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Misery loves company, and a whole lot of people in England are about to share the misery of the fans of the New York Jets.
Jets’ owner Woody Johnson has agreed on a £190 million deal ($254m) to buy a 43% stake in Premier League team Crystal Palace from American businessman John Textor. The move was announced by the club on Monday.
The agreement is subject to Premier League approval and Johnson passing the league's Owners and Directors' Test, otherwise known at the Fit and Proper Persons Test. That shouldn’t be too much of an issue for Johnson who was an Ambassador to the UK under President Donald Trump in his first term.
"Whilst the completion is pending approval from the Premier League and Women's Super League, we do not envisage any issues and look forward to welcoming Woody as a partner and director of the club," Palace added in a statement.
"We would like to go on record to thank John Textor for his contribution over the past four years and wish him every success for the future."
Johnson previously tried to get into the soccer world when made a failed bid to buy Chelsea after previous owner, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, was sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Johnson has previously declared himself to be a Chelsea supporter.
I believe that Johnson’s sports ownership diversification can only mean good things for the Jets and their fans. I have long maintained that Woody Johnson is one of the worst owners, not only in the NFL, but in sports. Members of his organization have made it abundantly clear what they think of him. From dodging the media when things got tough, to the whole Madden rating fiasco, Woody Johnson’s tenure as owner of the Jets is nothing but an abject failure.
Woody’s problem isn’t that he is cheap, in fact that is one of the few good things I have to say about him. Woody doesn’t mind spending on players. Woody’s issue is he is far too involved with football decisions when he has no clue what he is doing. Giving Woody Johnson another high-profile, headline-grabbing organization to focus his attention on might just give the Jets the break from his terrible micro-managing that they need to finally turn this organization around.
Woody spends far too much time in the Jets’ offices despite the fact that he is the head of a multi-billion dollar organization. Having someone around who doesn’t know what he is doing, but holds all the power has, in my opinion, been the biggest factor in the Jets 14-year playoff drought.
Let Woody go to the U.K. and ruin another organization based on video game ratings and headline battles. Leave the Jets to people that actually know football. Hopefully the Jets already have those people in place.
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Dr Rajpal Brar backs English midfielder to clear his medical at Tottenham
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Two-time Stanley Cup champion announces retirement
13-year veteran and two-time Stanley Cup champion Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement from the NHL via his Instagram. Johnson’s last professional game will be marked on Dec. 12 when the Boston Bruins faced the Seattle Kraken. It’s fitting that Johnson’s last game came against the Kraken. A native of Spokane, Washington, Johnson’s professional career began with humble beginnings, signing as an undrafted free agent with the Tampa Bay Lightning from the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs. Joining an organization that’s had overwhelming success with undersized and undrafted players in the past, Johnson excelled immediately in the Lightning organization. During his first season, he scored 31 goals and 68 points in 75 games for their AHL affiliate at the time, the Norfolk Admirals. He would only spend one more season primarily playing in the AHL. Finally earning his chance at full-time duties at the NHL level, Johnson impressed greatly during his rookie campaign, scoring 24 goals and 50 points in 82 contests during the 2013-14 season, finishing third in Calder Trophy voting. Capitalizing on his breakout year, Johnson and the Bolts agreed to a three-year, $10M contract the following offseason. Despite a few battles with injuries, Johnson sustained his quality two-way efforts throughout that deal, scoring 62 goals and 155 points in 212 games, with a few votes for the Selke Trophy along the way. His playoff exploits earned him a spot as a fan-favorite in Tampa Bay, scoring 20 goals and 40 points in 43 games from 2015-16, helping the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup Final in 10 years during the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs. Although he couldn’t help the Lightning get over the hump against a dominant Chicago Blackhawks team, the Lightning were ready to invest in Johnson for the long haul. Johnson eagerly signed a long-term extension with Tampa Bay, securing a seven-year, $35M contract beginning in the 2017-18 season. For a deal that looked like a bargain when it was time, Johnson quickly wore out his welcome with the Lightning. His offensive output cratered, finishing with 72 goals and 150 points in 281 games since signing the contract, as well as 11 goals and 23 points in 69 additional games. Although Johnson helped the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup rings in 2020 and 2021, multiple players had passed him on the team’s depth chart. Needing more salary cap space after the second half of their back-to-back, the Lightning traded Johnson and a 2023 second-round pick to the Blackhawks the following offseason for Brent Seabrook’s contract (which they would later place on LTIR). Playing on a far worse team in Chicago, Johnson’s offensive output continued in the wrong direction, finishing the remaining three years on his contract with 32 goals and 70 points in 149 games. After his contract expired, Johnson needed to convert a professional tryout agreement with the Bruins to secure a spot on an NHL roster. With his name on the Stanley Cup twice, Johnson likely won’t have many regrets about his NHL career. He finished with 193 goals and 433 points in 747 regular-season contests with a +19 rating, 49.4% faceoff percentage, 49.7% CorsiFor% at even strength and 91.7% on-ice save percentage at even strength. In the postseason, and only with Tampa Bay, Johnson concluded his playing days with 32 goals and 65 points in 116 contests with a +7 rating. We at PHR wish Johnson the best in the next phase of his life and career, and we congratulate him on a successful career that includes two Stanley Cup rings.
Steelers' Potential Free Agent Target Justin Simmons Shares Exactly What He's Looking For With Next Team
The Pittsburgh Steelers are back in the media spotlight after a blockbuster trade that sent Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins. In return, the Steelers acquired star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith. While there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the impact Ramsey and Smith could have, Fitzpatrick’s departure leaves a noticeable gap at the safety position. One potential option still available in free agency to fill this gap is veteran safety Justin Simmons. Simmons is known for being a strong leader and playmaker, and he would bring a lot of valuable experience to the Steelers' secondary. Recently, Simmons spoke with the media and opened up about where he currently stands in his career and, more importantly, what he’s looking for in his next team, and these comments may align well with what the Steelers can offer. "I think Atlanta [Falcons] I would still pick 10 out of 10 times if I was in the spot [I was in] last year," Simmons said. "But in terms of where I’m at now, [I’m] being a little bit more picky where we want to go and where we want to call home next … the next two years, a year, whatever it is … but a contender is number one on the list right now." While the exact reason behind the decision to trade Fitzpatrick hasn’t been officially revealed, reports indicate that the Steelers were not actively looking to shop him. However, his performance in recent seasons hasn’t quite matched the high level of play from earlier in his career. Considering that his contract was set to expire after the 2026 season, the Steelers likely felt that this was the right time to make a change and begin reshaping their secondary for the future. Although Fitzpatrick is no longer with the team, the Steelers haven’t held back from bringing in top-tier talent this offseason. It’s clear they’re aiming to do the impossible, trying to stay competitive in the upcoming season while also building for the future. They've made significant additions on both offense and defense, targeting several key areas to strengthen the overall roster. With these recent roster additions and the comments made by Simmons, a potential fit between the two seems more realistic than ever. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has earned praise recently for his open-minded approach to roster building. He’s consistently shown a willingness to explore all available options, by making surprising yet impactful moves that has strengthened the entire team. Simmons could seriously be the next big addition in what’s been a big and bold offseason for Pittsburgh. Simmons would instantly provide valuable veteran leadership to a Steelers secondary that is still developing and gaining experience. His years in the league have made him a reliable and steady presence on the field, something the team could benefit from after recent roster changes. What makes Simmons especially appealing is his versatility; he can perform at a high level in both pass coverage and run defense. That kind of all-around skill set makes him an ideal fit for Pittsburgh’s aggressive defensive style. The Steelers Have A Balanced Roster Overall, the Steelers have done an impressive job this offseason in building a well-balanced and thoughtful roster. Their moves reflect their rebuilding strategy, where they hope to stay competitive right now, as well as continued for the future. The team has brought in a mix of promising young rookies full of potential, paired with seasoned veterans who bring leadership, experience, and the ability to mentor the next generation. It’s a balanced blend of youth and experience that could prove to be a game changing plan. Because of this, the Steelers have become one of the most interesting teams to watch heading into the season, and a lot of people will be keeping a close eye on how this new roster performs on the field.
Seahawks not working on an extension with linebacker
The Seahawks are not engaged in extension talks with fourth-year outside linebacker Boye Mafe, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Mafe, a 2022 second-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He broke out in 2023 with 9.0 sacks and 25 pressures, but could not quite match that pace last seasons under new head coach Mike Macdonald. Mafe still earned a career-high 75.2 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in 2024 with notable improvements in run defense and pass coverage, indicating that he’s trending in the right direction in a contract year. The Seahawks’ signing of DeMarcus Lawrence this offseason will likely eat into Mafe’s snap share, but neither Lawrence nor Uchenna Nwosu are owed guaranteed money past 2025. That could position Mafe to be the undisputed starter in 2026 if he outplays his veteran teammates this season and agrees to stay in Seattle. He could pursue such a contract before the season, but Dugar believes that the two sides will wait until after the season. As a result, 2025 has massive financial implications for Mafe. Edge rushers from the 2021 draft class with comparable statistics cashed in this offseason, including Greg Rousseau ($20M APY) and Dayo Odeyingbo ($16M). Another strong year from Mafe could push him over the $20M per year threshold.
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