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You probably have all seen soundbite or references to it over the last few days.
It became more than a Jets story due to its eclectic nature.
USA Today headline – “Jets coach Todd Bowles couldn’t contain his glee over Sam Darnold’s first practice.”
Todd Bowles was asked on Friday what he thought on Sam Darnold’s first practice.
“HE WAS GREAT! I WANT HIM TO PLAY RIGHT NOW!” Bowles screamed.
USA Today described this as “a hilarious response.”
I guess on some level if was “hilarious.”
To be honest, it made me a little uneasy.
Some might have watched it and thought the coach was unhinged.
Just the way he screamed. It was a little much.
But with that being said I understand where he was coming from.
And I think this Mount Vesuvius-like eruption was building up.
Remember, for two years he was asked ad infinitum about when Christian Hackenberg and/or Bryce Petty. First, when Ryan Fitzpatrick was initial starter in 2016, and then in 2017 with Josh McCown.
For two years, he was bombarded about questions about “the kids” throughout the spring, summer, during the season. It was a tsunami. Now you could make an argument that the Jets contributed to this in the spring and summer last year with the open competition charade. Whatever you think of McCown, he was Secretariat in that race. I found the whole competition to be a joke.
But I’m surprised it took him this long to blow his top.
I probably would have blown my stack a lot earlier. And when “play the kids” lobby got part of their wish, and Petty played, at the end of each of the last two seasons, how did that work out? Not well. I wrote about Petty the other day – he is a great guy, and a very hard-working individual, but he’s just not great reading defenses and going through progressions. It is what it is.
So often there are reporters (some, not all) who push for things, and then when they get push for, and it doesn’t work out, they get amnesia, and go into the witness protection program. It’s like they never pushed for it.
Maybe Todd’s explosion, or attempt at comedy, however you want to read it, was a preemptive strike at reporters.
Perhaps it was Todd telling reporters, “Don’t freakin ask me everyday about Sam Darnold’s progress! This is a marathon not a sprint.”
I don’t think it’s going to work, but I just think he’s reached a point where he’s tired of the ridiculous daily coverage of the Jets’ quarterbacks.
But it’s not going to stop. Why? Quarterback competitions are easy stories to write. They almost write themselves. Also, a lot of editors these days go by algorithms and stats to see what’s trending. In other words, the editors essentially farm out their editorial judgment to readers.
So the algorithms are probably pushing the QB competition angle.
And the Jets are pushing it also by constantly going with these “competitions.” Honestly, people, do you really think Sam Darnold is going to beat out Josh McCown for the starting job in Week One. Does that make any sense? They are paying McCown $10 million this year, and he gives them the best chance to win in 2018. And they need to win this year coming off a pair of 5-11 seasons. If the Jets fall out of Wildcard contention, then Darnold will play.
But I have to be honest, I didn’t think the Bowles thing was that funny.
It was too over-the-top to be funny.
May 7, 2018
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