Regardless of what happens on my birthday- the J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets! have gone waaaaaay above and beyond what anyone could have possibly dreamed of earlier in 2009...So, I'm not jumping on the bandwagon...I helped build the bandwagon. There have been sooo many themes, takes, stories regarding the Jets improbably, if not damn near impossible run in the playoffs- I tweet way more than any human who isn't a hermit should- but I can't get everything out in 140 characters. So here goes...
Jets fans aren't like Yankees fans Like the METS, the Jets aren't even the most famous team in their city. Red-headed step children of the Big Apple...always in the shadow of the far more white collar & respectable NY Giants. I've only been a JETS fan for 9 years, and it didn't take me long to figure out that the JETS are the mississippi state of NYC...the Giants are Ole Piss. We aren't destined for anything. Jets fans don't feel entitled to win a championship- which makes our giddiness this week even more sincere- this is an uncommon feeling- to be in the same sentence with Favre, New Orleans, THE FREAKING MANNING QUADRUPLE MVP....we aren 't all going to jump off a bridge if we don't win on Saturday- we barely ever boo our team (at least I'm in denial that it happens).
This is NOT Eric Mangini's team
Sorry RC...sorry Cleveland.com....sorry the Brownie Blogs I read today. I have a soft spot in my heart for Cleveland- my amazingly fabulous boss is a season ticket holder, my friend Alvin played Defense for the Browns, and well, bless their hearts. Oh- and for the 5th pick in the 2009 draft. I read a blog post today that said "wouldn't it be interesting if someone asked Rex what it was like to cash in on all the hard work Mangini did in NY"....Yes, that would be interesting because i would love to hear T-Rex explain the roles that a General Manager (Mike "I drafted D'Brickashaw over Leinhart in the draft- yep- that's me" Tannenbaum) and head coach have in the Jets organization. At the end of last year, Mangini was the no-brainer to be let go- call it a scape goat or whatever, but Mangini made the JETS less Jets- and more Favre. By the end, the players were tired of a an offense and a season that was in tribute to Brett Favre. Fans watched our favorite, hard knocks quarterback, Chad Pennington- get shipped out like a pregnant teenager to boarding school- in favor of a farce. When Brett didn't deliver (hurt or not)- there was never a coaching move made to give the jets a chance to win....everything revolved around Brett. How were the other players supposed to feel? There were rumblings last year that players were getting restless under the Mangenious...
Just because Darrelle Revis and Nick Mangold were drafted under Eric Mangini doesn't mean that he is the reason they are stars. There was a master plan put into action before Eric Mangini came on board- I've heard Tannenbaum relay the pieces at least 3 times on the radio in the past 2 weeks. If it makes the Browns fans feel better to know that the same coach who fined players over a thousand dollars for drinking a bottle of water in a hotel room- also assembled the jets offensive line- fine, I'll give them halfsies on that one. BUT, here is a list of players who were not on an Eric Mangini team- Mark Sanchez, Bart Scott, Lito Sheppard, Shonn Green, Jim Leohnard.
Even more proof? There are 30 players that were either signed, drafted, or had contracts extended during the Mangini years (source- www.cantonrep.com)...that are still on the JETS team. Tell me how Mangini essentially did very little with them, but Rex has them walking through walls for him? If the proof is in the pudding, the pudding is Rex Ryan.
The Braylon Edwards Factor: in Cleveland, his behavior, his assault of King James friend, etc was a distraction. He dropped balls from experienced quarterbacks who (no offense- were awful)...every mistake he made was magnified by the surrounding horror that was the Cleveland Browns in 2009. Mangini couldn't harness the Edwards factor- addition by subtraction was the key phrase of that trade. Browns fans felt like he was garbage...Jets fans were happy to have a wide receiver to put in the mix for Sanchez. In the end, Rex took a "problem child" and made him a non-factor...he's just another player on the TEAM. If he doesn't succeed under Rex, he's probably not that gifted- that's my take on it. His performance hasn't improved while in NY, but his antics and showboating haven't continued in NY either. Mangini could never quite overcome the personalities of his players in NY....now, Rex has so much personality that he drowns out even the most robust gang green character.
Jets as Favorites????
As more and more "experts" start to make the sexy pic against the Colts, a strange, eerie feeling is building deep in my over-analytical mind that it won't matter. It's not about respect anymore...the people who think the JETS don't deserve to be in the championship game are never going to respect the Jets. The reason I've softened up on the experts starting to pick the Jets is that the Jets are already confident....they have the confidence of their coach, and no confidence from Jaws, or Mark Schlereth, or Mike Ditka is going to mean more to them or even infiltrate them more than the confidence that Rex Ryan has in them. I have to believe this. If I don't believe this, I'll go nuts.
Mike Francessa is either chemically imbalanced OR there is a conspiracy in NYC to make Jets fans so irate and angry from 1-6 each day that we go crazy.
This week has been something of a microcosm of my entire catalog of reasons why Mike Francessa has no soul.
Here are some of my counterpoints to his ridiculousness- and why don't I call in? Well, I've heard him say "I'm not going to listen to this", "you're an idiot"+hangup, and "why did you put ____ though, i'm not going to spend time on this"+Hangup no less than 17 times this week. I kept a small tally on my post it notes yesterday and today.
1. Couch fans. He has accussed everyone but the famous Ira of being a "couch fan"...because all "these jets fans" don't really go to games, and unless you go to every game, you can't possibly have the right to believe in the Jets. Translation: YOU AREN'T A REAL FAN.
Hold on just one DAMN minute Franny- that would mean, by your definition, that only fans who live within reasonable driving distance, or who have ridiculous resources to travel to every home game can really be fans. THAT IS CRAZY...just on my twitter feed alone, I know of Jets fans frmo California to south Florida, and everywhere in between. And trust me Franny- the Jets aren't a sexy team to pick if you are in the market for a NFL team to follow. I should know- I feel like the JETS picked me...not the other way around. I was a forlorn Houston Oilers fan with no team...and i was living in the middle of Redskins hell. I'm NO LESS A FAN just because I have to watch some games from the couch.
2. "the Jets Defense is good, but it's not great". Well, at least if Franny met someone who had suffered through unconciousness during the past 5 months, he would have something in common with them. If you are ranked #1 in total defense, and at least 3 other defensive categories, and in the playoffs, place kickers are 0-5 (including chip shot) fieldgoals...AND you have Darrelle Revis covering EVERY RECEIVER...you get to say you have a great defense. NOt the greatest ever- let's be real- this is NOT the best our Defense will ever be...the biggest room in the world, is the room for improvement.
3. The Colts don't talk- they just win. Okay- it's a personality thing. YOU CAN'T STAND THAT JETS FANS AND PLAYERS ARE HAPPY AND PROUD TO BE JETS FANS AND NOT JUST STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE GIANTS. The Colts can talk or not talk- but for the love of Revis- what is wrong with having players do interviews and be excited- Rex has done somethign amazing this year- players who are normally never even on an interview list are getting some exposure- it's fun for them...it's fun for the fans....and no harm no foul. It's not like the JETS are trash talking- they all give Peyton Manning respect and the Colts defense respect....and they are excited to go in as underdogs. Franny constantly acts like the Jets should just sit down and shut up and just be happy to be in the game. What good does it do if the only experience the Jets players have is of scared, silenced bodies?? Nothing to lose....and everything to gain...the only guarantee is the experience itself should be worthwhile.
4. Franny interview experts- ala Phil Simms or a Jets insider (mike Tannenbaum)- and he suddenly is respectful, quiet, calm, he doesn't say the outrageous, ignorant things he spews every 30 seconds on the air the rest of the show. Phil Simms echoed what many fans said calling into the show- and Franny didn't call him an idiot...didn't complain that his call got through. I have to wonder if Mike Tannenbaum knew everything that Francessa said each day, if he would still go on the show? When I know any of the Jets are going to be on 1050 ESPN- i always change the channel. I think Jets fans would switch to the "jets channel" if the Jets PR folks decided to just give him the silent treatment....he doesn't deserve to speak with the Jets...he is hateful and despicable.
The Jets have made it tough this season...ups and downs...loving and frustrating. If the JETS season was a novel, it would be hard to classify as a non-fiction because it's hard to believe anything that has happened is true. For all the years, nothing broke our way....for all the permutations that had to occur in order for the jets to overcome horrid displays on the field to make the playoffs...and playing on the road...it's the makings of an amazing story. I don't even care how it ends. The future is bright- and while not making it to the Superbowl would be a monumental disappointment to the other 3 teams...it would be a monumental surprise for Jets fans. That's the most comforting feeling of all...
I really want to start a campaign to get a Sexy Rexy Bobble Belly-head for Rex Ryan...how adorable is he? not only is he adorable, but he's funny...he's obviously, extremely intelligent....and he LOVES LOVES LOVES Being a JET.
Dreaming in Green and White tonight....
Oh, and Sports Illustrated can BITE MY BIG TOE. Apparently, they cursed Brett Favre 75% to Sanchez 25% b/c the Sanchez cover is only in the NY and parts of Socal market. :-)
On a side note- my favorite Mets blogger (www.metsgrrl.com) #followFriday'd me on Twitter. I'm kind of a dork (and I always feel like I don't communicate as well as I would like- but it was a HUGE flattering statement coming from her because I love love love her blog so much)- and her blog makes her seem like she's the cool, hip, actual New Yorker, version of me as a girlie baseball fan. I've read her blog for 3 years now...making Bulldog read her posts that sound sooooo like me...and laughing that I can't believe there is someone who sees baseball the way I do- it's uncanny. One day i'll tell her about my blog because she once said "I should have a blog" on twitter because- I HAVE A LOT TO SAY....but, I need to spend some SERIOUS time this baseball season, But it would be like Julie and Julia...what if she hated it?
