New York Jets legend Joe Namath is “excited” about new general manager Joe Douglas taking over and moving the organization forward.
If Joe Namath’s excitement equals the reality of what’s to come, the New York Jets are suddenly sitting very pretty.
Namath revealed his “excitement” in regards to the newest Jets boss, Joe Douglas, while on ESPN’s “Flight Deck” podcast with Rich Cimini.
Check out my interview with @RealJoeNamath. Joe opens up on current state of the #Jets, Super Bowl 3, his battle with alcohol, his meeting with Elvis Presley, his favorite leading ladies and other nuggets from an extraordinary life. https://t.co/avKsrZ87Yo
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) June 10, 2019
“I’m excited about it,” Namath said. “I know — I believe — he has the experience (and) the personality in dealing with the players, which are an interesting breed of guys. I believe he has the mentality to deal with them in one-on-one situations. He’s going to do a good job.”
Namath also likes coach Adam Gase.
“I think he’s terrific,” he said in regards to the Jets sideline boss.
Namath, 76, remains, by far, the organization’s greatest living legend. Leading the franchise to its only Super Bowl (50 years ago), it’s Namath and everybody else.
New York made the Douglas hire official this past weekend, and on Tuesday, will officially introduce the newest general manager. He and Gase are familiar with one another, having both connected while in Chicago with the Bears.
The firing of Mike Maccagnan that had everybody in a rage (for its interesting timing) opened the door for such a move. Of course, knowing Namath, he probably shared the same sentiment towards Mikey Mac when he was hired during the offseason of 2015.
Nevertheless, he did share his surprise when the Jets fired Maccagnan, via Brian Costello of the New York Post.
“Only the timing of it [surprised me],” Namath said Tuesday. “It wouldn’t have surprised me if it happened last year or if it happened three or four months ago. I know changes are constant if you don’t win.
“For years, I’ve wondered why the talent we get in here isn’t a little bit better. Who’s evaluating these people?”
Whether he turns out as correct or not on Douglas’s future isn’t the point. Remember, this is Joe Namath, the man whose positivity changed the landscape of a professional sports league half a century ago.
Nobody should expect anything different.