Oh how I would hate to have to cover the Jets as a New York beat reporter!  The organization has been in a state of media lockdown that has not been seen since Bill Parcels left town.

 It is nothing like it was when coach Edwards was here-he was a friend of the media, often staying late after games, sometimes hours, to answer every question anyone wanted to ask.  The reporters loved him not just because he was often the only one who would run to Staples for them, but because he also seemed to allow anyone on the team to talk to whomever they wanted about anything they wanted.  Those days are gone now like the blond hair quarterback they used to call "Boomer".

 The new media rules are like this: You ask the question and you get lots of interesting talk, but no real answer at all.  Allow me to show you how this works.

 Reporter:  Who are the Jets starting at quarterback on opening day?

 General Mangini:  We're going to start who ever gives us the best chance of winning.

 Reporter:  Duh.

 General Mangini::  Well, you're the one who asked.

 Semi-Frustrated Reporter:  Well then who will give you the best chance of winning?

 General Mangini:  (smells the reporters frustration like cheap cologne on a underage wedding crasher) I think that will be the player who turns the ball over the least, and who shows the most poise and consistency.  Also, getting the ball in the end zone wouldn't hurt either.

 Frustrated Reporter: (now almost shaking) ..and who would that be?  What is the actual players name, first and last, who will start opening day?

 General Mangini:  I'll know him when I see him.

You get the point.  The Jets are going to be a bunch of well-kept secrets.  You will find out the specific who and what exactly when everyone else does and no one minute before.  In a sport as fiercely competitive as football that is just the way the fans (who bleed green) want it.  We know how fragile a football team can be and just how important each of the 16 games are to win.  Some would say that it is over reactions but let's face it, the whole season is just over half of one day in actual game time (16 games x 1 hour official game time per game = 16 hours).  That is the whole season.  We don't play three times a week, we play once a week, so any and all information should be held at a premium.

Add into the scenario the mere fact that every team studies every player and position on every other team and you start to realize just how important a media gag rule can be.  All of the Jets assistants and coaches with the exception of only the General are forbidden by contract to speak with the media. 

General Mangini and company have exactly no interest in the media, although they seem to show much respect for reporters and such, the media serves no purpose in winning football games.