N.Y. Jets: The Sam Darnold Era Begins

From the desk of:  WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

New York Jets

vs.

Detroit Lions

FROM
Motor City

New York Jets: With Sam Darnold in the fold, it's time for Chris Johnson to halt his brother's practice of turning over general managers and head coaches.

The Jets haven't won, much less appeared in a Super Bowl since Joe Namath guaranteed victory over the (then) Baltimore Colts fifty years ago.  I remember Broadway Joe's last two seasons with the Jets, and every year of the ensuing four decades since spent trying to replace him.

If Richard Todd and A.J. Duhey never cross paths, or Ken O'Brien pulls the Jets out of a fatal nosedive, or if Vinny Testeverde's Achilles heel never snaps, or Chad Pennington weren't so fragile, or Marc Sanchez comes out of USC with just a tad more polish, the history of the Jets reads quite differently.

Monday night, all this gets thrown on the shoulders and arm of a rookie poised to be the youngest quarterback to ever start an NFL game since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.  That being said, Sam Darnold might finally be that guy: a rare franchise quarterback capable of carrying a team through years of sustained success, and ideally, Super Bowls.  Even as a Giants fan, there's no denying I'm experiencing palatable anticipation leading up to his pro debut.

However, Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles are still piecing together everything else surrounding Darnold.  And I believe they're doing a good job turning things around, despite what the Jets recent season records indicate.  Maccagnan has been methodical but effective, and players respond to Coach Bowles.  But above all else they need time, and there in lies the rub ...

Woody Johnson long ago created a condition among his various general managers and head coaches in which they were more or less compelled into making decisions based on job preservation over that of making actual long term progress.  Team CEO and acting owner Christopher Johnson is seemingly applying the brakes on that trend.  He already extended both Maccagnan and Bowles through 2020, ensuring both are provided an opportunity to see this through for a change.  However, Bowles' extension came before they drafted Darnold.  If the Jets are throwing Sam Darnold into the fire, Mr. Johnson must remain open minded about extending even further both Maccagnan and Bowles.

N.Y. Jets: Have a Nice Summer

From the desk of:  WALT MICHAELS' REVENGE

First Down and a Long Way to Go

New York Jets: Sam Darnold inherits half-century of mediocrity.

I remember Joe Namath's last two seasons with the Jets, along with his final and rather inconsequential season spent with the Los Angeles Rams.  The Jets have been searching for a top tier quarterback ever since.  Guys like Richard Todd, Vinny Testeverde, and even Marc Sanchez all helped elevate the Jets into AFC championship games, but no further.  

In the absence of a top tier quarterback, the organization has failed to win an NFL championship since both before and after Namath guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III.  This upcoming season will mark the golden anniversary of that improbable triumph.

Sadly, the Jets have otherwise failed to qualify for the playoffs (AFL/NFL) 44 times over the span of their 58-year history.  Said another way, they've only been to the playoffs 14 times since their inaugural 1960 season in the American Football League.  In terms of probability, the Jets enter any given season with a one-in-four chance of playing post-season football.  

Even then, these Jets are coming off their seventh straight season finishing out of playoff contention.  Where it concerns the latest in a long line of general managers and head coaches, just know that Mike Maccagnan has allowed his (defensive minded) head coach Todd Bowles to seek out his third different offensive coordinator in as many years.

The weight of all this suddenly gets piled atop the shoulders of quarterback Sam Darnold.  At least he and (new, new ...) new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates get to start the next stages of their respective football careers, together.  Bates served as QB coach last season, and will continue in that capacity in conjunction with his new position.

Three people now form an intriguing triumvirate to say the least: a former defensive coordinator now head coach in Todd Bowles; a new OC with a somewhat light resume in my opinion; and the newly anointed savior of Jets Nation.

Quarterback Sam Darnold was selected by the New York Jets with the third overall pick of the recently concluded NFL draft.

Now what?

A quarterback selected third overall normally comes with high expectations.  But are the Jets still a rebuilding team?  I would argue they should be.  Over the last three seasons, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh McCown respectively gave the Jets a pair of very good individual performances.  And where did that get them?

In the meantime, enjoy the summer.  Saving the world can wait till Fall.

However, I caution folks to beware the dreaded USC bias ...

It often turns out being spot on.