The New York Jets fired coach Eric Mangini on Monday. The coach once called Man-Genius now being called Man-Jobless was let go one day after the Jets failed to make the playoffs in the AFC after an 8-3 start.

During a press conference, Jets owner Woody Johnson called the move a judgment call.

"I don't think it was one thing," Johnson said. "We had to go in a different direction. There's nothing specific. It's just a call we made. Hopefully, it's correct."

New York was just 1-4 in their final five games, losing to Denver, San Francisco, Seattle and Miami and barely beating Buffalo. They did not reach the postseason for the second straight year despite an offseason spending spree that included a trade for Favre after his retirement and return at Green Bay.

Mangini went 23-26 in three seasons, which included a wild card playoff loss to the Patriots in his first season in which the Jets were one of the surprise teams in the league, going 10-6.

"It's not a decision we reached yesterday or 10 minutes ago," Johnson said. "This is a decision that was basically running through the season. We don't take this decision lightly. We respect Eric for what he's done, but we want to build on the successful foundation that he's laid."

It is pretty clear that after a collapse like this one, someone has to be accountable. In these types of situations the head coach is usually the first to go.

Before joining the Jets, Mangini served as under Bill Belichick as New England's defensive coordinator for one season. Before that Mangini was the Patriots' defensive backs coach.

He quickly became regarded as one of the game's top young coaching minds.