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Everyone is beating up on them, but quite honestly, nobody knows what is going to happen, so you can just as easy take a positive view of what might happen . . .
Mr. Coffee (Mike Maccagnan) is a very bright man.
The jury is still out on whether he’s a great GM, but it’s hard to deny his intellect. That Revis moves really hurt the MacBowles program, but I don’t think it was their idea. Now they are out from under it.
While it’s open season on the Jets right now, with the media and a lot of fans, nobody knows how this is going to turn out in 2017.
And Maccagnan potentially made some very good moves.
Hey, I don’t know what is going to happen, but neither do the people who are trashing the Jets right now.
I might be on an island with this one (not that I care), but I do think if Josh McCown stays healthy, he’s going to surprise people with his effectiveness. I think he’s more capable than many people realize, and like I’ve said many times, quarterbacks in their mid-late 30’s, if healthy, can do some of their best work because of where they are mentally. NFL QB is the toughest position in sports, and it takes a long time to get comfortable with the complexities of the position, on your side of the ball, and with all the looks you face. Older quarterbacks are in a good place mentally.
I will give you three recent signings that could turn out to be steals – Mo Claiborne, Mike Pennel and Quinton Patton.
Claiborne is a rare talent when healthy. I understand he’s had issues staying healthy, but the Jets didn’t pay him a lot, and if he can stay healthy, he is a legit #1 cornerback. The Jets didn’t have one last year.
Pennel is an elite run defender, a massive nose tackle who consistently takes up two blockers. The Jets didn’t pay him a lot, and if he can stay on the field, he’s really going to help them. He’s like a poor man’s Kris Jenkins.
I really liked Patton in the 2013 draft coming out of Louisiana Tech. Good route-runner, good hand-eye coordination, great attitude. I’m sure some of you have heard the story. When the 49ers drafted him, he flew out to San Francisco to report before he was allowed to. I like that story.
I will give you another underrated signing, the one they made today – CFL corner Larry Ojo. He had a great season in 2015 in Edmonton, but then blew out his achilles last year. So he was kind of off the radar. Now he’s healthy again, and the Jets take a flyer on him for little money. If he goes back to this 2015 form (five picks), this signing could be a steal.
And here is another name to remember this off-season – Lawrence Thomas. He was an undrafted free agent signed by the Jets in 2016. He was outstanding last summer in training camp and preseason games. He hurt his shoulder early in the season. This guy looked more like a first-second round pick than an undrafted free agent last year. He’s healthy now. The arrow is pointing up on this guy.
Once again, I don’t know how the Jets are going to do this year, but I think the over-the-top negativity, especially this time of year, is unfair.
Let’s see what happens.
April 7, 2917
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