Every year, the Jets go into the season with a “game manager” at quarterback. Now, critics will say you can win a championship with a game manager simply because it has happened in the past. But since 1992, there have only been three game managers to lead a Super Bowl team: Trent Dilfer (Baltimore Ravens, 2000), Brad Johnson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2003) and Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos, 2016). Winning three times since 1992 is not the norm, it is a rare occurrence.
I want everyone to imagine a couple scenarios: Scenario one, imagine you haven’t eaten since 11:00 am and are driving to your favorite restaurant for dinner. When you get there, the waitress gives you an appetizer, your favorite drink… and hands you a check. A look of bewilderment comes over your face as she tells you they don’t have any entrées. Scenario two: Imagine you go to see Bruce Springsteen in concert; when you arrive at PNC Bank Arts Center, the band is playing but Bruce is not on stage. Instead, they play the entire concert without their lead singer.
This is what it is like being a New York Jets fan. “Gang Green” continues to have everything in place except their entrée, lead singer or, in this case, their quarterback. The last time the Jets had a franchise quarterback, they won Super Bowl III. In the movie Talladega Nights: Ricky Bobby says, “If you ain’t 1st, you’re last.” Well, the Jets haven’t been first since 1969.
With Organized Team Activities (OTA’s) starting this week, we’re left with a familiar question: What are the Jets going to do about their quarterback position? Right now, their depth chart is Geno Smith (3rd season), Bryce Petty (2nd Season) and Christian Hackenberg (Rookie). Last year’s starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is still holding out. There are rumors that the Jets and Fitz are not even close to reaching an agreement. Fitz wants a 4-year deal worth about $55-60 million, but the Jets want to give him a 3-year contract worth about $36 million.
I’m in the minority here, but I do not want the Jets to re-sign their starter from last year. When the Jets needed him most — in their final game against a mediocre Buffalo Bills team — the Harvard University graduate was 16-37, with 3 interceptions. If Fitzpatrick was a good quarterback, other teams would have signed him; but no one in the NFL has shown even the slightest interest. Jets fans on social media have said that New York had a great year in 2015, but they didn’t; the Jets were 10-6 and did not make the playoffs. It was an exciting year, but it was far from great.
The Patriots have owned the division for the past 15 years. Tom Brady has played in 10 AFC Championship Games, but “Father Time” is undefeated. At 38-years-old, Brady has 2 or 3 years left. As for The Jets, they need to develop a QB over the next few years so when Brady retires they can have a playmaker who can dominate the division. With Fitz as their QB, they will never win a Super Bowl.
Geno Smith was the projected starter last year before IK Enemkpali broke his jaw in a locker room fight. I am not saying the Jets have an elite QB on their roster, but they have to find out what these young throwers can do. We already know what Fitz brings to the table, and frankly, he has a limited ceiling. Great quarterbacks like Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning play for 1 or 2 teams; Fitz has played on six teams for a reason… he’s just not that good.
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