 4-3 start.
Asked yesterday if he's excited to return to Giants Stadium to face his former team, Edwards said: "I don't know about excited, but it's the last stop of our season. It's been tough."
Edwards said the acrimonious breakup with the Jets after the 2005 season was disappointing.
Edwards said since his departure he has talked with Jets owner Woody Johnson, who was furious about him wanting a contract extension and leaking that to the media.
"I've spoken to him," Edwards said. "We're fine."
Edwards said his memories of his Jets experience are positive.
"I'm an optimistic guy," he said. "I'm very pleased with the way we did some things there. We didn't do everything right and we didn't do everything wrong. We had fun and won some. We played in some playoff games and won a couple, but didn't get the ring. That's the shame of it."
There are still a number of Jets players on the current roster who played for Edwards and their feeling about him is universally positive.
"It won't be that strange [to see Edwards], it'll be fun," Jets receiver Justin McCareins said. "A lot of players feel close to him. He's done a lot for this team."
McCareins said he hopes Edwards gets a good reaction from the crowd.
"He's done a lot for a lot of players on this team and this organization," McCareins said.
"Anyone you hear talking about him, players or coaches, have positive things to say about him. We know what type of coach and example he is for this league."
Safety Kerry Rhodes, who played one season under Edwards, said: "A lot of players liked him, and I liked him as well. It's going to be fun."
One player Edwards has a soft spot for is Chad Pennington, who next season possibly could reunite with his old coach in Kansas City, where the Chiefs have had their share of quarterback troubles.
Edwards said it was tough to see Pennington benched, but that he is the consummate pro.
"I think Chad is a guy who understands what this is about, that philosophies change and [coaches] want to do things in a different way," Edwards said. "He understands the whole deal."
Edwards said he thinks Pennington can still start on an NFL team.
"[From] the little bit I've watched - and it's a little different offense than in the past - he can still make the throws," Edwards said. "He's a good decision maker and still a good quarterback."
Link (http://www.nypost.com/seven/12272007/sports/jets/return_of_herm_189768.htm)
It sure does look like Herm has a warm bubbly feeling inside for Pennington.
By MARK CANNIZZARO
December 27, 2007 -- There's probably more curiosity about the reception Herman Edwards will receive from whatever fans bother to show up at Giants Stadium Sunday to see his Chiefs play the Jets, his former team, than there is about the game itself.
Jets versus Chiefs in the final week of the regular season, and both teams combining for a 7-22 record, isn't exactly an attractive matchup.
The likely reception Edwards and the 3-12 Jets will receive is this: There'll be plenty of booing to go around.
The majority of fans who will be at Giants Stadium, braving a potentially bad football game between two offensively challenged teams in what's expected to be sloppy weather, will surely be there to vent their frustrations
Though Edwards brought the Jets to the playoffs three times (more than any coach in franchise history), there's a large contingent of Jets fans who rank Edwards on the same plane of disdain as Rich Kotite in Jets coaching history.
So you can expect a good dousing of boos to come his way. The catcalls will add insult to Edwards, because his Chiefs have lost their last eight games after a 4-3 start.
Asked yesterday if he's excited to return to Giants Stadium to face his former team, Edwards said: "I don't know about excited, but it's the last stop of our season. It's been tough."
Edwards said the acrimonious breakup with the Jets after the 2005 season was disappointing.
Edwards said since his departure he has talked with Jets owner Woody Johnson, who was furious about him wanting a contract extension and leaking that to the media.
"I've spoken to him," Edwards said. "We're fine."
Edwards said his memories of his Jets experience are positive.
"I'm an optimistic guy," he said. "I'm very pleased with the way we did some things there. We didn't do everything right and we didn't do everything wrong. We had fun and won some. We played in some playoff games and won a couple, but didn't get the ring. That's the shame of it."
There are still a number of Jets players on the current roster who played for Edwards and their feeling about him is universally positive.
"It won't be that strange [to see Edwards], it'll be fun," Jets receiver Justin McCareins said. "A lot of players feel close to him. He's done a lot for this team."
McCareins said he hopes Edwards gets a good reaction from the crowd.
"He's done a lot for a lot of players on this team and this organization," McCareins said.
"Anyone you hear talking about him, players or coaches, have positive things to say about him. We know what type of coach and example he is for this league."
Safety Kerry Rhodes, who played one season under Edwards, said: "A lot of players liked him, and I liked him as well. It's going to be fun."
One player Edwards has a soft spot for is Chad Pennington, who next season possibly could reunite with his old coach in Kansas City, where the Chiefs have had their share of quarterback troubles.
Edwards said it was tough to see Pennington benched, but that he is the consummate pro.
"I think Chad is a guy who understands what this is about, that philosophies change and [coaches] want to do things in a different way," Edwards said. "He understands the whole deal."
Edwards said he thinks Pennington can still start on an NFL team.
"[From] the little bit I've watched - and it's a little different offense than in the past - he can still make the throws," Edwards said. "He's a good decision maker and still a good quarterback."
Link (http://www.nypost.com/seven/12272007/sports/jets/return_of_herm_189768.htm)
It sure does look like Herm has a warm bubbly feeling inside for Pennington.