Todd Bowles should have been relieved of his duties Monday morning.
But it will not happen early January.
However, according to some sources, Bowles already has been told that he won’t be back in 2019.
The Jets reportedly want to make it a soft exit for the four-year head coach who will enter Week 13 with an overall 23-37 career mark.
Until then, Bowles will endure four more weeks of watching his team probably be exposed again by Buffalo, Houston, Green Bay, and New England.
Owner Christopher Johnson wanted to give Bowles one final shot over the final five games to show that his team has some life left.
A competitive first half against New England in an eventual 27-13 defeat temporarily swung the pendulum back in Bowles’ favor.
The fourth quarter collapse against Tennessee Sunday that saw a 16-0 lead eventually result in a 26-22 loss should have firmly swung it back in the opposite direction.
Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates is under fire for his miniscule results over the past month, and defensive coordinator Kacy Rodgers battled an undefined illness through mid-October. Rodgers served a defensive line coach in Dallas and Miami.
Even though their units have mightily struggled, Johnson could have reached out to either one for the final month.
The Jets’ defensive unit hasn’t played to its potential all season, as they had their first turnover in five games against the Titans. Ironically, it was much-maligned cornerback Trumaine Johnson returning an interception for a touchdown.
I actually thought Bowles had a chance of coming back next season until the Jets’ latest debacle against Tennessee.
The Jets had plenty of chances to put the Titans away, but they allowed them to stay close with Jason Myers’ five field goals and zero touchdowns.
Like they have countless times in the Bowles’ reign, the Jets couldn’t finish.
Their defensive effort was a disgrace in Tennessee’s final scoring drive, committing four penalties and watching Tennessee convert their lone third down of the game.
Late touchdowns allowed, dumb and numerous penalties, lack of effort.
The script hasn’t changed. The players do love their coach, but they don’t play for him, especially on defense in crunch time.
Since his 10-6 rookie season when he captured the attention of everyone, Bowles’ record is 13-31.
The Jets’ problems are bigger than Bowles and they need plenty of attention in the offseason, but the head coach hasn’t done his part.
Green Bay did the right thing by letting Mike McCarthy go after a humiliating loss to Arizona. Joe Philbin, who briefly coached the Dolphins, was there to take the reins.
The Jets should have done their part and save Bowles the misery of the final month.
Bowles is a nice man, and unfortunately he will fall under the old adage.
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