When he first heard the news last night that Herman Edwards would be joining the Jets as their new head coach, Buccaneers’ strong safety John Lynch was ecstatic for Edwards, his defensive backs coach for the last five seasons.
Then reality hit him and Lynch, a three-time Pro Bowl player under the guidance of Edwards, was immediately saddened that his mentor would be leaving.
“I think the Jets got a great man,” Lynch said last night. “We’re losing a good man, a great coach and personally I’m losing a great friend.”
Lynch said the Buccaneers’ players knew it was only a matter of time before Edwards was elevated as someone’s head coach.
“We’re lucky to have kept him for as long as we have, because he has so many strengths,” Lynch said. “Herm has got everything. He’s a detail guy. He’s a great motivator. He’s as organized and meticulous as anyone you’ll ever find. He demands excellence from his players, but knows how to have fun, too.
“He gets the respect of his players because he was a great player himself and because he has such a respect and love for the game and NFL. He talks all the time about it being a privilege, not a right, to play in the NFL.”
Jets cornerback Ray Mickens immediately called Keyshawn Johnson to get the skinny on Edwards.
“I talked to Keyshawn and some other players and I hear nothing but good things about him,” Mickens said. “Keyshawn said he’s a straight-up guy who’s going to play best players. Look at [the Bucs’] record. He’s worked wonders in Tampa Bay. You’ve got to look forward to working with someone like that.
“I think (new GM Terry) Bradway and Edwards will bring stability to this program, which is something we haven’t had here in a long time,” Mickens continued. “I don’t think we’ll have a lot more of these kinds of (tumultuous) offseasons we’ve had so often in my career.”
Buccaneers GM Rich McKay said this last night of Edwards: “He has been a success at every challenge he has ever faced and I don’t think this one will be any different. The Jets are very fortunate to be getting such a quality guy and everyone at the Buccaneers certainly wishes him well.”
Lynch recalled a moment that changed his career when Edwards first came to Tampa.
“I remember (Bucs’ coach) Tony Dungy brought another player with him form Minnesota and it looked like I was going to lose my starting job,” Lynch said. “I was hot. I felt like the job was mine. I remember one day in practice right after I learned I wouldn’t be starting, I had the ball and chucked it at (Edwards) as hard as I could in a drill. Herm, without missing a beat, grabbed the ball, plucked it without even saying anything and turned and went on to the next drill.
“We’ve joked since then, that that’s when he knew he had a player in me.”