Farewell old friend. I suffered through many battles with you, and you've come up short every time.
Today the Jets faced a team that they should have beat, and could have beat, if they had simply wanted the win more. The stakes were high. Win and you are in the post season, lose and you get the "close but no cigar'" trophy for the umpteenth time in your team's history.
The whole idea of supporting a team in pro sports is that they give you memories that you can be proud of. Yes, teams like the Raiders, 49ers and Cowboys have had some dark, dark days. The last 10 years haven't been kind to any of these franchises. However, there are tons of HOF'ers, huge playoff wins and their combined Super Bowl wins go into the teens. Every team has ups' and downs, but their are great players and great moments you hang your hat on that get you through the rough times.
I was born 6 and 1/2 years after the great Joe Namath won SB III. I never saw him play. I only know what history has told me about him and the greatness of that squad. I started following the NFL in 84' and became a full blown fan of the league in 85'. I thought the Chicago Bears were bigger than life, but I was never a fan of them. Instead I chose the Jets, for two reasons. First, I hate the red, white and blue color scheme in general. Giants, Bills, Pats, Texans.... yuck. I also love the underdog. In the mid 80's the Giants were the toast of the town after winning the big game, especially in Northern NJ where I grew up.
I hate being part of the pack. Even as a prepubescent, little punk kid. I decided I'd be in the minority and wear green and white. I also liked the blue collar feel of our roster in those days. Klecko and Gastineau were beasts, and O'Brien, Walker, Toon, and McNiel were exciting. Joe Walton was the poor mans Parcells, but he was our guy. That group made the playoffs a few times, but there was nothing to write home about. No defining moment, no Hall of Fame caliber players.
Then there was a run in the 90's culminating in a 1-15 season. I was 20 years old and the Jets hit their all-time low. As I was entering adulthood I seriously contemplated saying 'fuck this team' and moving on. But then the Jets did something smart, they hired Parcells, Belichick, Weiss, Crennel and Groh. I was floored by this coaching staff. I wasn't as impressed by the roster, but I knew this nucleus of coaches would build a culture of winning. Leon Hess truly broke the bank on this staff.
I remember telling everyone I knew that the biggest part of this new leadership was the defensive coach Belichick. I knew Big Bill would only coach a few years, and the plans were in place for Little Bill to take over when the time was right. I foresaw 10 to 20 years of stability and winning with Belichick in charge.
Instead he ended up with the Pats, it was one huge embarrassment and he's dominated ever since. Two decades of my life as a Jets fan in the toilet. Those Jets failures really know how to stick it in and break it off. Always a day late and dollar short. Always left holding your dick in your hand and saying "well, there's always next year".
- I watched our team choke in Denever in 98',
- then Vinny goes on IR five minutes into the 99' season when we were the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl.
- Then the Belichick debacle,
- then the Edwards era that yielded ONE playoff win and one of the most gut wrenching losses even in Pittsburgh in 04' (Doug Brien anyone?).
- Then the forgettable Mangini years, including the great Favre having his worst INT season of his long career. I remember telling everyone before the season began what a huge mistake it was just cutting Pennington. The Dolphins were on their way to a 3 or 4 win season before we served them a legitimate starting QB on a silver platter. They go on to win the division and end our season. More hype with no substance.
- Then the Ryan years began, as did this blog. 2 sloppy, undisciplined years were we stumbled into the post season and made a run. Both times we get buried in the AFCCG.
- Heading into 2011 we are, again, a big favorite to make it to the big game. And of coarse the wheels come off. Our young highly drafted QB disintegrates, our loud mouth coach proves he is all hot air,
- Next we hire a totally unqualified GM who misses on all 12 .... YES 12... of his draft picks in 2014.
- And then there's 2015. All new coaches, front office, scouting department... and some new aces on offense.
We have ups and downs, but our offense is top 10, our defense is top 10, we are the number one team in the league in redzone offense AND defense, Ivory gets his first 1,000 yard season, Marshall breaks team records as well as some league records, Decker is outstanding, Revis is everything he is advertised as.... We have to beat our former coach, who has unquestionably performed below expectation with his new team (according to the Bills owner). Their playoff hopes are over, we are power ranked by all the top sports media outlets as #5 or #6 in the entire league because of our 5 game winning streak.
All the stars were aligned, not to just make the playoffs, but we were a serious contender to make a run. A run like I've never experienced in 30 years as a loyal, diehard fan. 5 of our top 6 players are well over 30, so the time is now. Our momentum is powerful, and nobody wants to see us in the playoffs. This is our shot.
What happened? Predictably we come out flat, make incomprehensible mistakes, give the other team every opportunity to beat us, and they do just that. And in the blink of an eye it's over. It's not just a loss, but to the guy who drove this team into the ground over the past six years, created countless embarrassing moments, and who simply quit trying 4 games into last season and wasted a whole year for loyal fans.
Remember what I mentioned about sticking it in and breaking it off? Being a fan should yield some joy... some pride... some return on your loyalty. In my 30 year journey as a Jets fan I've weathered:
- 12 seasons below .500,
- 10 head coaches (all losing records accept the Tuna),
- 2 owners,
- 20 plus years as "renters" in "Giants Stadium" followed by a promised and failed Westside Stadium in NYC
- Countless busts in the draft, combined with legendary 'passes' or 'misses' like Marino, Junior Seau, Emmit Smith... ect.
- And finally 7 playoff births over the last 25 years. All ending in disappointment.
So considering the heart wrenching nature of today's season ending loss, the fact it completes 30 years as a fan, we are now 5 years removed from a post season birth, it's 3 days into a new year and the most important fact that this team needs some major rebuilding despite their progress this season... The key players are simply too old to think we can make a run like this next year. It's back to the drawing board for the good old Jets. But it will be without this fan. The time has come to move on.
I won't leave with many good memories. I will always admire certain players. Chrebet, Pennington, Klecko, Toon, Martin, Mangold, Cotchery, Revis and Mawae are my favorites. I'm grateful to them for the brief flashes of greatness, and the pride they played with. I just wish this franchise had a little more pride as a whole.
This blog is officially closed, after 276 posts and 7 years. Walking away from this team can best be described as the way it feels after taking a big shit. I feel about 10lbs lighter!!!
Onward and Upward!!!!!
