Sports
Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey bring the Jets hope — if Woody Johnson stays out of their way
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Woody Johnson walked along the front of the New York Jets’ media conference room — bigger than the usual one, to accommodate a bigger crowd — and kept stopping to chat with some in attendance. He approached a group of photographers and asked what they thought about the team hiring Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. He spotted some former Jets, teammates of Glenn from the ’90s, and shook their hands. When Johnson finished chatting with the media after the news conference, he lingered as Glenn was surrounded by a media horde. He bounced around the room, giddy.
Johnson hasn’t been part of a coach introduction in a while — not since 2015, when Todd Bowles was hired as the new head coach and Mike Maccagnan the GM — so maybe there was some pent up jubilance. He was in the United Kingdom when the Jets landed their last two coaches (Robert Saleh and Adam Gase) and general manager (Joe Douglas). All of them failed. But he’s convinced Glenn, a veteran Jets cornerback when Johnson bought the team in 2000, and Mougey are the tandem to pull his franchise back into the playoffs.
“Did you see the two guys we just introduced? That’s why,” Johnson said. “It starts from that. If you want to have sustained success you have to have the right people.”
Glenn said all the right things. Mougey has the experience, and references, to suggest he can thrive in his first stab as a general manager. They both have a plan to get the Jets back to the postseason, presented individually over multiple three-hour interviews that were part of the Jets’ wide-ranging search process. The team interviewed more than 30 general managers and head coaches, and landed on this duo.
But the only shot the Jets really have at success starts at the top: If Johnson doesn’t learn the right lessons from the failures of the Saleh-Douglas era, then the Jets will maintain their place in the NFL’s dumpster, reserved for teams that find more dysfunction than function.
“Absolutely. I have to look in the mirror. I have to be a better owner,” Johnson said, the most self-reflective statement he’s ever made as the Jets owner. “I’m trying to be better. And I do self scout, and a lot of people scout for me. … I think I did it today by introducing the two leaders of this team, the second is to — I’ve got to have patience. I’ve got to let them evolve in these positions, which I think they will. I think it’ll be quick, but I think they’ll evolve.”
GO DEEPER
The Jets are Aaron Glenn’s show now
Johnson has been prone to overzealous, impatient decision-making in recent years, demanding results while often skipping the process that leads to them. He was prone to micromanagement, pushing the GM to make moves for players who ultimately weren’t great fits, dictating changes to the day-to-day schedule, listening too much to media and social media and even, at times, meddling in lineup decisions, as he did in forcing interim coach Jeff Ulbrich to bench safety Tony Adams in 2024. Johnson’s impatience led to an impromptu firing of Saleh after a 2-3 start, which spectacularly backfired as the Jets lost nine of their final 12 games to finish 5-12 in a season that started, in Johnson’s eyes, with Super Bowl aspirations.
“You don’t believe those reports, do you? There was a lot of exaggeration, hyperbole. There really was,” Johnson said. “And you really have to take all that stuff with a grain of salt, because you don’t know how much — nobody knows how involved I was. Yes, I want Aaron Glenn to coach the team and I want the general manager to manage the assets and players and I’ll take an owner’s position. That’s what I’d like to do.”
That Johnson is saying these things is certainly a good sign, as was the team’s interview and hiring process, a thorough one guided by former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, representing The 33rd Team. Johnson, vice chairman Christopher Johnson and team president Hymie Elhai were in on every interview. During those interviews, Johnson addressed his reputation.
“Getting to know Mr. Johnson and Christopher throughout this process, it’s clear that the Jets ownership is fiercely competitive, cares deeply about the players and the fans, and is committed to winning,” Mougey said. “I felt that in the interview process each time we met.”
Clearly, Glenn and Mougey were comfortable with what they were told. Of note, both will report directly to Johnson — a change from when Saleh reported to Douglas, who reported to Johnson.
“We had questions for each other,” Glenn said of Johnson. “I was here when Woody bought the team. My conversations with him back then were really, really positive. Coming back here on my second interview and sitting and talking with him, there’s no better person to work for when they sit there and talk, and strategize about having a winning commitment. He has that. That’s all I need to know. I look forward to it. I trust him with everything I have. I look forward to working with him.”
Maybe Johnson will actually give Mougey and Glenn the freedom to build their roster as they see fit. If he was enacting his will, he might force them to move on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers after the 41-year-old spent the second half of the season taking some subtle (and some not-so-subtle) potshots at the Jets owner. But Johnson, he said, is leaving that up to his coach and general manager.
“They’ve got to take a look at how the team’s composed and what they think they need and put all that together,” Johnson said. “No, I’m not going to voice my opinion. That’s up to them.”
Again, the words are promising. The Jets have the seventh pick in the draft and, depending on how they handle the Rodgers and Davante Adams contract situations (trade, release or restructure), could have some cap space to work with this offseason. Mougey and Glenn are inheriting a roster with a core of intriguing talent — Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner, Quincy Williams, Will McDonald, Jermaine Johnson and an improving offensive line, in particular — with some obvious holes. There is a path to the Jets being competitive right away.
“I’m not going to tell you how many games we’re going to win,” Johnson said. “We’ll put the team together and maybe we’ll be in a better position. But they’re going to put a team together.” In his opening statement for the news conference, Johnson lauded Mougey’s ability to pick players both in college and on the pro personnel side, and was impressed with his emphasis on the importance of the relationship between the GM and the head coach.
At one point, Glenn turned to Mougey and said: “Darren, bro, we are in this thing together … we are going to do some magical things here.”
Even more important: The relationships between the owner and the coach, and the owner and the general manager. Maybe Johnson will stay true to his words and let Mougey and Glenn build out the team this offseason. But what happens if the Jets start slow? What if they lose a few games in a row at a key juncture? What if they miss the playoffs again?
Only Johnson knows if he will, or can, stay the course.
“Strap on your seatbelts,” he said. “It’s going to be really, really fun going forward. I hope. I expect.”
(Photo: Ed Mulholland / Getty Images)
Sports
Deputies shatter Tiger Woods’ back windshield after he requests to keep prized possession, bodycam shows
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When Tiger Woods crashed his car last Friday, arguably his most prized possession was with him in the trunk: his golf clubs.
Woods’ 2025 Range Rover turned onto its driver’s side in the crash and nearly two hours later, the 15-time major champion was arrested for driving under the influence.
Authorities arrived on the scene and talked with Woods’ manager, Rob McNamara, who said the clubs were extremely important.
Golfer Tiger Woods checks his cellphone while sitting in an unmarked police vehicle after a car crash in Jupiter Island, Florida, on March 27, 2026. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
“I understand,” a deputy said, as bodycam footage revealed. “Worth more than my house.”
“The putter is worth more than all of our houses,” McNamara replied.
Woods later said that the “sticks” were the only thing he needed, especially the putter, which he “won 14 majors” with. Woods used another putter for the 1997 Masters, his first major victory, which he won by 12 strokes.
TIGER WOODS’ TEAMMATE CALLS GOLFER’S DUI ARREST ‘VERY DISTURBING’
The deputy on camera told a tow employee that there was “expensive s—” in the trunk from a “high-profile person” that needed to be extracted from the vehicle. However, as a result of the crash, the trunk was unable to be opened. So, a member of a local fire department shattered the back windshield, and authorities slipped the clubs through the windshield and gave them to McNamara, keeping them safe and sound.
The clubs were in a Monster Energy branded bag, and his driver was covered with Woods’ notorious tiger cover head.
Tiger Woods’ clubs were extracted from his car after officers broke his back windshield. (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
TIGER WOODS UTTERS SARCASTIC 3-WORD REMARK AFTER GETTING PLACED IN BACK OF COP CAR DURING DUI ARREST
The deputy found one of Woods’ Sun Day Red shirts, which he joked was more than one of his paychecks.
Woods was placed in the vehicle after failing a field sobriety test, taken after he showed “signs of impairment” and was “lethargic.” He blew “triple-zeroes” in a breathalyzer, but after he failed to submit a urine test, he was hit with another charge. Officers found two pills that were later identified as hydrocodone, a prescription opioid used for pain relief.
Woods previously told law enforcement prior to the field sobriety tests that he underwent seven back surgeries and “over 20 operations on his leg.” He told law enforcement that “I take a few” prescription medications. In 2021, he got into a wreck that resulted in serious leg injuries that kept him off the golf course for the entire year.
Woods told officers he was “hoping to” play in the Masters, but in a statement earlier this week, Woods said he would pause his quest to get back on the golf course to “seek treatment.”
A deputy joked that Woods’ clubs were “worth more than my house.” (Martin County Sheriff’s Office)
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“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today. I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” Woods said in a statement Tuesday posted to social media.
“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”
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Sports
Luka Doncic’s hamstring injury will test Lakers’ depth on eve of NBA playoffs
OKLAHOMA CITY — In the aftermath of their worst loss of the season, few Lakers players or coaches had spoken to Luka Doncic after he limped off the court in the third quarter Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Austin Reaves didn’t know the extent of Doncic’s hamstring injury, but he knew how the Lakers superstar would approach the latest hurdle in this winding season.
“He’s a competitor,” Reaves said of Doncic, “so he’ll do all he can do to put himself in a position to come back when he can.”
Doncic will undergo an MRI on Friday on the left hamstring injury he suffered in a 43-point loss to the Thunder. He already missed four games before the All-Star break with the same injury, but the Lakers withheld expectations on his status for the final five regular-season games.
After Sunday’s game in Dallas, the Lakers face the Thunder at home Tuesday, play consecutive games at Golden State on Thursday and against Phoenix at home Friday and finish the regular season April 12 against Utah.
Doncic’s injury left the Lakers backcourt extra shorthanded Thursday as Marcus Smart missed his sixth consecutive game Thursday. The veteran guard could return against Dallas, coach JJ Redick said. He has been day-to-day since injuring his right ankle against Orlando on March 21.
If Smart is unable to return in Doncic’s absence, the Lakers could shift even more ball-handling responsibility to Reaves and LeBron James while relying on Bronny James as an additional guard off the bench. The 21-year-old James has played in five consecutive games, tying his longest stretch of his second pro season.
The Lakers (50-27) are already guaranteed a top-six seed in the Western Conference, but are still jostling for seeding. They have a one-game lead for the No. 3 seed over No. 4 Denver, which is on a seven-game winning streak.
Approaching the end of the regular season, the Lakers looked at Thursday’s game against the defending NBA champions as a test, forward Jake LaRavia said. They were 15-2 in March with 13 wins in their last 14 games. The Lakers were playing like an evolved form of the team that lost by 29 to the Thunder in Oklahoma City in November.
But like that first rout, Thursday’s featured a flurry of Lakers turnovers, suffocating Oklahoma City ball pressure and an efficient masterclass from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“This close to the end of the season, we would’ve wanted it not to go that way,” said LaRavia, who had six points and a team-high eight rebounds Thursday. “It was pretty much the same story, I feel like, the first time we played here this year.”
The Lakers built much of their March success on successful revenge performances. They bounced back after previous losses to the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic. They lost by seven to the Nuggets on March 5 then responded with nine consecutive wins, their longest winning streak of the season, including an overtime thriller against Denver that clinched the head-to-head tiebreaker that could factor into the tight standings.
Redick praised his team’s “playoff mentality” during the run. It was also when the team was largely its healthiest.
Doncic had played all but one game since the All-Star break. Reaves, who missed six weeks with a calf injury this season, has started in 22 consecutive games. When James returned from an elbow injury, the star trio found a clear hierarchy that lifted the team to new heights.
Doncic, who became just the 10th player in NBA history to score 600 points in a single month, is the “head of the snake,” said James, who is averaging just 12.3 shots in the last 12 games but is shooting 54.4% from the field. Doncic’s brilliant March unified the team behind his most valuable player push, his thrilling shot-making and even his smiling dunk against Washington.
With the team exuding the type of joy that often characterizes Doncic’s game, James believes the Lakers can maintain their momentum despite Doncic’s uncertain status and a deflating loss.
“Nothing is rattled,” James said. “It’s one game, it’s part of the NBA season, it’s the defending champions. We get it. We understand.”
Sports
Phil Mickelson withdraws from the Masters, joins Tiger Woods in sitting out signature major
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As Tiger Woods steps away from golf and won’t be playing in the Masters next week, another golf legend won’t be on the grounds at Augusta National Golf Club.
Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson released a statement Thursday saying he won’t be playing in this year’s tournament.
“Unfortunately, I will not play in the Masters Tournament next week and will be out for an extended period of time as my family continues to navigate a personal health matter,” Mickelson’s statement on social media said.
Phil Mickelson plays a shot from the fifth tee during LIV Golf South Africa at The Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg March 20, 2026. (Johan Rynners/Getty Images)
“I wish everyone the best of luck and will be watching.”
Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley also released a statement after Mickelson’s decision.
TIGER WOODS DECLINES RYDER CUP CAPTAINCY AFTER DUI, CAR CRASH
“We know how much Phil loves the Masters tournament, and he will be missed by everyone in Augusta next week,” Ridley’s statement said. “He has our complete supports as he takes time to be with his family.”
The 55-year-old Mickelson missed four LIV Golf events earlier this year, and he noted he was dealing with a “family health matter.”
Phil Mickelson walks the 16th fairway during LIV Golf Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield, Ind., Aug. 16, 2025. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
He was on the course in South Africa two weeks ago, leading his HyFlyers GC squad for the event. Mickelson finished tied for 48 in the event.
Mickelson’s Masters announcement comes after Woods stepped away from golf “to seek treatment” following a DUI arrest after a rollover crash Friday in Jupiter Island, Florida.
Woods, a 15-time major winner and five-time Masters champion, and Mickelson sat atop the golf world, beginning in the late 1990s and through the 2010s. While Woods usually sat atop the world golf rankings, Mickelson was his toughest competitor, winning six majors over his storied career.
Phil Mickelson of HyFlyers GC walks on the first green during the semifinals of the LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship at The Cardinal at Saint John’s Resort Aug. 23, 2025. (Aaron Doster/Imagn Images)
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So, two golf icons won’t be at Augusta National come next week, when the 90th edition of the Masters tees off Thursday, April 9.
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