I think the reason the east is a joke is the fact they have owners who think they are football savvy.
Ding, ding, ding, pay the man, we have a winner.
When owners meddle in the football operations, the end result is rarely positive.
The Rooney model has worked for half a century, hire good people and let them run the team.
Give them guidelines, and then get out of the way.
The real key is the hiring process, and then the ability to control your "owner's natural prerogative"...knowing that you can jump in at any time, but keeping yourself in check.