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It’s easy for them to say, but I can assure you that isn’t how they are thinking in the building. Let’s get into this . . .
In one of those New York Daily News “click-bait” stories, a writer proposed the Jets tank in 2017 in order to get USC QB Sam Darnold.
Just to clarify what “click-bait” is – it’s the art of writing controversial angles on websites, with attention-grabbing headlines, to get people to go to your website, to help with traffic.
The Daily News has made this a cottage industry.
So a few days ago, somebody over there proposed the Jets try to lose next season to land the USC QB who looks like he can be special.
The reason I bring this up, because I hate to give “click-bait” publicity, is because a few fans have now picked up on this theme, and tweeted this concept to me on Twitter.
I had a poll today on Twitter, asking fans which quarterback the Jets should go after in free agency – the four choices I gave were, Mike Glennon (Tampa Bay), Brian Hoyer (Chicago), Matt Barkley (Chicago) and Case Keenum (Los Angeles).
A lot of of fans said, “none of the above.” And some brought up the concept of tanking for Darnold.
I think some people need a reality check. I’m not saying any of these free agent quarterbacks are great, but these fans or reporters who are dismissive of this list, you have to realize there is a quarterback shortage in the NFL. Tom Brady’s and Aaron Rodgers’s don’t grow on trees. I’m not overrating Glennon and company, but just being realistic about the landscape.
But one thing I can assure you – nobody at One Jets Drive is thinking about tanking in 2017 to get Darnold. That is the furthest things for their minds.
The Jets are coming off an awful season, an embarrassing season in many ways – blown out six times.
Look at Todd Bowles picture on a recent Jets Confidential cover shown above – he was miserable this year. He wants to win in 2017. He wants to make the playoffs. The Jets have missed the playoffs six years in a row.
The Jets’ brass is doing to do everything in their power to win this year.
This concept of losing games to get a high draft pick is something that click-bait writers and message boards might get into, but it’s not something you often hear in NFL buildings. And I can assure you it’s not going on at the Atlantic Health Training Complex.
So the Jets need to go out and get a veteran QB, who fits the philosophy of he team’s new offensive coordinator John Morton.
Perhaps Christian Hackenberg will ready to start this year. He’s a very, very hard worker and is busting his tail this off-season, and will continue to do so trying to get ready. We shall see where he’s at come late August.
But once again, the Jets aren’t going to write-off this season to let him learn on the job, just like they aren’t going to tank game to get Darnold.
The people around that building desperately want to win in 2017.
February 10, 2017
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