Results tagged “woodyjohnson”

The results of Jets quarterback Brett Favre are back, and sources tell ESPN that he was "told by doctors that pain in his right shoulder is from a torn biceps tendon and some calcification in the area, but the New York Jets quarterback would need nothing more than arthroscopic surgery to repair the injury." In fact, Favre could "might be able to avoid an arthroscopic procedure altogether if he decides to play a 19th NFL season." The Jets have made it clear they'd love to have the 39-year-old for another season—hell, the Post even headlined its sports back page "WOODY FOR BRETT," a nod to Jets owner Woody Johnson's fondness for Favre. On the coaching side, the Jets are still hoping to talk to former Steelers coach Bill Cowher. A source told Newsday earlier reports that Cowher didn't want to talk to the Jets were unfounded: "We have gotten no indication from him that he would not take the position based on the front office power structure."

Yesterday, the Jets' firing of coach Eric Mangini brought some satisfaction to fans and sports writers. But owner Woody Johnson's and general manager's apparent inclination to keep aging quarterback Brett Favre has some scratching their heads. The Post's Steve Serby writes:

If Johnson and GM Mike Tannenbaum are really serious about staying with Favre and a right arm that needed an MRI yesterday, a scattershot right arm that will be 40 years old in October, then they aren't moving forward. They are being held hostage to a pipe dream that our favorite Hall of Fame icon can go Pack to the future and remain forever young, and they are holding their next head coach hostage to that pipe dream as well while Favre holds them all hostage with his Shakespearian lament, To Play Or Not to Play?

Jets owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum just announced that coach Eric Mangini will not be returning next year. Johnson said:

We met with the coach this morning...We thanked him for all the good things he had done for us, we thanked him for his dedication and his loyalty. But he understood... For the current New York Jets organization, we've made the decision to move on. It's a judgment call. This is not a decision that we reached yesterday or 10 minutes ago. We don't take this decision lightly. We want to build on the successful foundation that he's laid.

The NY Times has a feature on billionaire Robert Wood Johnson IV's loyalty to the Republican party and his willingness to fork over millions. In fact, a hospitality suite at the RNC was named after him ("Woody Johnson Minneapolis-St. Paul 2008 Host Committee Private Lounge"). Apparently Johnson has a "willingness to engage in the hard slog of making hundreds of calls" to ask people like billionaire David Koch and Donald Trump, "to persuade [them] raise $100,000 each, or failing that, $25,000, marking his progress after each call." And do you want to know how committed he is to McCain's cause? He even called Cablevision's Charles Dolan--who did donate. Gang Green indeed.

With all the discussion about a new, gleaming West Side Stadium for the Jets has definitely sparked a competitive spirit in the Dolans beyond just trying to knock down the Jets' bid: The NY Times says that Madison Square Garden officials have been investigating the possibility of moving to Eighth Avenue and 31st-33rd Streets - right at the soon-to-be Moynihan Station at the Farley Post Office! Madison Square Garden has been long lamented as being a just-okay venue for basketball and hockey, and the Dolans had claimed they would renovate MSG, versus move to a new site as the city had previously suggested (which was the city's way of trying to keep them from opposing a Jets' stadium bid). When you look at Madison Square Garden's history on Wikipedia, the venue has moved a number of times at the whim of its various owners; the NY Times article notes that one developer tried to move it to the West Side railyards 18 years ago - with a structure to be designed by Frank Gehry! - but that was scuttled because it was felt that would be too far. Well, it still is. If MSG moved to the Farley Post Office/ Moynihan Station, Penn Plaza would be turned into even more high-end apartments and offices. But before anything can happen, the city has to approve these plans, which would make for an interesting meeting, the Mayor and the Dolans; if only Woody Johnson could be in the mix.

For better or for worse, there is too much to say about the fight over the MTA railyards on the West Side, the possible home of a West Side stadium for the NJ Jets or just a big commercial-residential development or maybe even a power plant. NJ (Acting) Governor Richard Codey made a point to show how it would only cost $450 million for the Jets to build a new stadium in NJ, versus the $1+ billion NYC plan. The NY Times notes that the NJ overture has put the Mayor on guard, but the Mayor pooh-poohed it, saying it was just a publicity ploy. Gothamist has to agree: Even though the NJ plan might make economic sense, we can understand that the Jets would want their own stadium - we just don't know where, if not in the media capital of the country/world. To make things more complicated, the NFL has suggested that NYC might be Super Bowl country in 2010, if there is a West Side Stadium. And the Post is reporting that Jets owners Woody Johnson may bid to buy the Rangers and Knicks, so Cablevision butts out of the bidding process.

The Jets have started an aggressive campaign to attack Cablevision, the NY Post reports. Basically, the Jets are saying that Cablevision and its prize, Madison Square Garden, act like a monopoly, they are trying to be only game in town, there needs to be more competition...you name it, it's there. Gothamist the two parties to fight and fight, fight and fight, with more chatter from the politicians and communities groups until March 21 when the bidding for the West Side railyardscomes to an end. Of course, this comes as the feud between Cablevision's chairman, Charles F. Dolan, and his son, the CEO, James L. Dolan, has gotten more press, especially with Dolan replacing board directors with his friends.

Bloomberg LP did, in fact, negotiate a tax break valued at $14 million with the Giuliani administration in 2000, but Mr. Bloomberg turned it down after winning the election in 2001 to avoid a conflict of interest.Anyway, Gothamist thinks there's only one way for this to be resolved: A tag team cage match - the Mayor and Jets owner Woody Johnson in one corner, the Dolans (owners of Cablevision) in the other.

Although Vinny Testaverde will not be present, Gothamist can't help but think of the last time these two teams met in East Rutherford on a Monday night.

Much of the off-season talk among Jets fans, politicians and residents of the West Side of Manhattan has centered on one thing – the proposed $1.4 billion New York Sports and Convention Center. While Cablevision (the parent company of Madison Square Garden) has led a high-budget campaign for public opinion, while the team has recently started its counterstrike with legend Joe Namath extolling the potential of the project, of which the city would cover $600 million (and team owner Woody Johnson paying the remaining $800 million). Mayor Bloomberg and company are pushing for the project heavily, ostensibly as a boon to the city’s hopes of landing the 2012 Olympic Summer Games.

The debate over the West Side stadium plan for the Jets is ongoing. If it gets built, there will most likely be a corporate name slapped onto it. With so many companies calling the New York Region home, and what's sure to be a high-profile stadium, the naming rights for it could be quite costly. A March article from Bloomberg had fees in range of $7-10 million per year. Over 30 years, the naming fees could amount to $300 while the stadium itself would cost $800 million. The money obviously isn't upfront, but it would certainly help the bottom line of Jets owner Woody Johnson and provide a nice stream of revenue, assuming the sponsor doesn't go bankrupt.

The Super Bowl are already has venues through 2008 (stadium names subject to change, obviously) - Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium is slated to host in 2005, followed by Detroit's Ford Field in 2006, Miami's Pro Player Stadium in 2007 and Arizona's still unnamed stadium. The Jets stadium, assuming it gets built, is tentatively scheduled to be finished for the 2009 season. Because of the unique situation in New York (read 2012 Olympics), the NFL is considering waiving the 2-year waiting period for stadiums before they can host the Super Bowl, which would give New York Super Bowl XLIV.

More on the elaborate West Side development plans.