FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A picture hangs in Bill McDermott’s basement that his son treasures more than any other.

It’s the one prominently displayed in the pool room of the family’s Philadelphia-area home with 18-year-old Michael McDermott posing next to New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum.

“That was the first time I ever took my son to meet another executive or sports figure, and the first thing I asked Mike to do was to take a picture with my son,” said Bill McDermott, the co-CEO of SAP and a die-hard Jets fan. “Michael’s a huge fan as well and he just loves that picture.”

As a leader at one of the top providers of business software, McDermott has rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in his field and shaken hands with a who’s who of sports figures: John Wooden, Ernie Els, Oscar Robertson and Gary Player, to name a few. A passion for sports runs deep in McDermott’s blood. After all, his late grandfather, Bobby, is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.

So when an eager Tannenbaum called a few months ago to set up a meeting at SAP’s North American headquarters in Newtown Square, Pa., McDermott jumped at the chance to exchange thoughts on leadership and business philosophies.

“In running an organization, I think there are a lot of parallels, which is why I felt so fortunate that Bill allowed me to come down there and spend a few hours with him,” Tannenbaum said. “Ultimately, it’s about people, it’s about dreams and it’s about goals, and it may be business software or trying to win a Super Bowl, but I think there are more parallels than there aren’t.”

The three-hour meeting in late-May spawned an instant friendship between one man who has led his company to five straight quarters of double-digit economic growth since taking over and another who hopes to deliver on his team’s goal of winning a long-awaited second Super Bowl title — and first since McDermott rooted for Broadway Joe as a kid growing up in New York.

“I’ve never enjoyed any meeting, on an interpersonal level, more than my meeting with Mike Tannenbaum,” McDermott said by phone from Germany, where SAP’s global headquarters is located. “Not one. That’s saying something.”

The praise is mutual.

“Bill’s a remarkable guy who has walked with giants,” Tannenbaum said. “I know I’m better off because of that meeting.”

McDermott and Tannenbaum were so comfortable with each other, that a few minutes in, the talk turned to McDermott suggesting what Tannenbaum could do to improve the roster.

“Mike actually humored me and was interested in my opinion,” said a laughing McDermott, who watched the AFC championship game against Pittsburgh while he was in China by using Slingbox.

As an NFL general manager, the 42-year-old Tannenbaum knows better than to be complacent. That’s why he has reached out to several top business executives during the past few offseasons. He has met with Kevin Plank, the CEO and founder of Under Armour; Frank Bisignano, the chief administrative officer at J.P. Morgan Chase; and even three-time national title-winning coach Jim Calhoun of the University of Connecticut. Tannenbaum also has been able to glean leadership skills for years from his own boss, Jets owner Woody Johnson, whose family founded Johnson & Johnson.

“I’ve filled up yellow pads with information, things I’ve learned from everyone I’ve met with,” Tannenbaum said. “I have an affirmative obligation to Woody and the franchise that, are we doing everything we possibly can to be the best franchise in the world? I really did look at the NFL lockout as an opportunity to get out of our comfort zones and get out of our routines. This was an opportunity for us to get better.”

Since Tannenbaum took over as GM in 2006, the Jets have been to the playoffs three times — including reaching the AFC championship the past two seasons with Rex Ryan as coach.

“You look at our stadium, look at this facility, look at Rex and look at Mark Sanchez,” Tannenbaum said. “The foundation is there to truly be the golden era of this franchise and I want us to leave footprints for a long, long time. That’s our goal.”

Tannenbaum will have plenty of big decisions to make when the lockout ends. The Jets have several big-name players scheduled to become free agents, including Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie, and McDermott has already, of course, presented Tannenbaum his wish list.

“I would advise any of the players, if you want my true gut opinion on this, to not screw around for small change when you’ve got a chance to play for the Super Bowl-winning New York Jets” said McDermott, throwing in his own Namath and Ryan-like guarantee. “That’s something you can carry around with you for a lifetime, long after you’ve blown a lot of cash. So, if I was advising any of these players, I’d say they should re-sign with Mike Tannenbaum as quickly as you can.”

Updated Jul 9, 2011 7:19 AM ET

HAMPTON, Va.

The New York Jets’ third-round draft pick, Kenrick Ellis, who faces charges of felony assault in Virginia, will not go on trial until at least late November after receiving a continuance ahead of a planned court appearance that was set for Tuesday.

The defense requested a continuance because Ellis retained a new attorney, The Star-Ledger reported Friday, citing Hampton Circuit Court records. The trial was moved to Nov. 28.

Ellis was arrested in April 2010 while at Hampton University. He was indicted in March on the charge of malicious wounding.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said the 6’5″, 345-pound nose tackle passed the team’s “rigorous background check” before he was drafted.

Read more …

Read More: Randy Moss (WR – TEN), New York Jets

New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum refused to address Randy Moss to the Jets rumors on Thursday during an appearance on ESPN 101 in St.Louis with Zach and the Coach (Rick Venturi).

“Obviously I can’t address any specific rumor. Again our goal is to try to keep as many players together. We’re fortunate. We have a great owner in Mr.Johnson and a great partner with Rex Ryan. The three of us kick around scenarios all the time and always come out and let’s make the best decision for the Jets. We’ll see who we are able to keep when there is a new agreement down the road in terms of who we will have rights to and who we won’t and then we’ll go from there and try to make the best decisions.”

Sports Radio Interviews has the full transcript of Tannenbaum’s remarks. The GM also addressed the development of quarterback Mark Sanchez and the portrayal of coach Rex Ryan on ‘Hard Knocks.’

Read More: Brad Smith (WR – NYJ), Santonio Holmes (WR – NYJ), Braylon Edwards (WR – NYJ), Randy Moss (WR – TEN), Mark Sanchez (QB – NYJ), New York Jets

In a Wednesday interview with the NFL Network, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez expressed confidence in General Manager Mike Tannenbaum’s ability to bring Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, and Brad Smith back next year –

“I think that’s what Mike Tannenbaum does best and he’s the best GM in football. Mr. [Woody] Johnson, that’s part of his job. And Rex, that’s keeping all of us together. He wants the offense to run smooth, he wants us to pick up where we left off and to do that, we need all of our guys back. I think that would be the best-case scenario.”

It is nice to hear such confidence from Sanchez, but it would be just about a miracle if Tannenbaum could somehow find a way to get all three back. Considering the Jets just drafted two wide receivers and apparently do have a legitimate interest in Randy Moss, it sounds like the organization is prepared for the reality of one or two of them leaving.

Also in the interview, Sanchez revealed the Jets are planning to have a full team “lockout camp” this June. It is good to hear to the entire team will be together and that Sanchez is taking the lead to make sure it happens. We are going to need some type of news in June that isn’t related to court hearings.

On Thursday February 24, 2011, 11:42 am EST

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is starring in a new television series, and this one is fiction.

Ryan still plays himself in an episode of “CSI: NY” shot Wednesday in Los Angeles. CBS says Ryan and Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum appear in a scene with actors Gary Sinise and Eddie Cahill that is scheduled to air in the spring.

Ryan became a national TV sensation before this past season with his curse-filled turn on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” reality show.

Ryan is keeping alive what apparently is a new tradition for Jets coaches: Predecessor Eric Mangini made a cameo on “The Sopranos” in 2007.

CBS is a subsidiary of CBS Corp.