EDWARDS COMES TO NEW YORK

          New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and new General Manger Terry Bradway recently chose Herman Edwards as coach succeeding Al Groh to head the team, effective immediately. Groh resigned after coaching the team to a 9-7 record to accept a similar position with the University of Virginia. Edwards, who like his predecessor, got his first head coaching job in the National Football League, comes to New York with wealth of experience as an assistant and player in the NFL. Prior to his appointment with the Jets he was assistant head coach and defensive backfield coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.         
In addition, he is the first African-American head coach in the history of the local franchise. There are only two other Blacks at this position in the league, Dennis Green at Minnesota and Tony Dungy, Edwards' former boss at Tampa Bay.
           He is also the team's thirteenth full-time head coach. Edwards, former defensive back in the NFL for 10 seasons is best remembered for a game in New Jersey in the late 70's. It gained national fame as Philadelphia's "Miracle Win in the Meadowlands" on November 19, 1978. The Giants were trying to run out the clock but a fumble by Joe Pisarcik was recovered by Edward and returned 26 yards into pay dirt with 31 seconds left to provide the Eagles with a 19-17 come form behind triumph.
           Edwards completed his active career by playing four games for the Los Angeles Rams and three contests for the Atlanta Falcons under then head coach Dan Henning in 1986. Besides Tampa, the native of Monmouth, New Jersey became a defensive backs coach for San Jose States and scout and defensive back coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. Bradway knew Edwards while both were at Kansas City.
           "We feel that we have the best man to try to lead the Jets to a world championship," Bradway said. "I feel this is an excellent opportunity for him."
          "Our goal is to win," said the former player at the University of California at Berkeley, Monterey.
           Defensively, Edwards doesn't know if he will have his team use a 3-4 or 4-3. "It's whatever the players are suited for," he said. "Now I have to talk to my players and get the assistant coaches in place."
          Bradway and Edwards inherit a team that Bill Parcels and Groh left. Parcells stepped down as director of football operations right after the end of the regular season. The Jets are indeed glad that they got a man of Edwards' caliber to coach the team for what hopes to be years to come.
           "I'm excited for Herman, number one, and happy for the NFL because I think they're getting a good, young coach into the mix," Dungy said. "I feel a senses of pride and happiness. Herm and I go back 23 years. We've been through a lot together." Peninsula Junior College and San Diego State said, "Our long-term goal is to get back into the playoffs. We have a bunch of good players. They have character. Every coach and player wants to win a Super Bowl."
           The Jets are not too far away from possibly winning that honor. Edwards insists that it's all about winning. "Whatever we have to do we'll do it to get the job done," he added. Quarterback Vin Testaverde, originally from Sewanahka High School and a native of Long Island, and running back Curtis Martin, who had a tremendous year, even though Martin did not make the Pro Bowl, head the roster.