Content available exclusively for subscribers
This was a major reach. Maybe it was done to fill space. You can punch a lot of holes in this theorem …
An individual penned a piece today on ESPN.com – “No ex-Jets left in playoffs, and there’s a sobering reason for that.”
“Is there an anti-Jets bias out there? Not at all. There’s an element of coincidence, but the main reason why there are no former Jets playing for a championship is the same reason why the 2016 Jets won only five games. Poor drafting by the previous regimes.”
This is flawed logic.
There are four teams left, and because they don’t have any ex-Jets on them, that is some major statement about the Jets?
Look, I’m not here to say the Jets’ former regimes drafted great, but this point is a major reach.
If the Packers had a backup cornerback or nose tackle who was with the Jets, would that mean a heck of a lot?
If the Patriots had a safety from the Jets playing on special teams, would that mean much?
Bill Polian says you only bat about .560 with draft picks.
The Jets re-signed Brian Winters earlier this week, a third round pick by John Idzik in 2013. He got Sheldon Richardson in the first round that year. He’s had some off-the-field issues at times, but he’s a heck of a player. Dee Milliner was a bad pick for medical reasons. Geno Smith wasn’t necessarily a bad second round. But throwing him right into the fire his first couple of years was bad and short-sighted. If I picked him, he was sitting for a couple years after coming out of a college spread offense that doesn’t translate to the NFL. Oday Aboushi was in that draft and is a backup lineman with the Houston Texans. If Houston had managed to make it to the final four, would that have changed the “sorbering reason?” No. The Jets traded their fourth round pick that year for Chris Ivory. Terrific trade.
The 2014 draft wasn’t great, but Trevor Reilly is on the Dolphins. If they had made it to the final four, would that have changed the “sobering reason?” No. Jace Amaro is with the Titans. They had a good year. If they had advanced to the final four, would that have changed the “sobering reason.” No.
Quincy Enunwa was a good sixth-round pick in 2014. Dakota Dozier, a fourth-round pick that year, is still around. Calvin Pryor and Dexter McDougle are still on the Jets. So these for players can’t be on the Patriots, Steelers, Packers or Falcons. They are on the Jets. So how does this theory make any sense.
Also from the 2014 draft pick, linebacker Jeremiah George, just signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Jets have hit on some, and missed on some. If you look at the Patriots, they cut tons of draft picks fairly quickly all the time.
Look, I’m not here to defend Idzik or Mike Tannenbaum, but like all GM’s, they hit on some and miss on some.
Aside from thinking the theory of this blog is flawed, I also take issue with Mr. Coffee getting a pass.
Notice the writer said, “Poor drafting by the previous regimes.” Perhaps the writer feels he needs him.
Has Mr. Coffee drafted well? I know it’s still too early to totally judge his first two drafts, and some guys are still evolving, growing and developing, but so far, only on one impact player so far – Leonard Williams, and that pick was no-brainer.
Let’s be honest – the biggest reason these four teams are left is because they all have franchise QB’s. it’s a QB-driven league, and four of the NFL’s best quarterbacks are left standing. Of course drafting is important, but if you don’t have an elite quarterback, your chances of reaching the final four or Super Bowl is remote.
I just wanted to chime in on this blog. I just don’t agree with this theory.
January 17, 2017
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Thursday.