New York Jets: Woody Johnson out of touch says former assistant

Former assistant Pepper Johnson had a lot to say about New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and others in an explosive Q and A.

Pepper Johnson has a lot of history in New York. He spent time as a player with both the Giants as well as the New York Jets, both with Bill Parcells. He also coached here on the staff of Todd Bowles.

Following the 2016 season Bowles relieved Johnson of his duties and he hasn’t coached with a team since.

Dom Cosentino of Deadspin sat down with Johnson for an interview and he had a lot to say about his time with the Jets, and some specific members of the organization.

Before he headed to the UK to work for our current administration, fans had a lot to say about owner Woody Johnson. Many questioned his real understanding of his job and how he ran the football team, hoping he would take his hands off.

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To hear Pepper tell it, Woody wasn’t really “involved” with the team very much at all.

"…when I got injured in ‘97, when I woke up from my surgery, Leon Hess was in my room. … That man cared enough to be in my room when I woke up I saw him before my mother, I saw him before at that time my fiancee."

"I don’t think Woody would have been in my room. Now, if we get to the owners from when I started coaching, [Patriots owner Robert] Kraft would have been in my room, simply because of our relationship. But the whole reason I’m telling you this story is because Woody, my whole two years there, didn’t know my name. He did not know my name. When he shook my hand, he said, ‘Hey.’ One time, we were on the field, and he said, ‘Hey, coach.’ I’m quite sure he didn’t know me from one of the players."

Pepper went on to say that he stuck around for the 1998 season because of what Leon Hess did.

It’s an interesting distinction that probably doesn’t surprise many Jets fans. Most fans already question what Woody was doing before he left and turned the team over to his brother.

Fans were excited across the board when Christopher Johnson took over and he has already made a difference. His sticking with his team through the Anthem situation told the players all they needed to know about their boss.

Johnson makes a great point about how what the owner does can trickle down through the rest of the organization.

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We all like to feel as if we are important members of our organization. Be it an office, a school, a corporation or a football team, we all want to be appreciated. That starts at the top.

In the article, Pepper talks about Woody coming around because he thinks that what he is supposed to do. The fact that he doesn’t know who anyone is shows that he doesn’t care.

Brother Christopher seems to be much more in tune with his players and his coaches which only bodes well for the organization going forward.

Cosentino does a great interview, as Pepper has some things to say about coach Bowles as well. Check it out.

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