It's obvious you disagree with the CS and the FO. My question is what to do about it besides whine and criticize the QBs? I'm just suggesting that these conversations should be more constructive, not just impotent and redundant rants in the face of the people with the discretion. What are your alternatives? Who are the veteran quarterbacks with "something left" available in 06 FA? in 07 FA? in 08 FA? How long would it take these FA or tradebait veteran quarterback(s) to master the BS offensive strategy? Why do you think they would be better running BS offensive strategy than the QBs we have now? To be able to discuss whether or not there is a viable alternative to what this CS / FO has done in any position needs to have the alternatives identified, along with some justification for their selection. The easiest thing in the world is to criticize Chad and/or Kellen for their recent body of work. What's the realistic alternative? By the way, just to add some grist for your grinding on this, here's one consensus argument for which QB can do what: http://www.walterfootball.com/story2007_QB.php
^ It's pretty much too late now. Earlier in the offseason, something should/could have been done. Swapping Chad for a mid-late round draft pick, and in turn swapping a mid-late round pick for a viable backup would have been the path I would have taken. But just because we are stuck in a sh*t situation, doesn't mean I'm not going to complain about it. I don't have any say in the team. Nothing I say is going to be 'constructive'- but that doesn't mean I'm going to sit on my hands, smiling and nodding as the FO gives half of the first team reps to a guy who we KNOW isn't our QB of the future, or even a viable QB of the present. The 'realistic' alternative, as I had been saying since the start of the offseason, was to ditch Chad, and sign or trade for a decent, but complacent veteran backup. It's too late now, but that doesn't mean I'm happy with the situation. So I'll sit here and complain all I want. And if Chad does his training-camp-superstar act, like he always does, and wins the starting job, I'll gripe the whole time. That's why we have the message board. It would be pretty boring if we couldn't voice our concerns or disapproval.
So, I think you are saying that there are no real alternatives now. Okay, I actually happen to agree with you. But what about during the 06 off season? What about the 07 off season? Where are the veteran QBs with "something left" that you think are obvious alternatives? See, I really don't think there are a lot of big QB alternatives out there. I believe every NFL team has to face up to the fact that they have to pick a QB in the draft and work on him hard. The number of Garcias that are out there for the picking are zilch. If the team is serious about developing better skill players it must face facts: There has to be a conducive environment in which they have a chance to develop. That does NOT involve a 'finesse' OL that cannot win the line of scrimmage, but does get people hurt. It also does NOT include a spotty defense that hits and misses too much of the time. Otherwise you get them busted up as with Chad, or provide them with hopeless downs they can do nothing with as with Kellen. Until you fix the OL and the D your QBs don't have a chance to develop. It is slow and expensive and frustrating and not a very straight line to travel either. But if the NYJs don't do it that way, then I don't believe the NYJs can ever get better. It seems to me that the NYJs face getting a real dominating running game firmly established, turning up a fierce defense that can stop the run or the pass, and all the while coaching up these skill players they already have. They'll fight to win as much as they can, while the drafts come along, they pick better personnel and get better as they can (personnel opportunity and apt coaching). I don't believe that this CS and FO are in the frying pan or even out of it in the fire. These guys have sold ownership on a five year plan now that "they've got their feet wet." They better be doing something like this. It's the real chance that they do have, it seems to me.
Another excellent post from Beamen. I totally agree with this. One player I think the Jets should have looked very closely at was Chris Simms. There's no way Simms would have been worse than Chad, and had upside to be much better. He's young enough that if he won the competition against Clemens the team could have considered drafting another Qb next year, in the meantime assessing Ainge, and maybe even determining that Clemens might stay on the roster. The present situation is a far worse scenario than that. I have said before unless Mangini and Tanny have reason to think Clemens is going to light it up and win this so called competition hands down, the thinking behind even taking a small chance that Chad is the better Qb of the two is just plain inexcusable.
Dear Mr. Big Blocker, Nobody has seen whether Chris Simms can play football yet. Gruden hasn't had the pleasure of his company on the football field as yet. Until Chris Simms shows what he can do after this terrible last two years since his spleen was blasted, how can you say what he is? Gruden doesn't know whether to cut him or trade him or play him or what...? If Gruden doesn't know, then how can the NYJ's CS / FO? And so, how can the NYJ's fan base know what is a Chris Simms circa June 2008?
