West Ham Online

"Free agency started last night and was pretty crazy some huge money being spent. Osweiler getting £18m a year for the Texans, leaving the Broncos without a QB, Giants have spent a fortune on good but not great players, Oliver Vernon has more guaranteed money than JJ Watt. lots more deals but cant be bothered to list them all."

"gaffa, I'll explain the skins schedule next year.... 6 games within the division against the Cowbows, Chiefs, Eagles (H&A) 4 games against the teams in an AFC division, this year the AFC West and the Chiefs, Raiders, Chargers & Broncos (2H, 2A and the division you play is rotated every year) 4 games against the teams in another NFC division, this year the NFC South and the Saints, Bucs, Panthers & Falcons (2H, 2A and again the division is rotated every year) The remaining two games are decided on his well you performed the previous season, so because we finished 1st we have to play the two highest seeds in the NFC which was the Packers & Seahawks (the Saints were no2 were but we're already playing them)"

"I enjoy the NFL but don't really follow any team, what I'd like to know is as there are 16/17 league games before the playoffs how is it decided who plays who as there are 32 teams, so obviously you cannot play everyone as per the premiership. Any simple explanation would be appreciated."

"A few reports in NYC today suggesting that the Jets are 'winding down' their search and that Saleh looks like he'll get the job. You'll probably be hearing me complain a lot more on here, then!"

"Yeah, Rivera is transforming the no-names. Solid, sensible decision-making. It's amazing how that can transform a previously-deranged franchise. That's where the Jets need to get to."

"Hahaha! He's definitely going to chin somebody soon! I like his intensity, don't get me wrong. But I think he's a perfect fit as a DC. I'm not yet sure he's a HC and, even if he is, I'm certainly not sure he's the HC we need. Ryan was an even better DC and he was absolutely clueless about offense. People think it doesn't matter providing you appoint a good OC. But the problems start early - it distorts the draft focus, for example. So Ryan overspent hugely when he (and the GM) traded up to take Mark Sanchez with the #5 pick in 2009. It meant we wasted other key picks on a below-average QB who was only useful at handing off to a good half-back (partly because Ryan didn't know how to nurture what talent Sanchez did have, so the kid stood still for several years). All these little details matter. If the Jets had an already established starting QB and a steady looking O-line, I'd say Saleh would be a decent risk. But our problems are offensive. He's unlikely to be the solution to that."

"fans aren't always right, but in my mob's case, the fans were perfectly correct in knowing bruce allen was a toxic presence and had to go. the biggest problem a lot of these franchises have is either hiring a bad GM like allen/wiseman or a meddling owner who interferes in football decisions like snyder/jones. luckily snyder listened to joe gibbs and spoke to rivera, and let him run the show. it's still only a year, so nothing's guaranteed but the atmosphere now is reminiscent of our great days in the 80s"

"no, keep ranting. I wouldn't want him if I was a jets fan. he seems far too intense for me and I'd imagine he'd clash with certain players, especially the more laid back characters. maybe the intensity is just for show, but he looks on the verge of upping someone whenever the camera goes on him :.)"

"The next head coach of the Jets HAS to have a ""day one"" plan to sort out the QB situation and start scoring points. He can't, in my view, be a coach who has to learn that side of the game. I'll stop ranting now!"

"I like Saleh as a person, but I'll be underwhelmed if the Jets appoint him. Because we've had several Saleh's in recent years. He's the guy I was referring to when I said the Jets could over-reach an appoint somebody just because they are available on a particular day. He'd improve our defense, no doubt. And I like good defense. But Rex Ryan was a brilliant defensive mind - and he took us backwards after a couple of promising seasons because he didn't have a clue about offense. My worry is that Saleh looks like the same sort of guy - and at a time when our QB/skills positions conundrum is the biggest issue to resolve."

"TM - yeah, I have two concerns about Saleh. He's obviously a good DC but... a) The Jets' biggest problems are on the offensive side of the ball. Whether to keep Darnold, how to develop him if you do keep him, finding some effective skills position players (HB, WR etc) and the basic challenge of not having scored anywhere near enough points to win games in the past five years. b) Saleh looks like a very good motivator and sideline guy on defense. But that's just it: his strength seems to be that he'd the vocal, shouty guy on the sidelines who gets on with his defensive players and is good at game-day motivation. We not only need more than that, but we've also had those very coaches several times in recent history and they did not perform the sort of franchise transformation that is now necessary. So Rex Ryan, Mangina and Todd Bowles were those sorts of coaches (Bowles a little quieter). You have to go way back to Bill Parcells in the late 1990s before you find a Jets appointment that bucked that trend in terms of impact across the franchise. The Idiot Gase was an experiment with an offensive ""mind"" (ahem!) which should never have happened. But I firmly believe we still need to lead with an offensive coach at this point. We need to get back to basics and learn how to put points on the board, which we have failed to do for many seasons now - even when our D-line has performed well (it didn't this year). For that reason, I'd be more interested in Bieniemy, Pederson or Daboll. Saleh would probably last two or three years in New York, would no doubt use up key top draft picks (we have many in the next two years) on (albeit potentially good) defensive players - at a point when the primary focus should be offense. Saleh is no doubt a fine DC. He may even become a fine HC. But I'm not sure he's the HC we need or want. We have many more problems on the side of the team that he has never been responsible for."

"SB, I've heard it's Saleh's job to lose/turn down. All depends whether the clowns in charge convinced him they know what they're doing. as I said yesterday, Bieniemy will be making a mistake going to a franchise who weren't even considering him before the Watson tantrum"

Eagles are reportedly after Lincoln Riley which has interesting repercussions for Wentz given Riley was Hurts' coach at college. Riley is on a higher salary at Oklahoma than Pederson was on at the Eagles. Apparently though he only will leave for Dallas so he can fuck off.

"Another seemingly well-informed rumour is that Bieniemy may well burn his bridges in New York if he interviews for the Texans. It won't be Bieniemy's fault, but it looks like that would slow down the Jets' appointment process (and they fear losing out on other strong candidates), so they might cut him loose. I think they are trying to shove Bieniemy along, so that he's available for second round interviews at the same time as Saleh etc. But the problem is that the Chiefs (and Daboll at the Bills) are still involved in the play-offs. It all gets a bit mad at this time of year, with teams scrapping over potential HCs while the season is still going on. At this rate, I can see the Jets fecking up and over-reaching for somebody just because they are available on a particular date."

"Word from those with genuine insight within the Jets (I know, an oxymoron if ever there was one!), say that Joe Douglas has narrowed the HC options down to one of five likely candidates... 1. Doug Pederson (formerly of the Eagles) 2. Brian Daboll (OC at Bills) 3. Rob Saleh (DC at 49ers) 4. Eric Bieniemy (OC at Chiefs) 5. Arthur Smith (OC at Titans) It had been thought that we were down to four strong interviewees, but then the shitstorm in Philly took place...and Douglas and Pederson are good mates... Informed rumour has it that Daboll and Saleh are viewed as strong candidates. To be honest, that's a pretty strong list for a team like the Jets. Our history over the last 20 years does not really merit that sort of list."

Yep. The cap next year is a total mess. The drafting has been poor. They asked Doug to tank the Washington game for the 6th pick on the understanding he would be there next year to benefit from it. They tinkered with his coaching and gave him less autonomy than a HC with his record warranted. They gave out a $32 million per year to a young QB and then promptly used a second round pick to draft another QB. The Eagles fans call him Little Finger with good reason.

Fecking Texans: get your hands off our man!

*but still sacked him*

"hermit, have a look at your cap situation and how badly he's mismanaged things. whoever comes in will find it difficult in the short term, and as scandrick said on a show yesterday, roseman and the owner wouldn't have wanted to win that washington game whatever pederson did better still sacked him"

"Howie is definitely the main problem but as you said, Laurie loves him. Not great for a franchise when that happens. The GM needs to be under scrutiny, he can't be untouchable"

"the biggest problem in philadelphia is howie roseman, who is useless at evaluating players and clearly has the ear of the players if he's prepared to sacrifice a superbowl winning coach in favour of a badly performing quarterback. it's the tail wagging the dog when average players like that ginger cսnt are calling the shots"

"Bieniemy has allegedly (ALLEGEDLY) now been approached by the Texans in an attempt to heal the rift with Watson. before the tantrum/row, it was rumoured that Eric was not even considered as a candidate. if I was him, I'd steer clear of that type of place and go where I was wanted"

"As a Jets fan, I shouldn't say this: but the situation/opportunity at the Chargers might be better for Pederson in the short-term. The Jets is a complete re-build job: we have the worst roster I have ever seen in the NFL, a new (but seemingly OK) GM, and owners who have underperformed for 20 years. Pederson has probably earned the right to go somewhere where they have an existing strong platform to build from. Somebody like Bieniemy would also have less pressure than Pederson on his shoulders in New York. Our fans are fierce/vocal and loyal (like West Ham's) and would probably expect a little too much, too soon from a Super Bowl winning coach. I could see it going wrong due to impatience. But if Pederson wants to drop into our lap, so be it."

"Yeah, can't believe the Eagles have treated a Super Bowl winning coach so badly - pretty much from the day after he won the title. Last year they fecked Pederson around by removing his OC, which hindered him and this year he clearly felt the pinch. The situation with Wentz, whatever has gone on there, also did not help. I'm sure he's not everybody's cup of tea - and he has to take at least some responsibility for what happened when the team imploded - but he seems to be more sinned against than sinning. He's now the firm favourite to take over at the Jets. It looked like we were lining up Bieniemy (who I think I'd still prefer, because the expectations will be a little more realistic). But if Pederson drops into our lap, then I won't complain - providing he has genuinely learnt some lessons from this year's debacle. Mind you, if you were a former Super Bowl winning head coach who had been stitched-up by your franchise in the three years since winning, I'm not sure I'd head to the Jets for some respite and a chance to relaunch. Our owners are truly dreadful and lack ambition. He could be walking into a repeat."

"Shocking news from Philadelphia. I think the Jets might have their next Head Coach now. Pederson won a Super Bowl 3 years ago, got in the playoffs last year with the team who was 32nd for injuries; 1st being the least injured. Got thanked last year by having his OC removed against his wishes. Then he gets sacked after one bad year. The ownership did the dirty on him."

"Yeah, Smith looks an excellent prospect doesn't he? Physically speaking, you would think he'd get dominated by aggressive corners and safeties. But his elusiveness is top-notch and he has excellent hands. Also reads situations well, so he's always able to get open that half-yard before his coverage shuts him down. Good player. The Jets might take him with pick #2, although I think it's more likely we'll take either Sewell - who is the best lineman in the draft and a nailed-on starter - or a QB if the franchise decides to move on from Darnold. It's good to have the options, though. Of all the players in this year's draft, Sewell looks the most 'NFL ready'. Even more than Lawrence. He plays in an unglamorous position, so the Jets' notoriously rowdy fans at the draft (should it go ahead in public) will be dismissive. But he's a man-mountain at tackle and already good enough to start left or right side. Street smart guy, too, which I like. Whisper it to the Jags fans creaming themselves over Lawrence, but Sewell might even be the best player in the draft... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcaDs-cuMco"