Cheap shot not necessary, but premise might be right

A writer from ESPN quoted an unnamed NFL assistant coach about Zach Wilson’s trade value:

“if they’re lucky,” the assistant coach said, “I’d give up a two-week stay at a Best Western. I’m not a fan.”

Don’t give up your day job to become a comedian.

I’ve never understand punks like this.

To me, if you are going to give an unnamed quote to a reporter about a player, it should be educational in a way, further the topic.

Something like, “Zach Wilson has great raw talent, but needs to improve his field vision and must speed up his internal clock and get rid of the ball quicker.”

That isn’t an actual quote, but you get my point.

How does it help anybody for the coward to try and be Shecky Greene in his quote?

I’m not against unnamed quotes, just not into unnamed quotes being used as a vehicle for cheap shots.

So the cowardly assistant says that, the reporter uses it, and then aggregators all over the internet are linking to the quote and the story.

Welcome to the 2024 news cycle.

While the assistant coach didn’t need to deliver the quote via a cheap shot, not only insulting a player, but a hotel chain, the premise of the quote might be accurate.

It’s going to hard for the Jets to get much for Zach Wilson.

And you know, it might not be as much talent-related as other stuff.

I think there would be plenty of suitors for Wilson, if he was like former Jets QB James Morgan, out of FIU.

A fourth round pick of the Jets in the 2020 draft, Morgan didn’t last long with Gang Green, and is now with the Montreal Allouettes in the CFL.

But if would be hard to find a player who worked harder. He wasn’t good enough, but he loved football and worked his ass off.

Former NFL GM Mike Lombardi has repeatedly questioned how much Wilson loves football.

I’m not going to go that far, because it’s hard to look inside a guy’s heart, but Lombardi has unbelievable sources around the league – coaches, scouts, GMs and so forth, after working in the league for three decades.

And he has gone down this road with Wilson on more than one occasion.

Wilson could be a player with incredible natural gifts, who isn’t head over heels in love with the sport.

I’m not saying Wilson doesn’t put work in. He does. But there are different levels of work. Drew Brees used to open and close the building in New Orleans.

Maybe some players are more into the trappings of being an NFL player, than burning the candle at both ends.

Wilson went on vacation after the season with his girlfriend to Bora Bora and posted photos on social media, and they went viral. Hey, go on vacation. Have a great time. You deserve it after a long season.

But you are a young, developing player coming off a rough season. Perhaps, maybe, low-key it, and avoid acting like a rock star.

So to me, the challenge of getting something really good in return on the trade market, might not be about the talent. Yes, he needs to improve going through progressions and things like that, but when you have Wilson’s rare arm talent, and ability to escape pressure with his nifty feet, and you are only 25, there should be plenty of suitors willing to take a chance, thinking that a change of scenery could help a very talented young player who needs refinement.

But all the Page Six stuff, and Lombardi’s concern, which might be shared by others, could limit the market and what the Jets can get in return.

February 6, 2024

Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Wednesday.