As most Jet fans know, the franchise is pushing two things on its fan base this season: 1) They are trying to pry as much money as possible from its fans for its PSL and Coaches Club seating in the NEW GIANTS STADIUM, set to open in two years; 2) The team is celebrating the 40th anniversery of its last and only Super Bowl victory. The Jets went as far as to invite members of the 1968 Jets to Giants Stadium for a half time ceremony for tomorrow's game against the hapless Kansas City Chiefs.The Jets have gone so far to celebrate this single moment in the team's history that they have even decided to sell shirts, sweat shirts and jackets with a huge number 40 written on it. CLICK LINK TO SEE SHIRTS. And CLICK HERE TO SEE LINK TO JACKETS. Seeing this garbage, one would think that the Jets won the Super Bowl last year!
Here is my problem. What is there to celebrate? It's not like the Jets have the tradition and pride of the New York Giants. Hell, they don't even have the tradition and history of the Baltimore Ravens, who won the Super Bowl eight years ago.
When you see a giant number 40 written in green, with the Jets iconic football next to it, you don't think about the great memories from 1968; you think, instead of 40 years of embarrassment and futiltiy. In fact, most of the current Jet fans remember the infamous Mud Bowl in the Miami Orange Bowl, before they ever think of Super Bowl III in the Miami Orange Bowl.
The Jets should be ashamed that they have to trot out Joe Namath, if he is not sucking face with sideline reportets, Don Maynard, who noone sees in public anymore, and various others, whom most of Jet nation may not even remember.
Here are the facts. In the forty years since the Jets last Super Bowl, the New England Patriots have been to six Super Bowls, winning three; the Miami Dolphins have been to five Super Bowls winning two; the Buffalo Bills have been to four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990's, losing all four. The Indianapolis Colts, who used to be in the AFC East, have been to two Super Bowls, winning both. The New York Giants have been to four Super Bowls, winning three.
All the Jets have to show their fans since 1968 is one frustrating season after another, or one frustrating playoff loss after another. Remember the Mud Bowl, a 14-0 loss to Miami in the 1983 AFC Title game? Remember the heart-breaking 23-10 loss to Denver in the 1998 AFC Title game? Remeber Herman Edwards taking a knee at the Steeler 40 so he could kick a impossible field goal in a loss in the Divisional Round in 2004?
Yes, this is what the Jets are trying to celebrate: 40 years of futility since their last Super Bowl appearance.
So, instead of inviting the only winning Jets team to the Meadowlands tomorrow, the
Jets should instead invite this list, to celebrate:Rich Kotite: head coach who took the Jets way down the toliet, capping it with a 1-15 season in 1996.
Terry Bradway: General manger who found ways to draft some of the worst football players ever seen. He was mercifully fired after the 2005 season. Bradway spent five tortuous years as the Jets GM.
Richard Todd: quaterback, who was supposed to be the next Joe Namath, but spent most of his career chasing linebackers after interceptions and ate dirt most of the time after sacks.
Mark Gasteneau: Defensive End. Part of the Sack Exchange, who is better known for his bad temper and bad boy image.
Browning Nagle: quaterback. This is the guy the Jets decided to draft in 1991 instead of ... Brett Favre!
Ken O'Brien: quaterback. Like Chad Pennington, O'Brien had moments of success, and moment of futility; was never a winner.
Wesley Walker and Al Toon: receivers. Two good receivers who deserved to be on a better team.
Adrian Murrell: running back. Once Curtis Martin came along, everyone forgot who this guy was.
Kyle Brady: tight end. Everyone booed when the Jets drafted him. Everyone booed louder when he started playing.
Keyshawn Johnson: receiver. The biggest jerk pre-Terrell Owens. Johnson's infamous book, "Give Me The Damn Ball," spoke volumes of what KJ thought of his teammates and coaches. Johnson talked his way off the team in 2000, when his idol Bill Parcells traded him to Tampa Bay. To this day, Johnson probably still blames Al Groh for bringing down the ax.
Neil O'Donnell: quaterback. No quaterback looked more confused or baffled than O'Donnell. Whether it was an interception, a sack, or a fumble, O'Donnell was famous for giving us looks of "who me?" No wonder Bill Parcells couldn't wait to get rid of him.
Glenn Foley: quaterback. Guy had some promise but was always getting injured, costing him h
is starting job in 1998.Rick Mirer: This complete fool was brought in to save the 1999 season when team MVP Vinny Testaverde went down with a Achilles' tendon injury on opening day. Mirer played with clueless and ignorant abandon. What is most troubling is the fact that Bill Parcells left Mirer in as the statrer for seven games. The Jets were 1-6 in those games, virtually killing their season.
Chad Pennington: quaterback. Speaking of getting injured a lot. Pennington spent his entire Jet career getting hurt and making excuses for his ineffective arm strength.
Dewayne Robertson: defensive tackle: Drafted by Terry Bradway in 2003. Robertson was a complete bust. He never fit into any scheme; he was undersized for a defensive tackle and not athletic enough for a defensive end. Total bust, for a guy selected number four in the '03 draft.
John Abraham: defensive end: Good player. He could get off the ball real fast and get to the quaterback. However, years of injuries and lack of commitment makes Abraham a bust in Jets history.
Damion Robinson: saftey: Was one of Herman Edwards' cronies from Tampa Bay. Robinson was a total bust as a player and is best known for carrying a shotgun inside the trunk of his car to a game. Nice guy.
Herman Edwards: head coach. Oh, wait, he'll be there anyway as he leads the Kansas City Chiefs to a destined 1-15 record. Edwards', only bright spot in New York, was saying, "You play to win the game," but his conservative and clueless approach to coaching made you wonder if he was instead playing not to lose the game.
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