Allocating responsibility in team sports, whose results depend on highly complex interaction between different people, is difficult. Sometimes you have clear winners (Kirk Gibson's home run, Reggie Miller scoring 8 points in 8.2 seconds) and losers (Bill Buckner in the 1986 World Series, Charles Smith in Game 5 of the 1993 playoffs against the Bulls), but more often, both the credit and blame can be spread around.

I really like Jets coach Herm Edwards, but the decline of the Jets this season needs to be put on him alone. The Jets started at 5-0 and finished the season 10-6. They had enough talent to squeeze out a better record. At various points along the way, including in yesterday's game against the Rams, they just couldn't get the job done when it counted. When the whole team fails, it's the fault of the person at the top.

The same goes for Joe Torre. As good as Torre is, especially at keeping large egos in check season after season, the Yankees' collapse against the Red Sox says more about Torre than anybody else. It simply should not have happened. It wouldn't have happened, for example, under Pat Riley.

Conversely, coach Hubie Brown rightfully gets credit for giving the Grizzlies some real hope before retiring (again).

Will the Jets wake up? How they play next weekend will tell you a lot about what Herm Edwards can do--or can't do--in motivating his team when it counts.