Content available exclusively for subscribers
Mr. Coffee was asked about the signing of Josh McCown on Monday, and something he said really caught my attention, and the import of this point can’t be minimized.
To his credit, Maccagnan didn’t get into the QB mentor nonsense that so many people are pushing. If I hear that one more time I will scream.
That narrative is very overstated. Can you help Christian Hackenberg and Bryce Petty a little? Of course he can, but “a little” are the operative two words.
QB mentors can help with little things like studying film and running a huddle, but they can’t help young guys much with their pocket presence, field vision and accuracy. They really can’t.
So spare me with the mentor stuff. So overrated.
But something Maccagnan said about McCown really impressed me, and I think he’s right.
He said that McCown wasn’t just signed for the quarterback room, but the whole locker room.
McCown is one of the most respected guys in the league. Players rave about his leadership and character.
Granted, the most important thing he needs to do for the Jets is play well at quarterback, but also, the Jets need to fix their locker room, their culture.
McCown is a special guy. He can help heal this locker room.
So when Maccagnan said McCown was brought in for the whole locker room, I totally knew where he was coming from.
Juxtapose McCown’s persona to the personality of another quarterback the Jet were considering Jay Cutler, not known as much of a leader or for his people skills. Cutler probably has more physical talent than McCown, but the Jets need McCown right now, not just as their quarterback, but as a locker room-culture healer.
McCown’s people skills and leadership ability are top-shelf.
So I tip my hat to MacBowles, who have made their share of mistakes the first two seasons of their regime, for having the vision to pull the trigger on the McCown signing, which wasn’t a very popular move with the Jets public or media.
This move wasn’t just made for football reasons but for culture reasons.
This is a unique guy, and while he might not be Tom Brady, he will do wonders for the Jets this spring and summer on the practice field, in the huddle, in the meeting rooms, in the weight room and of course in the locker room.
And I happen to think that he is a better quarterback than some people will lead you to believe.
If they can run the ball and protect him, he can manage the game for you, and that is all the Jets need from him. They don’t need him to be Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers and throw the ball 40 times and put the team on his back. They need him to efficiently manage the game, and with all the experience he has after 16 years in pro football, as both a starter and backup, he can do this.
It’s just a matter of him staying healthy.
And he will lead this group of men.
April 25, 2017
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Wednesday.