Here is a piece of Bill Simmons' article of this year's preseason breakdown. For those who don't read his stuff, aside from him being a BoSox and NEPats fan which I hate him for, he's well worth reading year round. Here you go... http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmonspreview/070906&sportCat=nfl The Odd Man Out 13. New York Jets I liked their offseason maneuvering and continue to like their head coach, but they have one fundamental problem that delves beyond "they're playing a tougher schedule this year," and "they only beat one above-.500 team last season," and even "statistically, by any calculation, these guys didn't have a top-12 offense or a top-20 defense last year." Here's the problem: You can't contend for a Super Bowl if your quarterback can't throw deep. Not only does every Jets fan know this (hence, the lusty boos for Chad Pennington last month), their QB of the future (Kellen Clemens) looked good enough in the preseason that he could conceivably be effective right away. That puts Pennington in the same situation Jake Plummer found himself in after the Cutler pick last year; basically, Pennington's margin for error has been removed for the entire 2007 season, the Jets fans will be cheering or booing him on a play-by-play basis, and the situation won't resolve itself until Clemens takes his job. Which should probably happen by Week 8. As we've learned over the years, QB controversies rarely lead to playoff success unless Drew Bledsoe is the guy losing his job. (Random note: We found out last spring that Larry David was a die-hard Jets fan who even calls Eric Mangini and the front office to talk shop from time to time. Could you have picked a better NFL team for him? They haven't won a Super Bowl in nearly 40 years; their greatest receiver couldn't see out of one eye; their most famous player tried to make out with Suzy Kolber on national TV; they lost a head coach who quickly signed with their arch-rival and won three Super Bowls; their most beloved defensive player had his career ended by a chop block from that same arch-rival, then watched his son get drafted by that same arch-rival and win a Super Bowl with them; they were victimized by the only fake spike that actually worked in NFL history; and now, their most famous fan is the guy who created a classic TV comedy about a self-loathing, sarcastic guy who hates interacting with anyone and assumes the worst at all times. That's right, J ... E ... T ... S ... JETS JETS JETS!!!)
Humorous but tumorous. Written like a true NE fan. Ah, the Pats' inevitable downfall will be spectacular -- I can't wait to witness it.
Page 2 on the Jets http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/070906&sportCat=nfl New York Jets Optimistic Fan: "Nothing is better than Mangenius! No, I said Man-GENIUS, not Man-GI ? look, I'm not into that, OK? Pervert." Pessimistic Fan: "The Patriots added Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss, Donte' Stallworth, Wes Welker and about 14 other good players. We added a Bears running back who very well may be a carrier of whatever Rex Grossman has." http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmonspreview/070906&sportCat=nfl The Odd Man Out 13. New York Jets I liked their offseason maneuvering and continue to like their head coach, but they have one fundamental problem that delves beyond "they're playing a tougher schedule this year," and "they only beat one above-.500 team last season," and even "statistically, by any calculation, these guys didn't have a top-12 offense or a top-20 defense last year." Here's the problem: You can't contend for a Super Bowl if your quarterback can't throw deep. Not only does every Jets fan know this (hence, the lusty boos for Chad Pennington last month), their QB of the future (Kellen Clemens) looked good enough in the preseason that he could conceivably be effective right away. That puts Pennington in the same situation Jake Plummer found himself in after the Cutler pick last year; basically, Pennington's margin for error has been removed for the entire 2007 season, the Jets fans will be cheering or booing him on a play-by-play basis, and the situation won't resolve itself until Clemens takes his job. Which should probably happen by Week 8. As we've learned over the years, QB controversies rarely lead to playoff success unless Drew Bledsoe is the guy losing his job. (Random note: We found out last spring that Larry David was a die-hard Jets fan who even calls Eric Mangini and the front office to talk shop from time to time. Could you have picked a better NFL team for him? They haven't won a Super Bowl in nearly 40 years; their greatest receiver couldn't see out of one eye; their most famous player tried to make out with Suzy Kolber on national TV; they lost a head coach who quickly signed with their arch-rival and won three Super Bowls; their most beloved defensive player had his career ended by a chop block from that same arch-rival, then watched his son get drafted by that same arch-rival and win a Super Bowl with them; they were victimized by the only fake spike that actually worked in NFL history; and now, their most famous fan is the guy who created a classic TV comedy about a self-loathing, sarcastic guy who hates interacting with anyone and assumes the worst at all times. That's right, J ... E ... T ... S ... JETS JETS JETS!!!) http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmonspreview/070907&sportCat=nfl JETS (+6.5) over Patriots The second-dumbest line of the week. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrookpreview/070904 Now holds team dinners at Nuovo Vesuvio's. The Jersey/B Jets. Forecast finish: 8.8-7.2 http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/070905 Just a blurb on the Titans uni
My favorites were the quotes for the Pats and for the Cards: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Optimistic Fan: [Something loud, annoying and boastful, but ultimately indecipherable because it was said with a thick Boston accent. Possibly a New Kids On The Block lyric.] ARIZONA CARDINALS: Optimistic Fan: "Matt Leinart will treat opposing defenses like a bastard son." You could use the latter for Brady as well.
Wesley was probably our 3rd best WR behind Maynard and Toon and klecko's career ended as a member of the Colts AGAINST the Jets.
I think the writer nows that but he is refering to the chop block by New England that effectively prevented him from being the same guy that made the Pro-Bowl at 3 positions.
