Woody Johnson's Comments Reveal Structural Damage to New York Jets

Watching the New York Jets soap opera unfold is like watching parents sit idly by as their children run screaming through a local coffee shop. And as usual, those children get a little spoiled when their parents refuse to reprimand them. 

The only difference is, some people are clamoring for the noise to stop while others are relishing the drama.

The stars of the soap opera: owner Woody Johnson, head coach Rex Ryan, wide receiver Santonio Holmes and quarterback Mark Sanchez. Playing supporting roles are third-string quarterback Greg McElroy, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and someone only known as "unnamed sources."

Johnson is giving Holmes a "fresh start" according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Furthermore, Johnson seems less than willing to make the changes necessary to repair the rift in the locker room according to Ben Shpigel of The New York Times.

Johnson expressed concern over the rift between Santonio Holmes and Mark Sanchez, but thought it could be repaired.

"Would you love to have total harmony? Maybe," said Johnson. "But maybe it’s good to have a little disharmony also."

This contrasts running back LaDainian Tomlinson's sentiments of earlier this week, according to CBS Sports, saying:

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"I would really have to sit down with them and see if they can co-exist, honestly.  I mean that is a decision that I really have to make.  And if I really feel like they can’t, then you have to make a move."

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It's about more than just Sanchez and Holmes, though. It's just like any work environment: The bickering spills out to the rest of the employees, who are ultimately divided into two groups that support either one player or the other. 

But it's clearly a team-wide problem when one player after another is coming out to say one thing or another. Tomlinson's words supported that.

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"You know it was at the point where I think the players could no longer do anything about it," he said according to CBS Sports. "There was nothing that the players could do. So when it gets to that point there are certain changes that need to happen."

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When the players can't do anything about it, it's on the coaches to fix it. The only problem is, the mentality of the locker room and the coaching staff harvest such behavior.

On that note, those difficult decisions which LT made reference to may also include the future of Rex Ryan. He allows the players to be themselves, which makes him a favorite among the players in the league, but at what price? At the price of authority and control over his own team?

And it is for that very reason that the Jets need to make the move.

Retaining Holmes may send the wrong message to the team: The type of behavior he portrayed during the season will be tolerated as long as the right name is on the jersey. It sets the precedent and creates a complete lack of control over the players.

The chemistry between Holmes and Sanchez is irreparable. Sanchez may never trust Holmes again.

Holmes has been Holmes since he entered the league: "C" patch or none, he isn't changing anytime soon.

He quit on his team, and has continually thrown his quarterback under the bus to the media.

By all accounts, it would be foolish for the Jets to retain him. The fact that it seems they will is indicative of structural damage that won't be repaired anytime soon.

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