'Fire John Idzik' Banner Flies Over Jets Practice
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- It's not easy being John Idzik these days.
The embattled New York Jets general manager was on hand for practice Wednesday at the team's facility in Florham Park when a plane flew overhead with the message "Fire John Idzik" in huge, red letters.
Jets owner Woody Johnson was there, too.
Uncomfortable.
Definition of awkward: plane calling for your dismissal as your watching ur 1-8 team practice #Idzik pic.twitter.com/wYvFGOB3kv
— KimberlEY A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) November 5, 2014
The Fire Idzik plane still going... Meanwhile, Woody Johnson and John Idzik are still out here on the practice field pic.twitter.com/sI6gddxK11
— KimberlEY A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) November 5, 2014
"Trust me, I get it. I know our fans are really frustrated," head coach Rex Ryan said of the banner. "Obviously, we're very frustrated, everybody is. We want to win and all that type of stuff. I personally don't think it's appropriate. I'll say this: we're working our butts off. John, everybody is working their butts off to find a way to win, and that's really what it is."
The owner of Jersey Shore Aerial Advertising said the company was subcontracted to fly the message for "under $1,000," according to the New York Daily News.
The owner of the plane company that flew the banner said the person who purchased the banner does not want to be identified. #nyj
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) November 5, 2014
Vick: "Is this (banner) a distraction? Yeah, but we need to maintain our professionalism" #NYJ pic.twitter.com/l0Qz6ihnK1
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 5, 2014
And there's more coming.
The co-founders of FireJohnIdzik.com -- who said they had nothing to do with the banner -- announced they have raised enough money for three billboards near MetLife Stadium.
to the guys who sent that plane out… PLEASE get in touch with us!!!!! #fireidzik
— NYSF Magazine (@NYSFmag) November 5, 2014
We support ANY fans that share our message. No egos here. This is a common goal. Fly that plane, boys!!
— NYSF Magazine (@NYSFmag) November 5, 2014
The website, with the sole mission of forcing Idzik's ouster, will launch one "static" billboard on Route 80 in November. It also purchased space on two rotating digital billboards.
In a statement Tuesday, the site said it would be accepting submissions via social media for the message on its digital billboards.
Occupy Wall Street has jack on the faction out to get Idzik. #Jets #NFL
— Jeff Capellini (@JCapGLJ) November 5, 2014
I apologize to the 2012 season for calling it a circus.
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) November 5, 2014
"Name one facet of his job that he does well," Greg Kohler, one of the website's four co-founders, told 1010 WINS. "When you look at Idzik he's not a good judge of character, not a good evaluator of talent, he can't handle the media, he doesn't hold his people accountable."
Co-founder Jared Koeppel said among Idzik's sins is the inability to draft young men who can play football, 1010 WINS' John Montone reported.
"There's like 30 new players, or 33 new players on the 53-man roster that are his guys and I can maybe count two or three that are actually productive," Koeppel said. "I don't think Woody Johnson's paying this guy to learn on the job, this isn't an internship."
It's been a rough stretch for the Jets GM. After leaving millions in cap space on the table, Idzik didn't win over many fans during last Monday's awkward midseason press conference. Then came the website. On Sunday, the Jets lost their eighth straight game, falling to 1-8 on the season in Kansas City.
Rex: "I will never, ever say that the fans don't have a right to do what they want." #NYJ
— Chris Lopresti (@CLoprestiWFAN) November 5, 2014
Rex says he looked up in the sky when he first saw the plane and said, "Aww, man." Says Idzik is "tough"
— Dennis Waszak Jr. (@DWAZ73) November 5, 2014
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