HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Feb. 7, 2006) -- New York Jets general manager Terry Bradway stepped down in a surprising move, and will stay with the team as a consultant.
Assistant general manager Mike Tannenbaum takes over for Bradway.
It was Tannenbaum who pushed for the Jets to hire Eric Mangini as coach last month, and the two are close friends. It is believed he urged Bradway to make the decision to hire the 35-year-old coach.
Bradway has taken his share of criticism since becoming GM in 2001, most recently when he let Herman Edwards go to the Chiefs in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Only one of the players he drafted has gone to the Pro Bowl -- linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who was picked late as an injury substitute.
"Mike Tannenbaum is right for the job because the job of general manager has broadened, becoming more complex," owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. "Mike and coach Eric Mangini begin a new era in Jets history. Theirs is a natural partnership. To take us to the next level, Mike and Eric will establish a culture of accountability that permeates the entire organization."
Tannenbaum, 36, is entering his ninth season with the Jets, and has served various posts with the team. He and Mangini first met in Cleveland and also were with the Jets in 1997, and their friendship grew from there. Mangini was Patriots defensive coordinator before coming to New York.
"Mike and I have been close friends for 11 years," Mangini said. "I have tremendous respect for his knowledge, his leadership abilities, and his character and together we will eagerly embrace the challenge of building a championship team."
As assistant GM, Tannenbaum's biggest responsibility was as the team's salary-cap expert.
"I'm humbled by this opportunity and feel fortunate that ownership has shown confidence in me to build this team both for the short and long term," Tannenbaum said in a statement.
