As the Jets convened yesterday for their annual highlight film unveiling in Manhattan there was only one subject on the minds of those in attendance: What’s going to happen with the team in the wake of team owner Leon Hess’ death earlier this month?
Because he’s the president of the team and has been Hess’ right-hand man for years, Steve Gutman is officially the man who can provide the answers. The question, as always, is this: How much [if anything] is he willing to divulge?
And so, as a number of reporters circled Gutman for an impromptu interview before the highlight tape of the ’98 season rolled, thus began an amusing game of evasive cat and mouse.
“I have an idea of what you’re interested in and it’s certainly natural; there have been a number of expressions of interest in the club in recent days,” Gutman began, providing a teasing hint that he might actually lend some insight into the process that’s taking place.
This is when the spin cycle began.
“I just want to report that we’re focused on business as usual,” Gutman said. “I have no comment to make whatsoever in regard to the sale of the team.”
Asked if a published report stating that the team will hire an investment bank to mull bids on the team and handle the sale, Gutman revealed, “I read the report and I have nothing for you on that subject. Nothing.”
Asked if the report was inaccurate, Gutman revealed, “I have nothing for you.”
According to a source familiar with the situation, though, the team is indeed closing in on hiring a firm to handle the process and the transaction and an announcement could come as soon as the upcoming minicamp next week.
Asked if as numerous NFL sources have confirmed Hess’ will states that the team definitely must be sold upon his death, Gutman revealed, “I don’t have nothing for you on that subject at all.”
Asked if there have already been expressions of interest from potential buyers of the team, Gutman revealed, “I have nothing to report on that subject at all.”
Asked, regardless of what happens with the imminent change of ownership, if Bill Parcells will remain the football boss, Gutman said, “It’s business as usual. I don’t know how to answer that question. Bill Parcells it the head coach and chief football operations officer. He’s running the football team. This is his football team. How would anybody even contemplate such a question?”
Asked why it was necessary for such a degree of secrecy in this matter, Gutman said this with a straight face: “I don’t think you’re dealing in a degree of secrecy. You’re dealing in a sequence of events which have to occur and you’re going to have to be satisfied that events take place before there’s news. If there’s no news, there’s no news.”
Finally, as if to tug one iota of truthful information out of him, Gutman was asked what he had for lunch yesterday.
“I had a marvelous rare tuna on crisp Japanese crumbs and I recommend it highly,” he said. “It was excellent. It was rare, just like Bill.” *The 25-minute highlight film, titled, “A Team To Be Proud Of,” and produced by Ray Didinger for NFL Films, provided a touching tribute to Leon Hess, who died May 7 at age 85. It showed Bill Parcells announcing that he would be “honored” to present Hess with the game ball after the Jets clinched the AFC East title in Buffalo. It also featured the Jets’ five Pro Bowl players, the AFC Championship Game loss in Denver and the wildcard win over Jacksonville among many other moments.
