Big Apple has turned on Jets’ Todd Bowles in a New York minute

After the Arizona Cardinals beat up on the New York Jets, Todd Bowles drew the Big Apple's ire.

Oct 17, 2016, 10:15 PM Updated: Oct 18, 2016, 11:16 am

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles watches his team prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Todd Bowles’ Twitter mentions were ablaze on Monday night.

Todd Bowles' seat getting hotter by the second. Apparently he is also going down with FitzCruise. pic.twitter.com/KDCwmSvBcp

— NYJetsFans (@JetsFanMedia) October 18, 2016

When is Todd Bowles going to show some fire on the sidelines? Dude looks like a mime the same expression every time #NYJ

— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) October 18, 2016

Fire Todd Bowles @nyjets We literally can't be any worse I PROMISE.

— Cromartie Jr. (@SpyroKush) October 18, 2016

That was nothing compared to the New York media members, whose numbers kept swelling until they overwhelmed the small visiting team’s interview room at University of Phoenix Stadium.

“It’s like a rat race of reporters here,” Bowles told me last year.

The rats have turned on Bowles.

Following an error-prone, offensively-challenged 28-3 loss to the Cardinals in primetime, reporters did everything but tell the Jets coach outright that it was time to bench QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in favor of Geno Smith.

Fitzpatrick had just floundered through a 16-for-31 performance with 174 yards, an interception and no TDs — good for a passer rating of 55. Like every other NFL market, the backup quarterback is always the solution when a team struggles, but when Bowles wouldn’t concede the point and instead named Fitzpatrick the starter next week, reporters’ questions grew increasingly incredulous.

“It definitely wasn’t Fitz’s fault,” Bowles said. “He barely had time to throw. Anybody we’d have put back there would have had a problem.”

The Jets offense has had nothing but problems since a 37-31 win over the Bills on Sept. 15 — their lone win against five losses this season. In those five losses, New York has scored a total of 58 points (11.6 points per game). The Jets’ 95 points are one better than Tampa’s league-worst 94, but New York has played one more game.

“We’re not scoring and we’re not moving the ball,” Bowles said. “A whole bunch of things are wrong, obviously. From coaches to players, we’re not making plays and we’re not putting them in the right position to make plays.”

Injuries haven’t helped on the offensive line, but what Bowles won’t say — can’t say — is that he doesn’t have a quarterback on his roster capable of leading the team without a lot of help, so he’s going with the guy who will take fewer risks and focus on ball security.

The QB void was masked last season by a stout defense that forced 30 turnovers and a strong rushing attack that finished in the league’s top 10. The turnovers haven’t come this season (New York has just three takeaways) and the run game has been average so the Jets are losing.

It’s no surprise that fans have turned on Bowles. This is New York, after all, but the force of their vitriol is surprising after he led the team to an unexpected 10-6 record last season. The calls for more passion from him on the sidelines are even more ridiculous. That’s not who Bowles is and management knew that when they hired him. Sideline passion isn’t a prerequisite for coaching success. Just ask the guy in New England.

It’s hard to envision Bowles losing his job after just two seasons (or less) but if the NFL is an impatient league, New York is impatience to the nth degree.

Following the game, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians sounded sick that he had contributed to the venom aimed at his former defensive coordinator and longtime friend.

“I’m glad it’s over,” Arians said. “It’s not a lot of enjoyment for me.”

As for Bowles, he was taking it in stride, even if it that calm demeanor contributes to his critics’ ire.

“I grew up here,” Bowles said of New York. “I understand what’s going on.”

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