Why do I keep writing about this toilet bowl of a franchise? I was a fan for 30 years, I washed my hands of them last year... but like anyone who was abused in a relationship I can't seem to just let go... at least not 100%.
I had a blog that I shut down that was all about the Jets. I like to go back from time to time and revisit some of the gems I posted about this team. Back in May of 2015... 19 months ago, I wrote a post that was so goddamn dead on that I have to share it here:
Here's an excerpt:
"I have been pretty disgusted with a lot of the guys on our current roster and the rosters of the past 3 or 4 seasons... Our current team, led by a self obsessed, immature overrated DE like Richardson who can't stop mouthing off on social media... and an undedicated, lazy QB, Geno Smith, who flips off his own fans in his home stadium, is hard to root for in general. These guys have done nothing since 2010 that has inspired me personally. My top 5 players who I can't stand based on attitude are Geno (not committed), Richardson (ignorant child), Milliner (delusional), Revis (selfish disloyal douche), and David Harris."
Now some of you may be shocked to see Harris on my list. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, but he has not been a vocal leader, and that's what we needed from him the most. So in that sense he has done a major disservice to the Jets. But, again he has been very productive and reliable, I don't discount that.
I for one wasn't impressed with Richardson from day #1. And you can go see my posts where I warned how dangerous a star player with an attitude that bad can be on a roster. One bad apple can ruin the big apple is something I have said for years. This guy is poison. However, he isn't the only cancer in our locker room. The reason guys like this are dangerous is they spoil the other good players. I just saw a quote from Leonard Williams where he said he is "sick of fake diehard Jets fans". That's a major red flag. #92 is a potential 10 year impact player and came to NY with a great attitude. 30 games later, after being in a locker room with guys like Geno, Sheldon, Revis, Wilkerson, and company... he's pretty much saying fuck the fans. That's what I have been warning about for years with this roster.
It's hard enough to hit on a bluechip draft pick, you don't need their attitude ruined by a garbage locker room. It's also hard to find a good coach. Frankly, I don't think Bowles ever had a chance. The Jets kept 35 of Rex's guys on the 2015 roster. They are spoiled, lazy and entitled. No coach can fix that... not that many. The only solution is to purge and rebuild. That's obviously what The Browns have done.. or at least started the process.
So now we need to start over again. First step is to clean house on this coaching staff. You need a group who can create a wining culture.
Next, you OFF the GM (who I said was wildly unqualified from day#1). He came from a losing culture in Houston. He's a loser. He let Snacks walk and gave Wilkerson a ridiculous contract. He gave Revis a ridiculous contract. He retained Richardson so long and allowed him to run his mouth so much that now he has no trade value. He retained Geno fucking Smith... a guy with the worst QBR in the league during his time as a starter here... and a guy who flipped off the fans in his home stadium!! His draft picks are looking like a pile of garbage... and any GM that would draft Hackenberg with the #51 overall pick is clinically insane.
Dump Mac and Bowles both. That's step #1.
Step #2 is hopefully going to be Woody leaving for London and becoming our ambassador. The further he is from this team the better.
Step #3 is Woody breaking the bank before he leaves and hiring Bill Parcells as Team President and his son-in-law Scott Pioli as GM.
Step #4 is this Father and son-in-law, dynamic duo, trading our 2nd round pick to the Saints for Sean Payton as our next head coach. He and the Tuna are close, and this trio can turn this squad around.
Step #4 is The Purge! FitzTragic, Richardson, Geno, Revis, Skrine, Carpenter, Edwards (punter), Hackenberg, Harris, Petty (I've seen enough.. turnover machine), Ijalana, McDougle, Pryor, Seferian-Jenkins, D Smith, Giacomini, Clady, Gilchrist, and Kellen Davis are all gone.
I doubt any of these names have any trade value. Maybe Richardson, Carpenter and or Pryor could fetch late round picks.. but I doubt it. The purge will be obvious and teams aren't gong to line up to give up anything for players that they can easily get for nothing down the road. I don't care that we end up with dead money with some of these guys. They are all either underachievers, have no future, or have horrendous attitudes. Sadly some are all three.
You'll notice that Wilkerson isn't on the list. Just too much dead money on that one contract. Hopefully by 2018 we can boot him. I would take any compensation to get rid of him and his contract, but no team will accept the absurd guaranteed money he is due based on his half hearted production this year. So we are most likely stuck with him. Could play hard ball and bench him, make his life hell so that he would accept a trade including a renegotiated contract, but that won't happen.
Despite the dead money there will obviously be some major net gain in salary cap space. If the front office and head coach I just mentioned became a reality, we would actually have a shot at some free agents. But we are in such a hole, that free agents and the draft aren't going to be enough. We need to think outside the box.
First priority couldn't be more clear.... unless you are Woody Johnson or any member of the Jets current front office. Quarterback!!!!!!! It all starts and ends with this position. To quote our future team president (LOL, I know it would be way to smart of a move for Woody to actually make) Parcells once said 'you can't just dial 1-800-quarterback.' It is a tough process. But you have to leave no stone unturned. I am recommending dropping all four of our QB's and starting fresh.
So therefore, I 'd like to have one older vet, maybe a guy like Hoyer or even Matt Moore (who the Jets just made look like a hero last week). Next I'd like a rookie from the 2017 draft. And in the middle I'd like to land a guy who is in his mid 20's and hasn't had a solid shot yet. Guys like Nassib or Mike Glennon out of Tampa. That's a basic blueprint for how I would try to fill my QB room.
However, I did say that you have to think outside the box. So trades have to be a consideration as well. Maybe guys like Osweiler and/or Bortles sneak their way on to the block. One name I would stay away from, under any and all circumstances, would be Tony Romo. I don't like him in big games and then there is the obvious durability concerns. If the Tuna and Payton both ended up here, the Romo speculation would be deafening. But that would be a mistake, unless you land him for cheap and short money. 1 year, 10 million. That's my max on a chance like that. And he's under contract in 2017 with the Boys' ... so I am assuming he's released. I wouldn't trade anything for him and absorb his crazy current salary.
Next are the other 3 key positions on any NFL team. There's a true #1 shut down CB, Left Tackle and most importantly a game changing outside pass rushing LB. Yes... all four (including QB) of the key impact positions on an NFL roster are empty for us. Wow, and that's after 40 draft picks in the last 5 years.... FORTY!
I'm using our 1st round pick, which will probably be top 5... on a pass rushing OLB. And who better to make that pick than Parcells? Derek Barnett from Tennessee seems like a potential impact, top 5 pick. He and Leonard Williams together could cause some havoc for opposing offenses.
Next is the shut down CB and Stephon Gilmore from the Bills should be available. I'd back the money truck up to his house.
As for LT... that's a tough one. They don't grow on trees and they don't hit the FA market often. Joe Thomas from Cleveland might be the free agent unicorn we need. But that's an outside shot. Make no mistake, our entire offensive line needs an attention. However, I'd keep Mangold in 2017, even though conventional wisdom would say that he should be dumped along with his 9 million dollar cap number. I think he has one good year left, and he's a true warrior. I might consider keeping Winters as well. You may notice he isn't on my "hit list" above either. Carpenter was on my hit list, and that is because he sucks. He's a waste of money, I hope I don't see him in green and white next season.
All of that being said... What I expect to happen is:
- Woody gives Bowles and Mac a 3rd year.
- NO impact free agent will touch this team with a 10 foot pole.
- Mac trades away our 2nd round pick for Romo instead of Sean Payton. Woody is behind this dumb/ Tebow/ Favre-esc move.
- Romo plays 3 maybe 4 total games in 2017 due to injuries.
- We probably dump Richardson for nothing... and he becomes DPOY for the Dolphins or Bills.
- I would assume that our other QB's will be Hack & Petty. Both play for the injured Romo and suck.
- We keep Clady for another year but dump Mangold (because HE is too fragile). Clady doesn't even make it through the preseason before going on IR.
- We keep Revis for 16 million and move him around the defensive backfield with the hopes he finds a spot where being lackadaisical and unwilling to tackle can be productive traits.
- Williams continues to get more negative with the fans and press. He's ruined by seasons end.
- We keep Seferian-Jenkins and he gets suspended for more off the field crap.
And by December of 2017 we are right back where we are today... with No QB, No LT, No OLB and No #1 CB.
Its becoming too easy to predict what Woody and his band of clowns will do.
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