"Soon to be Champs?"

Have you noticed that we are being sold a bill of goods? Everyone is selling New York Jets, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, HBO, and anyone else that talks or writes about the NFL. The football world has “Gang Green” Fever. “Soon to be champs” is what Rex Ryan wrote on Adam Schefter’s bus during his NFL training camp stop for ESPN. I don’t see it personally. Yes, they have a good defense and they finished last season by not only making the playoffs but by becoming a Cinderella story but I do not see the slipper fitting anymore and the tiara will not fit on the Jets' collective big head.

Let’s take a closer look at last season. The Jets lost 6 of 7 games in middle of season. Also, not to play a “what if” game but in week 16 and 17 last year both Indianapolis and Cincinnati rested starters and played vanilla, lackluster football in what amounted to meaningless games for both the Colts and Bengals. If the outcome of just one of those games were different then the Jets would have been 8-8 and out of the playoffs. In the playoffs they knocked off a Cincinnati Bengals team that was out of gas and then ran through the arm tackles and overconfidence of the San Diego Chargers.

If they did not have the playoff run then the discussion about the Jets this year would be about whether second year quarterback Mark Sanchez could evolve to be a quality starter in the NFL, if the Jets could overcome the loss of their leading rusher, and the pesky little holdout by Darrelle Revis. With the Jets there are more questions than answers.


1. We know that they have a good defense and Rex Ryan can coach defense and scheme with the best of them. But I blogged before about the fact that if Darrelle Revis is not shutting down one side of the field it weakens the Jets defense more than “experts” want to admit (Ryan included). How can you blitz your safeties if you need to provide help over the top? Relying on a rookie and Antonio Cromartie (and his matador ways) presents problems for the complex blitzing schemes that are built upon the assumption that at least one side of the field will be shutdown with safety help. Chances are the Revis situation will get resolved (regardless of the public statements by Woody Johnson the Jets’ owner)

2. Mark Sanchez not an elite quarterback yet. He was pedestrian last year. Granted he was not asked to do much and he delivered less. He threw for 2,444 yards, a 12-20 touchdown to interception ratio, and a QB rating of 63. Not exactly stellar. Again, if the Jets had not slipped into the playoffs last year the questions following Sanchez would be about does he have the ability to be an efficient, effective passer in the NFL, and can he afford a sophmore slump that has plagued many QBs. Those questions remain regardless of the hype.

3. The Jets are faced with issues at receiver. There starting receivers will miss a total of 5 games this season due to league suspensions. Santonio Holmes will miss 4 games due to suspension did break a thousand yards (1248) with 5 TD with the Steelers (a year that they threw more than ran) and was traded in the off season when he wore out his welcome in Pittsburgh. Braylon Edwards, who was traded to the Jets after wearing out his welcome in Cleveland), will miss 1 game due to suspension. Edwards hardly lived up to the lofty expectations of a former number 1 pick putting up 680 yards and 4 TD while still having those annoying alligator arms. So needless to say there are some question marks at receiver for New York.

4. The Jets let go of Thomas Jones who rushed for 1402 yards and 14 TDs last season. He was durable, powerful, and effective. They do have Shonn Greene who rushed for 540 yards and 2 TDs last season. He looks like the real deal but depth is key in the modern NFL especially in this era of the two back systems.

5. No fear you say as they added LaDainian Tomlinson as a free agent in the off season. Now, I am one of the biggest LT fans there is. I lived in central Texas when he was tearing it up at University High School in Waco, Texas and then at TCU. I thought he should have won the Heisman Trophy 2001 and been the number one pick over Michael Vick in that year's NFL draft. But he’s done. As sad as it is to admit and I want to be wrong. But he put up 730 yards at 3.3 yards per carry last year. He can’t stay healthy and the numbers (age and yards per carry) are working against him. The Jets also added the over the hill Jason Taylor (7 sacks last year) and will use him at outside linebacker (too small to play DE in a 3-4 defense).

6. The last thing working against the Jets is all of those annoying distractions. There are the Hard Knocks cameras, there is the Revis contract situations, there are numerous players on the last year of their contracts (see Holmes and Edwards), there is LT accepting that he is not a star back anymore but a complementary player, and the biggest distractions of all, Rex Ryan. Coach Ryan, I respect your defensive prowess and your powers of motivation but shut up. In case you haven’t noticed your team has not won anything, has issues (see above), is fully coated in hype, and your “brashness” isn’t cute anymore, it’s just a distraction.

The New York Jets already overhyped and soon to be overrated.

Seriously?

Each week I will look back at the week that was with a bit of a sarcastic tone in a weekly segment called, “Seriously?” This is my version of the Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler segment called “Really!?!” on SNL’s Weekend Update.

So its official Darrelle Revis, the New York Jet’s star cornerback, is holding out for more cash money. I’m not a fan of holdouts and not being a Jets fan I couldn’t care less if he reports to camp on time, missed the preseason, or even real games. But Rex Ryan saying that the Jets will have the best defense and win the Super Bowl without Revis has me just a smidge perplexed. Seriously, Rex? He was your Defensive Player of the Year last year. Remember when you were whining over Charles Woodson of the Pack winning the award? Rex was so pissed that I thought he was going to go all Al Davis and roll out an overhead projector. Now, you don’t need him? Seriously? You are cool with Rookie Kyle Wilson and Dwight Lowery starting opposite Antonio Cromartie? Have you watched any tape on Cromartie? Put on the tape from the Jets/Chargers game from the Playoffs last season, you remember that one, don’t you? Call that exhibit one. He cannot tackle and calling him a “cover corner” is quite generous. Seriously, Rexy? If I go online to fathead.com and order a Rex Ryan Fathead for my basement, do you actually show up at the door? By the way, Rex, I understand this is posturing but come on, make it believable. There is no more important player to the Jets; they don’t call it Regis Island for nothing. With the blitzing nature of a 46 defense it is essential to be able to close off one half of the field. Regis can do that his replacements, not so much.

So the saga continues as Albert Haynesworth still cannot pass his conditioning test for the Washington Redskins. He failed it on Thursday and Friday last week and then rested on Saturday and Sunday. Okay wait, you are out of shape and your resting? Seriously? This is like someone on a diet taking a weekend to chow down at the local McDonald’s. Where is the logic on this? Okay, his knee is swollen but that’s because he’s not in shape. Seriously, Albert? You have been paid $35M over the past 16 months to be a professional athlete. You have the money now, when do you turn into a professional athlete? Obviously, not today as you refused to take the test. Seriously? Step one Albert, hire a trainer. Step two, show up at Redskins Park for team workouts it will help you in the long run. Step three, carbs are not your friend. Step four, look up the word professional and memorize the definition…use flash cards if you need to.

Alex Rodriguez is still stuck on 599 career homeruns. Seriously, is anyone surprised that A-Rod went all mental on us as he chases 600 career home runs. He did the same thing on 499 to 500. Has there ever been a player of his caliber that is more mentally fragile. Just when you think that he may have broken through to the other side (see last year’s playoffs) he goes mental. Seriously, get it over with and it will be better for all of us…do us all a favor, please. Some will say that this proves just how hard the game is but A-Rod has gone 9 for 38 in his little homer drought. I think it proves that baseball, more than most sports, is played not on the infield dirt or the outfield grass but on that very small patch of “land” between the ears. Seriously, like a band-aid A-Rod.

Is it me or did the New York Yankees go wee bit nutso at the MLB trade deadline? Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns, and Kerry Wood? Seriously, are they assembling the NL All-Star team from 2003? Experts praised the Yankees moves. Seriously? It reeked of a front office that was itching to do something because they felt like that had too. With Cliff Lee and Dan Haren gone and Adam Dunn going nowhere the Yankees responded like a college kids with a new credit card in their pocket. Seriously, Yankees you are a big sea fisherman don’t start fishing at the local pond.

The Philadelphia Phillies traded for Roy Oswalt…Seriously, I’m so very surprised. Seriously, I’m shocked.

Lane Kiffin. Seriously? That’s all I have to write. Seriously.

I hope that someone got fired over at the Major League Soccer home offices this week. After Manchester United wiped the pitch with the MLS All Stars someone has to ask, seriously? Who thought it was a good idea to schedule an exhibition to showcase just how bad the MLS is? Seriously, why does the MLS need an All Star game? Can anyone name 11 players in the MLS (and I’ll give you Landon Donovan can you give me the other 10)? Are those 11 players, All Stars? Next year, MLS, just hand out certificates to your “All Stars” and give them a few days off. Seriously embarrassing, Man U scored in the first 24 seconds and this is soccer not basketball.


Through My Head: Random Musings

If an NFL rookie does not have a contract can they really be a holdout?

Domonique Foxworth’s season ending injury (ACL) on the first day of Ravens camp is potentially a huge blow to the Ravens’ season. Already thin at corner and with the prospect of Ed Reed missing substantial time the Ravens defense, particularly the secondary, could be the weak link on a strong team.

Way to go Cincinnati Reds. Taking 2 of 3 from the Braves is exactly how you challenge for the central division title and the wildcard.

This has been a great MLB season so far and the stretch run is shaping up to be one of the most compelling in years. We are enjoying tight races in all but one division (AL West). It’s August and I can only confidently say that three teams (Yankees, Rays, and Rangers) are playoff bound.