A look at the 2010 Free Agent Class (offense)...

I see a few pressing needs for us this offseason. The first would be the second most important position on any NFL team: back up QB. A high quality back up is invaluable. I prefer a seasoned vet to a young wanna-be. I like the idea of keeping Eric Ainge on our roster. He has some serious upside, and even though our future franchise QB wears number six, an insurance policy like Ainge can be very useful. For now I think he needs to stay in the #3 spot. As for the #2 QB, I only see 3 potential FA's of interest.

Chad Pennington will probably be available. First, he has to decide if he can accept that he's not a starter anymore. If he can handle that concept, the next question is: will he want to wear the green and white again? He can become the best back up QB in the NFL, but I don't think he fits here.

Next up is John Kitna. He's 37 and doesn't have much left in the tank. If Mark was to go down late in the season a guy like Kitna could have a chance to carry the team through the playoffs. I guess he wouldn't be a bad choice, if he can pass a physical.

Finally we have Mr. Rex Grossman. He's 30 years old, and hasn't started a game in over two years. I feel he got a bad wrap in Chi-town and I would have no problem with him backing up the Sanchise. He can play the position, and if Mark went down long term he has the best chance of taking the reigns and keeping the ship afloat.

Our backfield is a real position of interest this offseason. I would love to get our hands on Le'Ron McClain of Baltimore. He's only 25 and could develop into an elite FB. There aren't any other obtainable backs of any high value on the market this year. The status of Leon Washington is ultra important to the NY Jets. Obviously we have the young Greene on our roster, but he is not qualified to carry the load for us at this early point of his career. A backfield with a 100% rehabilitated Washington and McClain would put us in a solid position. Some big big question marks.

As for the WR's I would like to see us hold on to Edwards, Clowney and Brad Smith. I wouldn't give any of them big, long term contracts. Those three combined with Cotchery and Keller are a pretty dynamic squad.

I wouldn't do much regarding the offensive line, but I would try to target a a right tackle in the draft to take Woody's place in the next year or two.

As for the TE and kicker positions I would target two Patriots. Ben Watson is available and would be a perfect compliment to Dustin Keller. He could really be the missing piece to our entire offense. Stephen Gostkowski will also be up for grabs, and I think he has a very bright future in this league. He's done a good job in New England and I am sure the stingy Pats won't pay him what he's worth. I would love to sign both of these chowder heads.

Stay tuned for my defensive free agent list...

The season is over... what have we learned?

Here are the facts:

Rex Ryan has won the complete confidence of his team, GM and owner. Great job changing the culture around here, but I do have issues with how he ran his mouth in the beginning of the season. Confidence is great, and I was really excited as a fan to see the tactics he was using to motivate the players at the end of the season. Stating that he felt we were the best team in the playoffs was perfectly fine. Frankly, you don't belong in the post season if you don't have that level of confidence. He really toned things down in the final 2 months of the season, but he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way in the early going, and that why so many things that he says are blown out of proportion now.

That being said, he has a very high standard and the players are aware of what is expected of them as individuals and as a team. Rex made some major 'in game' coaching mistakes this season, including attempting a 52 yard field goal at the start of the second half yesterday. That was the real turning point of the game, and it was down hill from there. I feel 100% confident that he will learn from his rookie mistakes and get better as time goes on.

Mark Sanchez has started 18 NFL games, including 3 in the post season. His record is over .500 and he has two playoff road wins on his resume. Thats pretty impressive for a rookie. Lets remember how may seasons it took Peyton Manning and Tony Romo to record their first playoff win. Romo is still waiting for #2. It turned out that starting him from day 1 and sticking with him provided some invaluable experience. it was a huge gamble that paid off. There will certainly be growing pains in 2010, but I expect to see him grow by leaps and bounds.

Our offensive line is the most dominate unit in the NFL. They protected the rookie very well and lead us to the #1 rushing attack in the league. If we had an elite RB like Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson there is no telling what records they could break. Faneca and Woddy are getting a bit long in the tooth, but we should get at least another 2 solid seasons out of them. If a talented RT were to fall to us in the draft I wouldn't object to picking him up.

Braylon Edwards is a rare talent, but he is not consistent. I don't see him going anywhere because Lito Sheppard will likely be dropped very soon. Last year we gave up a 3rd round pick for Favre and got one season of service out of it. This year we spent a 3rd rounder on Sheppard and he will most likely also end up as one and done. To give up a draft pick and a player like Chansi Stuckey for only a partial season from Edwards would look pretty bad in the press. So Edwards will probably be in the green and white in 2010. For better, or for worse.

Jericho Cotchery is a #1 wide-out. No question.

Shonn Greene was an excellent value in the 3rd round. Mr T. has been ultra confident during the last few drafts trading away multiple picks to move up for players like, Revis, Harris, Keller, Sanchez and Greene. All have either turned out to be home runs, or are on their way out of the park as we speak. Pretty damn impressive. Question is... how did we miss so badly on Vernon Gholston?

Vernon Gholston is a waste of space. There is no doubt he has some amazing physical gifts including uncommon speed and strength. But, if you can't hack it in either the Belichick/Mangini 3-4 scheme or the Rex Ryan 2 gap... you are not worth a first round pick. His main problem seems to be desire. If he ever gets hungry he may become a terror in this league. But, I am pretty sure he is eating very well with the millions he has already collected from Woody Johnson.

We had the #1 defense this year and our defensive line still needs major work. We have one of the best DT in all of football. Kris Jenkins is a beast, but he is also injury prone and old. If next year wasn't an uncapped season I would say dump #77 now. But since his salary isn't a factor in 2010 I think we should give him a chance to see if he can rehab his injury and be our starter again. He is a real leader and a very high character guy. We need a big bodied young player to be his apprentice.

Sean Ellis really shocked me this year. I feel he has been lazy and unproductive for the past few seasons. When Big Jenks went down Ellis really stepped up. He can still have an impact in 2010 but again we need a young DE to play behind him and learn. His days are numbered.

At the other DE spot we have a gaping hole. I proposed a trade for Richard Seymore of the Oakland Raiders. He is miserable there and would love a chance to get back to the AFC East to try and punish Belichick. Osi Umenyiora would be a nice pick up as well. A player like Kerry Rhodes would be nice trade bait for either of these game changing linemen. The Giants will be open to moving Osi and he could fill two spots for us. In a four man front he and Calvin Pace could play DE with Ellis and Jenkins inside. And, in a traditional 3 man front Pace and Umenyiora could move to OLB. Just a thought.

So there are the facts. Rex and Mark have set the bar very high in year #1. For as long as they are part of this organization, anything less than a Superbowl will be considered a failure. And that my friends is exactly how it should be.

This will be the most exciting offseason for the Jets in my 25 years of following them. In my heart I feel this is the beginning of something special.

Absolut Bullshit... Grading NFL coaches in 2009

How and when do teams decide to make a change at the head coaching spot, and why do they pick who they pick?

I'll start with Marvin Lewis. I attacked the Bengals for keeping him as their coach this past offseason. I also apologized at the mid-way point of the season when they got off to a hot start. I said I was wrong and I was impressed by their defense and the way they were winning close games. The second half of the season was very rough in Cincinnati and the Jets beat them back to back weeks and ended their 'Cinderella' season. It became obvious to me that Mike Zimmer the Bengals Def. coordinator was the difference in this team. Lewis has been the headcoach of this team for SIX years... yes SIX years. He has a below .500 record and zero playoff wins. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE CINCINNATI! Jeeeeze.

I am not a believer in making changes after one season, but I can't knock the Seahawks for dumping Jim Mora for Pete Carol. I don't think anyone expected the Seahawks to make the playoffs, but 5-11... seriously? That is not acceptable anyway you look at it. There is a realistic chance Reggie Bush gets cut by the Saints in the offseason because of his ridiculous contract. I'm pretty sure Matt Lienhart would be available for a bargain price via trade this offseason. Wouldn't t be an awesome story if Carol decided to try and reunite his two stars who hae disappointed in the NFL in an attempt to resurrect their careers and the Seahawks all at the same time? Just a thought.

I am shocked that Tom Cable and Eric Mangini still have their jobs, and the Chan Gailey hiring has me dumbfounded... but all three of those teams are complete non-factors year after year, so who really cares?

I like that Jerry Jones had the balls to retain Wade Phillips. He has done an excellent job with the Cowboys and he has a knack for dealing with all of those over inflated ego's. His players play hard for him ad he deserves to finish what he started. However, I think this decision says more about Jason Garrett than is does Wilson. Garrett was the heir apparent a few years back and he has turned down at least two offers to be a headcoach elsewhere. Obviously Jones is not convinced about him.

If I were the owner of the Titans I would hold Jeff Fisher accountable for making the horrible decision of starting Collins and benching Vince Young during the first half of the season. When they were 0-5 Fisher still didn't want to make a change until the owner demanded it. Young took the field and did what he always does... win games. If you are an owner and you need to demand roster moves... and it completely turns the season around, it's time to find a new coach. The Titans have a player who broke the all time yards from scrimmage record including over 2000 rushing yards, and they couldn't even get a wildcard birth? Over 15 years with the team and Fisher still hasn't won the big game yet? Time to move on.

I like how the Panthers are giving John Fox on final year to turn things around in Carolina. If he can dig up another QB everything will fall into place for that team. I really respect Fox, and it would have been very easy to dump him. Instead the Panthers are letting him finish the last year of his contract and it may pay huge dividends for them.

I would say the most disappointing rookie head coaching debut this past season was Steve Spagnuolo in ST. Louis. If I were to score a job as the headcoach of an NFL franchise one of my first priorities would be to establish who my QB was going to be. I know it is very very very hard to find a productive QB in tis league. 75% of the teams in the NFL are struggling to find the right guy. That being said, the last person on the face of the earth I would allow to compete for that important job on my team would be Kyle Boller. What in the world was Spagnuolo thinking giving this guy a roster spot, not to mention starting him? Bad move Steve.

My final coach I will mention is Jim Caldwell of the Colts. Dude... I could probably coach that team and win 14 games. I don't care what anyone has to say, Peyton Manning runs that team. Caldwell has hit the NFL lottery by scoring that job. Much like George Seifert in San Francisco and Barry Switzer in Dallas. It's hard to grade a rookie headcoach when they are taking over an elite team. I guess he gets an A+ for keeping his mouth shut and not messing anything up.

Mike Francesa

Dude, I was a big fan of the Mike and the Mad Dog show back in the day. I always felt Francesa was a little unfair and disrespectful when giving his opinions and analysis of our beloved Ny Jets. Some Jet fans have expressed their opinion that he 'hates' the Jets, or has some-sort-of vendetta against the franchise. I rarely agree with what he says, but I do respect his view. I never felt he had anything against the Jets... until a few weeks ago.

First off, since Chris Russo left the show I probably tune in once a month. When he was on the show I was a regular listener (2-3 times a week). FATcesa is simply out of control without someone to keep him in check and express a different viewpoint. He barks at fans like a cranky old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. During the heart of the NFL season he leads off with two hours of possible MLB offseason moves and trades. He simply wants to talk about the Yankees and the Giants. And frankly, those two teams are the only things he has any expertise on anymore.

Back to a few weeks ago... The Jets won a game vs. the Colts where they pulled their starters after 2.5 quarters. It was an amazing gift, and the scheduling Gods smiled upon us. We got lucky, and every team that has ever won a Superbowl has had at least few lucky breaks. No one is apologizing for the win and the story is dead. I don't blame Fat Boy for talking about it the week after the week 16 game, thats his job. But today.... 4 weeks later... he is still beating this dead horse. I tuned in today and he spent the first hour of his show crying about how the Jets would have never won that game, the Jets showed poor sportsmanship after the game, and we would have never beat the Bengals or the Chargers if t wasn't for so many missed fieldgoals.

He hasn't said one word about how amazing it is that we are in the Championship game with a rookie headcoach and QB. Not one positive word about Revis, Jones, Greene, Ellis (playing with the broken hand), Keller, Rhodes, Pace, Faneca, Mangold.... nothing. Everything he has said is negative and implying we don't deserve to be here. He says we didn't deserve to be on the same field with Indy 4 weeks ago... but, to cover his ass, he says we are a much better team now, so we have a chance to win. Thats so cowardly, if we were such garbage a month ago then step up and guarantee a Colts win now.

As I am writing this he is screaming at a Jets fan. He wants to know why we only put up 60 yards rushing in the first half week 16 (WTF?). He keeps screaming G-I-F-T Gift Gift Gift, like a spoiled 4 year old child. I think FATcesa has a responsibility as a NY broadcaster. When a NY team makes it to the final four in their respective league, he should point out what they do right and give credit where credit is due. When he doesn't, he is making it clear he has no respect for his listeners that are Jets fans. He is saying he doesn't want you to listen to his show, thats how egomaniacal he has become.

Jets fans, stop calling this show and letting him scream at you and hang up on you. Apparently he can afford to lose all the Jets fans in NY and around the country as listeners. So, just turn off the show and forget about it. He'll be off the air soon enough.

And when we win this week don't bother checking in to hear his take on it. If we win on a late 4th quarter turnover he will say it was a "Lucky Break". It looks like the only thing he is an expert on anymore is roast beef, pork chops and ice cream. You lost this Jets fan as a listener for good Fatty McButterpants!

The atmosphere with 4 days to go...

I have had some real issues with the consistency of the 2009 NY Jets. Most people felt it was a foregone conclusion that we would win week 17 vs. the Bengals. I wasn't so confident, but we won, and won big. I didn't think Sanchez was capable of winning a playoff game this season, and he played very well in Cincinnati. I was sure the game in San Diego was going to be the end of the road for us, and I was satisfied with our first season under new management. I thought we had already peaked and I was also feeling that we were lucky to have matched up with an overrated Bengals team. Well, as we all know, the Jets went to California and played even better against one of the NFL's most complete teams and their elite QB. And again, #6 got the job done.

I can say with confidence that the Saints, Colts, and Vikings are three of the most complete teams in this league and definitely deserve to be in the final four. I can say the same thing about the New York Jets. We have earned our place in the Championship game and we got their with a rookie QB. The other three teams that are still alive have elite veteran signal callers. Our opponent this week may have the best QB of all time behind center, and he is the league MVP... for the fourth time.

On paper it looks unlikely, improbable and a real long shot. As a fan, for the first time this season, I believe we can go head to head with a great team and win. This is the perfect game for us, because if we win everyone who has been attacking the Jets for 'backing' into the playoffs will have to sit down and shut up. I have been a Jets fan since the mid 1980's. If we win this game, the two weeks leading into the Superbowl will be some of the best of my life... and I am 100% sure of this.

Former Jets coach Bill Parcells once said that the whole reason he coached, the goal of the whole adventure, was to stand in the tunnel waiting to be introduced at the Superbowl. What that represents to him is opportunity. There are so many things that can go wrong in the coarse of the season and post season that can prevent any team from making it to the big game. When you get your shot it is a true miracle. It requires heart, perseverance, and a lot of luck.

I have personally waited 25 years for this chance, and some Jets fans have waited 4 decades. I am not afraid to put my faith in this team because during the past 4 weeks they have shown me that they have matured and that they are hungry... even starving.

So are their fans, lets go JETS!

Breaking down our biggest game in a decade...

I will make an attempt to analyze this weeks match up. Obviously #18 is the main weapon and focal point of everything the Colts do. It's been proven over the years that if you can get in his face and knock him down consistently, you can get him out of rhythm. We don't have an elite pass rusher, but our coach believes in giving every player a chance to rush the passer during the coarse of the game. We bring pressure from anywhere and everywhere. It will be almost impossible for Peyton to recognize every blitz and compensate properly. We should be able to get to him if we stay aggressive.

Our starters held up pretty well vs. their starters a few weeks ago, but I was frustrated by the vanilla play calling. Rushing three linemen on 3rd down and playing zone defense is suicide when playing against a genius like Manning. This guy is a once in a generation caliber athlete. Not since Jordan have I watched one player have the ability to take over an entire season. Peyton has been the MVP of this league for the better part of the past decade, even though he was only recognized 4 times.

The Colts are a much better team on paper, but a bloody nose can be a great equalizer. Manning has a plethora of targets to work with as well as two pretty dynamic running backs with Addai and the rookie Brown. We have not done anything tricky this year in the game planning department. There is no mystery here, we will try to run the ball and control the clock. The less Manning is on the field, the less damage he can do. Seems pretty simple, except for the fact that Miami played them in early 09' and their offense executed this game plan perfectly. They dominated the time of possession and came up with and"L" instead of a "W".

Our running game has really blossomed with the emergence of the powerful young rookie Greene, and the ultra reliable Jones. Our O-line has also stepped up in 09' and I feel confident calling them the best overall squad in the NFL. The way Indy shut down the Ravens rushing attack last week concerns me, but I just can't see how they will slow us down, especially if we mix in some well timed play action passes from #6, and a bunch of option plays with Brad Smith behind center. I would love to see Smith get the chance to throw the ball a few times. That 'wildcat' package could be very effective in the redzone. A few players that I feel will need to step for us are:

Lito Sheppard- He needs to stop playing lazy sloppy football and push himself to play like we all know he is capable. We won't be able to survive any big pass interference calls. The Colts will target #26 and we can't afford to give them anything.

Sean Ellis- I was so inspired by his performance in San Diego. He breaks his hand in the first quarter and only misses a couple series' before returning with a cast. I can tell you that I am sure he came back because he knows that our young defense looks to him as a leader. We need him out there. Broken hand or not, his presence alone will make us better.

David Harris- He's one of my favorite Jets, but he needs to improve his coverage skills. He is a great young LB, but he will get exposed quickly this Sunday if he isn't ready to rumble.

Braylon Edwards- I was so disgusted by the way he watched the ball sail over his head on the INT this past week. He needs to step up more than any other player on this squad. If we are going to win this week, and move on to the big game, we are going to need him to make some big plays when it counts. I hope he knows how lucky he is to be out of Cleveland and here in NY.

Two other players I would like to see get some touches are Danny Woodhead and David Clowney. These guys can contribute and cause some mismatches. This is the week to pull out all the stops. I have faith that our NY Jets can pull off the improbable upset, and no matter what anyone in Indianapolis is saying, the last team they want to face this week is the Jets. We have nothing to lose, we are overflowing with confidence, and we are playing and coaching without fear right now.

If we beat the Colts this week, I hope every 'expert' in the media that proclaimed their confidence about how we would have had no chance to win if Manning would have stayed in the game a few weeks ago, will admit that they were wrong and we are the better team. In the spirit of Broadway Joe, lets shock the world!!!

... where credit is do

I have spent almost an entire year expressing my disdain for Rex Ryans 'all or nothing' approach this season. As a rookie headcoach in the biggest media market in the world his big talking was very dangerous. By the end of November it stated to look like Rex might have talked himself out of a job. The team was losing game after game vs. inferior competition. Sanchez was struggling and I was not only worried about 2009, but I was looking ahead as well.

I called for Mike Tannenbaums job when it looked like there was no chance of making the playoffs this season. Things have worked out better than anyone could have predicted... everyone except for Rex Ryan. Coach made it clear from day one that our goal as a team was to win the Superbowl. He did nothing but express his overwhelming confidence in this squad, including his rookie QB.

I went on record regarding what a mistake I thought it was to start Sanchez from day #1. History tells us that rookie QB's are mistake prone and their ego's can be very fragile. Again, I was focused on the long term instead of today. Rex has his team playing like a well oiled machine, and he does an outstanding job of making sure they take things one game at a time.

I am not afraid to admit when I am wrong. Mr. T and Rex have pulled a rabbit from a hat in 2009, and they have laid the ground work for a very bright future. As a fan you have to be excited about the next 3-4 seasons. We have some great young players and coaches. We have hit some homeruns in the draft, and the decisions to hire Rex and retain Shotty as our offensive coordinator were brilliant.

I will always have a opinion as a fan, but I must say... being dead wrong has never felt so good!

Jets sweep the Bengals and then stomp the Chargers

I was away on business from the January 3rd until January 17th. I wasn't able to update this blog but I did keep up with gang green and boy how things have changed in 14 short days. We have gone from a team that needed a win just to have a shot at the post season, to the final four and a rematch with the Colts. Winning in Cincinnati and following that up with a win on the west coast is certainly no small accomplishment. Our Jets have overachieved and they go into next weeks game with nothing to lose.

The past two weeks will be looked back upon as a true turning point in the history of this franchise. We have a stable of young players that make up an excellent nucleus. Players like D'Brick, Mangold, Revis, Harris, Sanchez, Greene, Keller, Cotchery, and Leonhard are all 27 years old or younger. These are all pro-bowl caliber players. We also have a nice group of role players like Erik Smith, Lowery and Strickland who are also young.

Two players who are not on that list are Braylon Edwards and Leon Washington. I just don't know if these players will be with us in 2010. Washington is a big question mark because of his major season ending injury. We may also have a shot at signing Reggie Bush if he is dumped by the Saints this offseason. If we have a choice I would probably chose Bush, for reasonable money. As for #17, I have been so disgusted with his lackadaisical approach to the game, I would like to see him set free once the season is over. I have seen enough... Edwards will only slow down Mark's progression instead of help it. Edwards= Fail.

But, before we start thinking about our bright future we still have a game to play this coming Sunday at 3pm. As a die hard NFL fan I always tell people my favorite day of the year is 'Championship Sunday'. For the first time in a decade I will get to see my Jets play for 60 minutes to see if they can win a golden ticket to the biggest game of them all. Wow, what a feeling.

#24 continues to prove week after week that he is the REAL defensive player of the year, and I was also surprised to see Marvin Lewis win coach of the year after going 9-7 and taking an early exit in the playoffs. Oh, well... there is only one trophy that Rex and Revis have their eyes on... the Lombardi.

Sanchez and Ryan have shown amazing growth during the past month and I am one thrilled Jets fan. Mr. T has secured his spot thanks to the group of young players he has targeted over the past 4 years. I disagreed with much of his vision for this team, but results are what matters, and he couldn't ask for much more from his 2009 squad.

My number one concern going into the season was our defensive line. When Jenkins went down I basically wrote off our defense. I am shocked at how veterans like Ellis have stepped up and how Pohua and Douglas have held it down. That group has been the most pleasant surprise of 2009 for me.

Quick note about todays game...

I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I believe the NFL controls the outcomes of key games by manipulating penalty calls and non-calls (Ok, I guess there is no way to NOT sound a little crazy saying that).

The reality is this... The NFL will make more money as a whole if the Steelers make the Playoffs instead of the NY Jets. A post season game featuring the defending world champs is going to generate more revenue any way you look like at it.

The Steelers just beat the Dolphins and they need Baltimore or the Jets to lose to get in. If Baltimore wins I want to go on record at 4:30pm on 1-3-2010 as saying the Refs will do everything in their power to prevent the Jets from winning.

Mark my words!

Instant franchise CPR...

There are a number of NFL franchises who are turning blue in the face and could certainly use a little mouth to mouth. When an team in this league gets off track, righting the ship can take years. Unlike the NBA where you can sign 2 or three key free agents, or MLB, which currently has no salary cap, resurrecting a program that is on life support is a long complicated process in this league.

Here's a list of teams that are adrift without a compass and desperately need a new captain (OK, I am officially tapped out of analogies lol): Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Bucs, St. Louis Rams, and Seattle Seahawks.

The Chiefs, Lions, Bucs, Browns, Seahawks and Rams have all made major changes in the past 12 months and probably won't make any moves regarding the GM/Headcoach positions. The Titans and Panthers both have long tenured coaches and all signs are that they will stay with them.

The Redskins and Bills seem to be the only two teams mentioned above who are openly in the market for new coaches. Washington has already hired a new GM.

The title of this post is INSTANT franchise CPR. Even though there is no 'overnight' solution, I feel that the 2010 offseason is a once in a lifetime opportunity for this group of struggling teams. Coaches like Cowher and Shannahan can alter the destiny of any team and they are only two of over a half dozen elite NFL coaches who are unemployed and available.

My quick fix is a very simple one. The team of Marty Schottenheimer and Bill Cowher would be as close to sure thing as you will get in this league. Marty as GM or "Team President" and Cowher as headcoach would be a killer combo. They have a long history and I am sure they would love to work together. Now, the next question is this: what team would be the best fit for them?

If I were those guys I would make a move for the Houston Texans. They have a ton of young talent on the defensive side of the ball, and their division is in flux. The Jags and Titans are teams that are searching for an identity and the Colts will eventually hit the wall... Manning can only continue playing at this dominate level for so much longer. With my 'dream team' GM/headcoach combo of Cowher and Shotty the Texans could become a perennial playoff team instead of always coming up one or two games short every season.

My 'dream team' would be pretty expensive, but in a league where players like Hanesworth and Reggie Bush collect HUGE contracts for minimal impact, why not invest in a one two punch like these two no nonsense coaches.

Houston may end up 9-7 and will probably give their coach another chance in 2010, however I think that is a big mistake. Another great landing spot for Bill and Marty would be in the windy city. Chicago needs a change and my guys have the perfect demeanor for Illinois.

Week 17: Still alive... Jets vs. Bengals

I would like to say that if we lose this week the NYJ's 2009 season could still be considered a success, and have that be the truth. All things considered, a .500 record... a #1 overall ranked defense... and the #1 rushing attack in the game are accomplishments to be proud of for a team with a rookie QB and headcoach. Especially considering we played most of the season without Kris Jenkins and Leon Washington.

This season has been a real roller coaster ride, and I called for the firing of our GM back when we lost for the second time to Miami. I didn't see anyway we could make the post season, and that would have been three years in a row without an appearance. Well, the planets aligned, and the perfect storm is forming off the coast of northern NJ as I write this.

There can be no moral victory Sunday night. The whole country will be watching, and for many people this will be there first real look at our new leadership. Rex and Mark need to deliver. If the Bengals lay down and hand us the game, we still need to play turnover free football. Even against their back ups it is possible to lose. We dropped a close game to Buffalo... in our house... against their back up QB only a couple of months ago.

Circumstances have raised the bar for the 2009 NY Jets. The only acceptable outcome is to be the #5 seed in the AFC, and to make an appearance in the wildcard round. That being said, winning in the post season with an inexperienced rookie like Mark is not very realistic. With the Giants already bowing out of the playoff race, a win tomorrow will give the Jets fan base, players, coaches, and most importantly their owner confidence that we are moving in the right direction. The offseason should be a positive one, and we should be able to snag any free agents we set our sights on.

I don't want to jump too far ahead. History tells us that teams with turnover prone, inexperienced QB's don't usually fair very well in the ultra intense playoff environment. The fact remains that once the playoffs start it's a brand new 4 game season. You have to be in it to win it, and our golden ticket is waiting for us... do we have what it takes to finish the job?

#6 is far from my main concern moving forward. He simply needs to protect the ball and continue to play well on 3rd down. He won't be asked to do much. Mark Sanchez only becomes a real factor if we get behind and have to start to play catch up. I am more worried about our "#1 defense" and their tendency to shut down in the final minutes of the game. If our coaches are holding them accountable, and if they are being honest with themselves about how they have choked multiple times this season, then they have a real chance to turn it around and become a force in the playoffs.

I am also concerned about the fact that we are not battle tested. We had a pretty easy schedule overall. We lost important games to mediocre teams over and over in 2009. We lost close games to teams like Jacksonville and or only loss of over 5 points was vs. the Pats in their house. We only got our butts kicked once, and I would be happy to write off games like the 2 last second losses to Miami as growing pains if it wasn't for the Atlanta game and how are defensive players and coaches seemed to clock out on the final drive... only two weeks ago.

Rex needs to call the defense just as aggressively in the last 2 minutes of the game as he does during the first 58. Our secondary needs to make the big play when the game is on the line, and our front seven needs to dig in at the end, instead of sucking wind.

I would blame the Saints game, the first Buffalo game and second Miami game on #6. The first Miami game, the Jacksonville game, the second Pats game and the Atlanta game are all on our defense.

As fans, we will get a clear picture of where this franchise is headed in the coming years tomorrow night. I believe our Jets won't let us down, and I would love to have a shot at the Brady Bunch in the wildcard round. To beat New England, then stomp San Diego and have a re-match with the Colts in the championship game would make every previous disappointing moment as a Jets fan all worth it.

And since I am using my imagination, what if we go on a run like the 05' Steelers, or the 07' Giants and come out of the wildcard to end up winning it all? To open up the new stadium as champions as the Giants try to rebuild and find an identity...

Well, a boy can dream... can't he?