How with the Stafford-Goff Deal Affect Deshaun Watson's Potential Trade?

 The NFL off-season won't officially kick start until after 10:00 p.m. next Sunday when Super Bowl LV comes to an end, but that didn't stop the Detroit Lions and LA Rams from completing a blockbuster trade that is going to shake the sport, especially in a year where quarterbacks are expected to be on the move in a big way. 

The Lions trade quarterback Matthew Stafford to the LA Rams in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff, a third round pick in 2021 and first round picks in 2022 and 2023.  The deal sends Stafford, a former Pro Bowler, who requested a trade out of Detroit after the hiring of coach Dan Campbell, to the Rams and their high-flying offensive scheme under head coach Sean McVay. 

Many expect McVay's offense is tailor-made for Stafford, who leaves a dumpster fire franchise in Detroit where he never won a playoff game. 

As for Goff, it is amazing how quickly the Rams fell out of favor with him. Goff is two years removed from taking the Rams to the Super Bowl, but after years of increased turnovers, injuries and unreliability, he became expendable. 

According to NFL Network, at least six teams were in on Stafford, including the New England Patriots. The trade is the first of what could be many around the NFL, once of which might involved Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. 

Watson has requested a trade, and is very unhappy with the organization. However GM Nick Caserio and newly minted Head Coach David Culley want Watson to remain a member of the Texans. We shall see if that happens. A lot of teams are interested including the New York Jets, whom many believe have the package and draft capital that the Texans would want. 

The question is does Watson, who has a no trade clause, really want to go to New York, especially if teams better positioned to be a playoff team next year come calling?

The Texans appear satisfied with playing hardball with Watson. They can fine him and recoup as much as $21.6 million from Watson should he hold out. 

However after the Stafford-Goff deal, one has to wonder what it will take to get Watson? It took two future first round picks for the Rams to get their hands on the 33-year old quarterback. Meanwhile, the Lions inherit the remaining of Goff's contract which runs through 2024, with $43.25 million guaranteed over the next two seasons. 

What will it take to get Watson? That is the question now after the first domino in the quarterback carousel falls.

Steve Cohen Exits Twitter Amid GameStop Controversy

Things haven't been too rosey for Mets owner Steve Cohen lately. After trying to financially assist fellow hedge funder Melvin Capital amid the massive losses its experience from the GameStop controversy, Cohen has dropped off Twitter after a lengthy battle with Barstool Sports president David Portnoy.

 

“I’ve really enjoyed the back and forth with Mets fans on Twitter which was unfortunately overtaken this week by misinformation unrelated to the Mets that led to our family getting personal threats. So I’m going to take a break for now. We have other ways to listen to your suggestions and remain committed to doing that. I love our team, this community, and our fans, who are the best in baseball.  Bottom line is that this week’s events in no way affect our resources and drive to put a championship team on the field. #LGM!”

Gamestop's stock soured more than 70% when a bunch of day traders on Reddit poured tons of money into the struggling retailer as a way to beat out hedge funders bets that the stock was a loser. As a result big businesses and hedge funders decided to freeze investors out of apps like Robinhood from investing in GameStop creating a huge firestorm.  

Portony took the opportunity to launch on a diatribe against Cohen for backing his friends at Melvin Capital, which experienced the huge losses. Both Cohen's Point72 and Citadel combined to back Melvin with $2.75 billion. 

Cohen was even questioned by fans whether his financial dealings would affect the baseball team. Hence his time on Twitter is over. 

Cohen should have stayed off the social media giant when he bought the team. Before buying the Mets. Cohen was this virtual unknown - a shadowy figure whose personality was the basis for the character Bobby Axlerod on the Showtime series Billions. Once he bought the Mets, and once the like of Alex Rodriguez and Jerry Rosendorf tried to sabotage the sale and failed, Cohen should have stayed in the shadows. 

Instead he was embolden by the purchase. He tried to paint himself as the man of the people. He stated that it was win or else for the Mets. He got the fanbase even more excited when they swung deals with catcher James McCann and acquired Francisco Lindor. 

However, the PR disaster of the Jared Porter sexual harassment story, coupled with free agents George Springer and Brad Hand signing elsewhere, opting not to go to the Mets, coupled with Cohen's propensity to pop-off on Twitter, suddenly the honeymoon came to a screeching halt. 

Cohen needs to know that now as a the owner of the Mets, every move he makes is now met with constant scrutiny. Welcome to the Mets, Steve.

It's Official Deshaun Watson Wants Out of Houston, Will the Jets come Calling?

 The worst kept secret is now official, Deshaun Watson wants out of the Houston Texans. The question is do the Jets want to give up the farm to get the disgruntled quarterback, and there is even more debate about whether he actually wants to come to New York?

Even with the Texans hiring former Ravens wide receivers coach  David Culley as its new head coach, it has not changed the thinking of Watson, who has reportedly expressed his frustrations with the franchise for weeks ever since he claimed they didn't listen to his recommendations to interview Robert Saleh or Eric Bieniemy for the Texans head coaching job. 

Of course the Texans eventually interviewed Bieniemy and it went nowhere. 

Watson signed a $156 million, four year deal last year, which averages about $28 million -- a considerable bargain considering the deal Patrick Mahomes got from the Kansas City Chiefs. While Watson has a no-trade clause, the Texans could control his rights through 2028 due to three years of franchise tags. 

The Texans could also play hardball and fine Watson upwards of $95,000 for missing mini camp this spring, or the could recoup $21.6 million if he doesn't play at all next season. 

Then there are the trade prospects to the Jets. 

Last week it was reported down in Miami that the Jets were Watson's preferred destination because of head coach Robert Saleh. However, when pressed about the Jets chances of landing Watson, ESPN's Adam Schefter told Mike Greenberg that Jets fans "shouldn't get their hopes up" of landing Watson. Moreover, Jets beat writer Rich Cimini poured cold water on the idea, saying it was not likely the Jets would risk parting with so many picks to get Watson, and were more likely to take a quarterback in April's draft. 

There is also question whether he even wants the Jets, with Cimini saying on the Michael Kay Show the story in Miami was not 100% accurate.  

Other teams that could be vying for Watson's services are the Dolphins, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, and so many more. Just about every team would have an invested interest in pursuing the Texans for a deal. 

With Watson controlling the cards with a no-trade clause, he could pick a team that is better suited to win right away. The Jets are not in that position right now. 

Although the Jets do have the most to offer Houston, considering they own four first round picks in the next two drafts, including the number 2 overall pick this year. 

If Watson's list is indeed down to just a handful of teams, it will put the Texans in a precarious position where they may not be able to get the full haul that they would like for Watson. No team wants to trade the farm just for the sake of doing it, even if it is for one of the best players in the sport.

Mashairo Tanaka Heading Back to Japan

Mashairo Tanaka will not return to the Bronx, signing with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in the Nippon Professional Baseball League in Japan, as the former Yankees ace makes his return to his native land. 

Tanaka's return to Japan ends a seven year stay with the Yankees that saw the righty post a 78-46 record with a 3.74 ERA in 174 games with the Bombers. The Yankees never won a World Series with Tanaka, who was a two-time All Star. 

After partially tearing a ligament in his pitching elbow back in 2014, the Yankees routinely tried to get him has much rest as possible. 

With Tanaka no longer a part of the Yankees rotation, New York is scrambling to find his replacement. They are hoping that Luis Severino can return to form from Tommy John's Surgery. They are hoping for the same fate from Jameson Tallion, whom the Yankees acquired over the weekend from the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

 TheYankees are also hoping Domingo German returns to form after serving a season long suspension, and that Cory Kluber can regain his All Star form from several seasons ago. 

 

 

Mets Owner Steve Cohen involved in Twitter War over GameStop Controversy

 I guess it's fair to say the bloom is off the rose sorta speak with regards to Mets owner Steven Cohen. Cohen has been indirectly involved in the controversial and complicated GameStop controversy that has practically broken Wall Street. 

As most known by now the controversy stems from a group of independent traders using Reedit as a way to commiserate, who dared to drive up the price of the retail outlet, after Andrew Left of Citron Research said the stock would tank below $20. Gamestop which had languished at around $5 a share, sky rocketed basically overnight to more than $300 a share. In order to stop the bleeding, big Corp froze investors out of Robinhood. 

How the hell is Cohen involved in this? Well, his hedge fund company, Point72 joined Citadel to invest $2.75 billion into Melvin Capital, who took a huge lose with Gamestop. 

Soon fans as well as Barstool Sports President David Portnoy lashed out on Cohen, saying he was partly responsible for the freeze on Robinhood. Cohen and Portnoy have since engaged in a Twitter spat of epic proportions. See story! 

Since purchasing the Mets, Cohen has taken hard to Twitter, responding periodically to fans on a regular basis, in fact probably more than he should as the owner of a Major League Baseball team.  Cohen is no stranger to controversy. His company's have been involved in legal battles in the past, including a sexual assault case that was settled out of court. Some raised concerns about his purchase of the team, because of his aggressive financial pursuits. 

Oh, and last week he had to fire his General Manager, Jared Porter, after ESPN released its story about sexual harassment when Porter was a member of the Chicago Cubs front office. 

Fun times indeed.

It will be Buccaneers vs. Chiefs in Super Bowl LV

 It will be the battle of the GOAT vs. the KID. 

Tom Brady vs. Patrick Mahomes. 

The 43-year old Brady punched his ticket to his record setting 10th Super Bowl appearance behind Tampa Bay's 31-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers. 

After jumping out to a 28-10 lead on Green Bay, the Bucs had to hold on as Brady tossed interceptions on three consecutive possessions. 

Fortunately for the Buccaneers, the Packers were unable to take full advantage scoring only once, on a two-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams to make it 28-23. The Packers were unable to take advantage again going three-and-out on their next two series following a Brady pick. 

Give a lot of credit to Todd Bowles (that's right former Jets head coach Todd Bowles), and his defense. While Rodgers tossed for 346 yards and three touchdowns, he was under siege for much of the afternoon, getting sacked five times -- three of them coming from Shaq Barrett, and two coming from ex-Giant Jason Pierre Paul. 

Still Green Bay had its chances. Trailing 31-23 with a little over four minutes to go, Rodgers drove the Packers to the Buccaneer eight-yard line, before things stalled. On third and eight, Rodgers decided to force a pass to Adams in double coverage before it was knocked away.  What made the play even worse was the fact Rodgers had plenty of room to run for the score, but opted not to at the last second. 

Moreover, Packers Head Coach Matt LaFluer opted to kick a field goal after the incompletion rather than go for it on fourth down. He showed no confidence in his Hall of Fame quarterback to get the job done. Instead Green Bay kicked to make it 31-26, and never got the ball back. 

Brady moved the Bucs along 47-yards on seven plays, including getting a pass interference call on Green Bay to convert a third-and-four to put the game out of reach. 

Brady finished 20-of-36 for 280 yards, three scores and three picks. He becomes the fourth quarterback in NFL history to play in the Super Bowl with two teams joining Craig Morton (Cowboys and Broncos), Kurt Warner (Rams and Cardinals), and Peyton Manning (Colts and Broncos). 

Should Brady and Bucs win Super Bowl LV in two weeks, he will join Manning as the only two quarterbacks to win the Big Game with two different teams. Of course, Brady is going for number 7 overall. 

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs will try to do something that hasn't been done since Brady's New England Patriots -- and that is win back-to-back Super Bowls. The Patriots were the last team to do so in 2003 and 2004. 

The Chiefs dismantled the over-matched Buffalo Bills 38-24 on Sunday night to advance to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season. 

After the world waited breathlessly to see how quarterback Patrick Mahomes would rebound from concussion protocol and turf toe, the former league MVP delivered with a sterling effort. Mahomes toss for 325 yards and three touchdowns in the win. He was lucid in the pocket and looked like the Mahomes we have gotten used to seeing week in and week out. 

Of course the big stars of the night for KC had to be wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce. Both ate the Bills porous secondary alive on Sunday. Hill had nine catches for 172 yards, including a catch and run for 71 yards that helped set up a Kelce touchdown that blew the game open at 31-15 in the third quarter. 

Kelce had a monster night for KC, hauling in 13 catches for 118 yards and two scores. Wide Receiver Mecole Hardman also had an impact with a 50-yard run on an end-around reverse that set up the Chiefs second touchdown of the night, a 9-yard plunge by Darrel Williams that gave KC the lead at 14-9 in the second quarter. 

While the Bills were able to get some momentum going late to make the score look respectable, they really had no answer for the Chiefs. 

After jumping out in front 9-0 on a field goal and a touchdown that was a result of a fumble on a punt return, the Bills looked over-matched. They couldn't slow down the Chiefs high powered offense, and Josh Allen never looked comfortable in the pocket, spending most of the night running for his life.  

It was a great year for Buffalo, but the Chiefs are on a higher level right now. 

Now we have a game that will pit the last two quarterbacks to win the Super Bowl in Brady, who last won Super Bowl LIII in 2018, and Mahomes who won Super Bowl LIV last season. 

We have the Buccaneers playing in their home stadium in two weeks, Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. This will be the first time ever that a team plays the Super Bowl in its own building. The 1979 Rams and 1984 49ers were close, playing in stadiums that were close in proximity to their own ballparks, but it was not their home stadium. 

This will be a first. 

It will also be a rematch of a game we saw in Week 12 when the Chiefs went down to Tampa Bay and beat the Bucs 27-24. The game is best remembered for Kansas City jumping out to a 27-10 lead, and Hill's somersault into the end zone in the second quarter of that game. 

This should be a classic!

Yankees Swing Trade for Pittsburgh's Tallion

 The Yankees may have landed an important cog to their rotation in a trade that didn't cost them too much. 

The Bronx Bombers swung a deal, Sunday, with the Pittsburgh Pirates for 29-year old righty Jameson Tallion. 

Tallion was the second overall pick in the 2010 draft, and won 14 games with the Pirates in 2018, before injuries set him back the past two years. 

Tallion missed the entire 2020 season, recovering from Tommy John's Surgery. 

Tallion pitched in only seven games in 2019, pitching to a 2-3 record with a 4.10 ERA. 

Scouting reports on Tallion describe a pitcher whose four-seam fastball tops 98 mph, and a two-seamer that hits 96 mph. This is a young man, still 29, who was selected ahead of familiar names like Manny Machado, Matt Harvey, Chris Sale, and Christian Yelich back in 2010 by the Pirates. Obviously it hasn't worked out too well. 

To get Tallion, the Yankees gave up prospect pitchers Miguel Yajure, Roansy Contreras, infielder Maikol Escotto, and outfielder Canaan Smith. While it is a gamble to take on a guy like Tallion, it is a better deal than the Luis Castillo deal that the Yankees potentially had in place with the Cincinnati Reds that would have cost them Gleyber Torres. Here the Yankees gave up very little. 

Tallion joins a rotation full of question marks. Outside of Gerrit Cole, there are questions about newcomer Cory Kluber returning from injury; questions about Luis Severino coming back from Tommy Johns' Surgery, and Domingo German coming back from suspension. 

If Tallion, Severino and Kluber return to form then the Yankees would have a formidable rotation, but there are a lot of "Ifs." The Yankees could continue to add starting pitching in free agency as spring training approaches. But they definitely need as much pitching as possible.

Deshaun Watson Wants to be dealt to Jets, Gang Green Must Do It

 Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is letting it be known he has a New York state of mind. 

The disgruntled quarterback who has expressed continued discontent with the Houston Texans front office combination of owner Cal McNair and Vice President of Football Operations Jack Easterby over their handling of the teams head coach vacancy, wants to come to the Jets. 

That is the latest rumor according to Miami Herald reporter Armando Salguero. Watson has told people that the Jets are his top choice to play for in 2021 because of the presence of head coach Robert Saleh. Watson encouraged the Texans to interview Saleh, as well as Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Both recommendations went on deaf ears -- although the Texans did interview Bieniemy recently. 

The Dolphins are also one of Watson's top choices to go to. In fact it's really between the two AFC East rivals for his services if Watson had it his way. 

The Dolphins were 10-6 this season, and nearly made the playoffs. They are in a better position to win right away should the acquire Watson since they have a team that is ready for postseason play. The Jets are still a long way away from being a serious playoff contender having gone 2-14 this year. 

 

It will be interesting to see how the Jets and Dolphins try to outdo one another to get Watson. Clearly neither would want the other to get the quarterback and risk facing him twice a year.  This will revive a once storied rivalry for sure. 

If Watson badly wants to play in New York, the Jets have to go out there and make a move, or at least make their best effort to get it done. Sam Darnold is a good guy, but after three years of mediocre play, the Jets could go out and get a generational talent at quarterback in his prime if they get Watson. 

It will be costly. It will cost the Jets the number 2 pick in the NFL draft, and likely two other first round picks over the next couple of years at least. They could even include Darnold in the package -- especially if the Texans hire former Jet Josh McCown as head coach, who took Darnold under his wing when they were teammates back in 2018. If the Texans don't want Darnold, they could send him elsewhere and recoup some middle round picks as a result. 

Watson's flirtation with the Jets has been pretty loud in recent weeks. He was spotted driving around Edgewater, New Jersey, and even liked the New York Post back page with Watson's likeness on it. Clearly he has an interest here, not only from the playing standpoint, but the marketing opportunities that come with playing in the Big Apple. 

Should Watson come to New York City, he would be the latest disgruntled athlete from the city of Houston to come here after NBA superstar James Harden whined his way to Brooklyn. 

The big question is will Watson formally demand a trade? And will the Texans do it? Remember Watson is signed for four years at $150 million-plus. The Texans could end up acquiescing to Watson's demands and hire Bieniemy as head coach once the Chiefs season ends. In fact there have been rumors that Bieniemy is still linked to the job. Then again, we see things like Houston interviewing McCown and ex-Colts and Lions head coach Jim Caldwell. 

Watson hasn't formally demanded a trade, but his apparent unhappiness and constant rumor making makes it clear he wants out of H-Town.

"All Gas, No Breaks" Robert Saleh Lays Out Plan for Re-tooling Jets

 The days of googly eyes Adam Gase are long gone. In its place sat a stoic new head coach with an optimistic outlook for his new team as Robert Saleh met the media for the first time as Jets Head Coach. 

Saleh spoke about communication, family, and dropped a phrase that will likely define his tenure here in New York: "All Gas, No Breaks." As Saleh explained, it means going beyond the X's and O's of the gameplan, but preparing mentally and physically for peak performance and attitude every single day. That will be the challenge he faces as he looks to turn the downtrodden Jets back into winners. 

Saleh gave off a confident, genuine vibe. It is easy to see why the Jets were more than happy to give him the keys to the football team. 

 

Of course Saleh's biggest challenge early on will be diagnosing the quarterback position. Sam Darnold is the incumbent coming off of two mediocre years under Adam Gase. Saleh will bring in Mike LaFleur as offensive coordinator, and they will implement an offense that is similar to the one Darnold ran his first year in 2018. 

Saleh said he believe in Darnold, feels there is a lot of untapped potential in the 23-year-old's right arm, and sees why he was the third overall pick just three years ago. That said, the Jets are rumored to be among the many teams that will try to throw their hat in the ring for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun  Watson, who has made it known he wants out of Houston. 

 

While Jets brass didn't address the rumors, obviously -- the prospect of a deal will swirl around the team until someone works out a deal with the Texans. 

Other notes: Woody Johnson made his way back to New Jersey from the United Kingdom on Thursday. Johnson spent the past four years as Ambassador to the United Kingdom under now-former President Donald Trump. Johnson has not met Saleh according to the coach, but they will get acquainted soon.

Mets Lose George Springer to Blue Jays

A really bad 24 hours for the New York Mets just got a little worse Tuesday night. Free agent center fielder George Springer, who was rumored for months to be on the Mets radar is signing with the Toronto Blue Jays for six years at $150 million.

The news comes off the heels of the Mets GM scandal, where former GM Jared Porter was fired Tuesday morning after reports surfaced he sent over 60 pornographic photos to a female journalist. 

The news is a huge blow to the Mets. New York was hoping that Springer would eventually sign with them that would shore up the Mets defensively up the middle and give them a powerful right handed bat at the top of the order. 

Springer hit 20 plus homers in five of his first six seasons, including corking 39 homers and driving in 96 two seasons ago in 2019. Springer was a three-time All Star, who became an adept postseason hitter, boasting a .276 batting average in 63 career playoff games. Instead, Springer will take his talents across the border to Toronto. 

That means the Mets will have to look at lesser options for center field. Jackie Bradley Jr. is considered an alternative, although he is older -- 31 years old next season, and is not the hitter that Springer is. Bradley Jr. is a .239 hitter lifetime. If the Mets don't go with Bradley, they would have to bit the bullet and settle with light hitting Brandon Nimmo in center field and Dom Smith in left - especially with the DH likely not in the NL this year. 

In short things are getting a lot tougher for the Mets.

Mets Fire Porter as MLB is left with another scandal

 There is so much to unpack from the aftermath of ESPN's bombshell story that Mets General Manager Jared Porter sent more than 60 lewd photos to a female journalist while as a member of the Chicago Cubs front office that it will take months to unravel for Major League Baseball. 

 

A year after MLB whiffed on its handling of the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, there are some serious questions that need to be answered in light of the Porter fiasco. Namely why was Porter allowed to maintain employment with several MLB clubs, including the Cubs, Diamondbacks, Red Sox, and Mets and not once did anyone raise an eyebrow to his troubled past? 

On Tuesday morning the Mets fired Porter for cause, his contract terminated as Mets general manager. Give credit to owner Steve Cohen and President Sandy Alderson for acting swiftly, firing Porter at 7:30 Tuesday morning a mere eight hours after the story broke late Monday night. 

In speaking with reporters Tuesday afternoon, Alderson stated that "there wasn't a dissenting voice, so from my standpoint, I was shocked. ... To my knowledge, none of the other organizations that Jared was employed with knew either," he said.  

Yet there is a report in the ESPN article that a Cubs employee , who is no longer with the team, knew about Porter's behavior. That person of interest is believed to no longer be in the Cubs employ. 

The Mets says they will have to do a better job in the vetting process, but it is increasingly hard to believe that nobody was in the know. This reveals disturbing truths about the sport that nobody wants to talk about. 

1) The obvious being the lack of women in the baseball industry. Outside of Kim Ng who was named General Manager of the Miami Marlins this winter, and Alyssa Nakken, who is a coach with the San Francisco Giants, there isn't a lot of women in the sport -- Alderson admitted as much. This is not to say that women need to fill every key front office position, but it is important from the diversity standpoint have having numerous opinions and experiences as possible. Baseball has become something of an "old boys club" for a very long time, and the treatment of women in the sport of baseball is notoriously bad as compared to the other sports, the NFL and NBA -- where women in the industry is prominent. 

2) The bigger and most disturbing truth is that such behavior as displayed by Porter might be considered acceptable deep in the ethos of the baseball fraternity.  Who knows how many other similar situations have taken place in the past? That is what is really scary, and that is what is starring Major League Baseball right in the face. 

 Major League Baseball has to do more than its due diligence. They have to root this out and find out where such harassment is happening, why and make sure it doesn't happen again. A simple slap on the wrist similar to what former Astros manager AJ Hinch and Red Sox manager Alex Cora got for their roles in the sign stealing scandal is not going to be acceptable.  

As for the Mets, they can get past this. Their swift action was laudable. They will be fine. Alderson said they will not fill the General Managers role with a new candidate, instead it will be a collaborative effort with Zach Scott, the teams Assistant GM and the rest of the front office. That is more than fine. It's not like Porter swung the Lindor deal -- that was all Alderson who has pretty much run all of the Mets on-field acquisitions this winter. 

While the Mets may be fine as far as the on-field product is concerned, the stain from this scandal is going to rock the sport for sure.

Mets General Manager Jared Porter Admits Sending Lewd Photos to Woman

 A bombshell of a story has rocked what was once a happy off-season for the New York Mets. The Mets had a new owner, acquired shortstop Francisco Lindor, and signed catcher James McCann. 

All things appeared to be on the up and up for the Mets. 

Until it wasn't. 

Until a story came out that reminded Mets fans of why this is a franchise that more often times than not is prone to slipping on its own banana peel. 

A story from ESPN details, graphically, how newly minted General Manager Jared Porter sent lewd pictures of his genitalia to a female journalist in 2016, who just so happened to be a foreign correspondent who had moved to the USA to cover Major League Baseball. 

At the time Porter was the Director of Professional Scouting at the Chicago Cubs. According to the ESPN story, Porter sent the woman over 60 messages including 17 pictures, one of which was his penis. According to the story Porter tried to apologize to the woman whom the story says had a "limited grasp of the English language and American customs." 

The Journalist was contacted by ESPN as far back as 2017. She has since subsequently left the journalist profession, and ESPN ran with the story. 

The Mets released a statement stating: 

 "I have spoken directly with Jared Porter regarding events that took place in 2016 of which we were made aware tonight for the first time. Jared has acknowledged to me his serious error in judgment, has taken responsibility for his conduct, has expressed remorse and has previously apologized for his actions. The Mets take these matters seriously, expect professional and ethical behavior from all of our employees, and certainly do not condone the conduct described in your story. We will follow up as we review the facts regarding this serious issue."

There is no question that the Mets must act as soon as possible and fire Porter immediately. They have an in house candidate to replace him in Zach Scott, who was a finalist for the position. Scott previously worked with the Boston Red Sox, and is the assistant GM for the Mets right now. 

The Mets hired Porter this winter to replace Brodie Van Wagenen who had two tumultuous years as General Manager, due mostly to his poor player personnel moves. At least Van Wagenen never embarrassed the organization as Porter has this evening.

Championship Sunday Set: Bills vs. Chiefs, Bucs vs. Packers

 It's going to be one hell of a Final Four in the NFL next week. Championship Sunday is all set after the Kansas City Chiefs outlasted the Cleveland Browns 22-17, and the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers took care of the New Orleans Saints 30-20 on Sunday night. 

This now sets up what will be a compelling week of football that will not be short of storylines. 

1) The health of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes left Sunday's game against Cleveland in the third quarter after sustaining a concussion. He never returned and Kansas City nearly lost the game. Were it not for some gutsy play calling by head coach Andy Reid and a spirited play by back-up quarterback Chad Henne it would have gotten real interesting in KC Sunday night. The Chiefs need Mahomes back next weekend, obviously, but it all depends on how he clears concussion protocol. If it's Henne vs. Buffalo, it could be a rough night. 

2) The Bills return to the AFC Championship game. The last time the Bills played in the AFC Championship game, it was the 1993 season, and they throttled the Joe Montana-led Chiefs 30-13. Now the Bills are back with a young gun in Josh Allen, and a speedy play maker in Stefon Diggs. The Bills pounded the Ravens Saturday 17-3. They do bring a strong defense to KC next week. 

3) Brady vs. Rodgers. That's really all you need to say about the Buccaneers vs. Packers match-up. Think about it, how many times over the years have we wished for a Packers-Patriots Super Bowl and never got it. We never ever got Brady vs. Rodgers in a huge postseason game. Now we finally get it with Brady leading the Tampa Buccaneers into wintery Lambeau Field in a battle of Hall of Fame quarterbacks. 

Brady, looked pretty solid Sunday night as he helped lead the Bucs past another Hall of Famer quarterback, Drew Brees and the Saints. Brees career is likely over, after it was announced before Sunday's game, he planned to retire. 

Possible Super Bowl Matchups: 

Buccaneers vs. Bills: Not only would this be a home game for the Bucs, since the Super Bowl is in Tampa Bay, but Brady would be going for Ring number 7, and would be doing so against one of his old AFC East rivals in the Bills. The Bills would be trying to get their first Super Bowl victory after losing four in a row in the 90s. 

Buccaneers vs. Chiefs: These two teams met in Week 12 with Kansas City defeating Tampa 27-24. The Chiefs actually manhandled the Bucs for three quarters before Brady and crew came back to make it interesting. Again, Bucs home game, Brady going for number 7 against the defending champs. The Chiefs will be trying to win back-to-back Super Bowls -- something that hasn't been done since Brady's Patriots did it in 2003 and 2004. 

Packers vs. Bills: Aaron Rodgers going for his second ring. Matt LaFleur trying to join the likes of Vince Lombardi, Mike Holmgren and Mike McCarthy in the coaches who won championships in Title Town. They woudl face the a young, upstart Bills team trying to get the city of Buffalo it's first ever Super Bowl win. Apparently earlier this year both Buffalo and Green Bay fanbases were voted the best in the NFL. 

Packers vs. Chiefs: The matchup a lot of people want to see. First for historical reasons; it would be a rematch of Super Bowl I, won by the Packers 35-10 in 1967. We would have Rodgers vs. Mahomes. Andy Reid against the team that jumpstarted his coaching career back in the late 90s as an offensive coordinator. Two great teams with play makers all over the field. It would be a high scoring affair for sure.

Yankees Bring Back LeMaiheu on Six-year Deal, Add Kluber

 Before Friday it had been a pretty quiet offseason in the Bronx. While all the noise was coming out of Queens this winter with the sale of the New York Mets to hedge fund manager Steve Cohen and the Mets signing of catcher James McCann, and acquisition of Francisco Lindor from the Cleveland Indians, New York has become quiet Mets-centric lately. 

 

It was time for the Yankees to wake up. Time for the Yankees to remind people who they are. And do so while keeping themselves somewhat under the $210 million salary cap threshold that have stated they do not want to cross this year. 

The Yankees brought back second baseman D.J. LeMahieu on what is considered a very team-friendly six-year $90 million deal, meaning New York only gets to edge out $15 million per year for a guy who hit .336 the past two years combined, and was by leaps and bounds the Yankees best hitter, and an MVP candidate in 2019. 

There had been fear throughout the off-season that LeMahieu would cash in on his success in New York, but a large market for his services never materialized. COVID-19 lay waste to that as revenues dipped. Just ask George Springer and Trevor Bauer both of whom remain free agents how things are going for them. The pending 2022 CBA isn't helping free agents either. 

The Dodgers and Blue Jays threatened, but in the end didn't come calling. Truth is LeMahieu never wanted to leave. He waited for the Yankees, and the Yankees waited for him. 

While LeMahieu is 33-years old, and will be 38 - pushing 39 - when the deal is complete, is worth the risk because of his ability to get on base. He is ranked third in major league baseball in hard hit balls, and hit 36 homers and 43 doubles in his last two seasons combined. Without LeMahieu the Yankees are what they are a power hitting team with little finesse. LeMahieu provides the balance they need. 

Meanwhile, the Bombers inked former Cleveland Indians ace, Corey Kluber to a 1-year $11 million deal. A no-risk move by the Yankees who are in desperate need of pitching. Kluber has missed a large chunk of the past two seasons due to a shoulder injury, making only 8 starts since the start of the 2019 season.  At 34, Kluber is a reclamation project.  

If he can be anything like the guy who went 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA and Cy Young Award in 2018, the Yankees would be ecstatic. They desperately need an arm they can rely on behind ace Gerritt Cole. There is a lingering questions of whether Mashairo Tanaka will return to the club; speculation being he is going back to Japan. 

The Yankees also have guys like Luis Severino and Domingo German coming off injury and suspension. In short after Cole there are no sure things in this Bombers rotation. They need more pitching, but because of their own financial constraints they won't be in on Bauer. They instead will shop at Walmart for bargin bin pitching to get them through -- hoping they can pitch well enough while the offense goes to work. It's a gamble, but one they have to take right now.

Robert Saleh named Head Coach of the New York Jets

 The Jets have their man. The Jets agreed to terms with former 49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh to become their new head coach. The Jets and Saleh agreed to a five-year deal. 

The news was broken by Adam Schefter of NFL.com. Schefter also revealed that Saleh plans to bring Passing Game Coordinator Mike LaFluer over as the Jets new Offensive Coordinator. It remains to be seen who the quarterbacks coach, and defensive coordinator will be, but at this point it is a moment for Jets fans to celebrate. 

Jets fans haven't had this feeling in a long, long time. Give credit to the Johnson brothers for giving General Manager Joe Douglas the power to conduct the search and get his guy. 

 

The Jets had interviewed Saleh extensively on Tuesday and Wednesday before he left for Florida to interview with the Eagles. The Jets also interviewed Arthur Smith the OC of the Tennessee Titans. 

There was speculation this past weekend that ex-Eagles coach Doug Pederson would be a candidate for the job due to his close relationship with Douglas, but the Jets never moved toward him. 

Saleh's defenses were ranked in the Top 10 for the 49ers the past four seasons, including second in total defense in 2019, the year the 49ers went to Super Bowl LIV. Saleh has been to two Super Bowls in his coaching career, including winning Super Bowl XLVIII with the Seattle Seahawks.

Robert Saleh Leaves Jets with No Deal

 Only the Jets, right? Or maybe we should say only social media? 

Whatever you want to believe, the Jets completed their second interview with San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh on Wednesday after courting him for more than a day. Saleh arrived in New Jersey on Tuesday, and was on his way to Philadelphia by Wednesday evening. 

It had been speculated by numerous fans on twitter as well beat reporters that Saleh and the Jets was a "strong possibility." Unfortuantly for the Jets, they allowed Saleh to leave the building without a deal. The last time the Jets did that -- two years ago -- with the likes of Kliff Kingsbury, Matt Rhule and Mike McCarthy, none of those guys came back. While there is always the chance that Saleh could comeback to the table, the chances are slim. 

 

Saleh is highly sought after in NFL circles. In addition to the Eagles, the Detroit Lions are also very interested in the Michigan native. 

Saleh's defenses in San Fran have ranked in the top 10 in each of the past four seasons, and were as high as second last year in 2019. This past season the defense was ranked eighth. Players love playing for him, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has spoke glowingly about his candidacy for a potential head coaching job.  

With Saleh out of the picture - likely for good -- the Jets now turn their attention to other candidates like Tennesee's offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Buffalo's OC Brian Daboll and others, as New York's ponderous search continues. Same ole Jets.

Nets Mortgage Future for Disgruntled James Harden

 The Nets already have one disgruntled super star in Kyrie Irving, who for whatever reason has kept away from the team for personal reasons. The reason's why are manifold, but it hasn't made Kyrie look good at all. Whether it be using last week's U.S. Capital riots as an excuse or attending a jam-packed, maskless birthday party, one would think the last thing the Nets would do -- or even should do -- is add to the difficulty. 

But that is what the Nets essentially did on Wednesday afternoon when they completed a deal with the Houston Rockets for their disgruntled superstar, James Harden. Now the Nets boast a big three of talented, and even highly opinionated stars in Harden, Irving and Kevin Durant. If all three play and play with a smile on their face, the Nets will be very difficult to stop. 

If the egos get in the way, as it normally does with so many superstars under a rookie head coach -- in this case Steve Nash, it is a formula for a total and utter disaster.

The Nets mortgaged their future for this gamble. They sent draft picks and players including Caris Lavert to the Rockets. The Rockets in turn traded Victor Oladipo to the Indiana Pacers. Former Nets center Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince went from Brooklyn to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Houston also swaps gets the Nets first round picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026, and swap picks with Brooklyn for 2021, '23, '25, and 2027. 

At 6-6, the Nets proved Wednesday that they are a team, an organization, that can't help itself. In case you are wondering Harden was already fined by the NBA some $50,000 for being at a gathering maskless, and has spent a better part of the last year pouting about getting out of Houston. This was worth losing first round picks and good, solid bench guys for? This is what is going to put fans in the seat when and if the NBA allows fans to return? 

This is insanity redefined and then some by the Nets -- an organization so terrified of its own shadow, or even the prospect that the New York Knicks might finally, after more than 20 years be getting out from underneath the rock they buried themselves in. 

Unless the Nets win the Eastern Conference, hell, unless the Nets win the NBA Finals, this can't help but end badly for Brooklyn.

Robert Saleh Considered a Finalist for Jets Head Coaching Job

 The Jets might be closing in on a head coach. 

San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh is said to have flown to New Jersey on Tuesday for a second round of interviews with Jets brass, and is the first candidate to get a second invitation for the job. 

If that is not an indication that Saleh is highly thought of by the Jets, I don't know what is. 

Saleh's defenses in San Francisco were always highly regarded. They were ranked fifth this year in total defense. Last year they were second in total defense and eighth in points allowed. His fiery personality rubs off well on players, and just about anyone who has played for him or worked with him has heaped praise his way. 

He is also a part of the Pete Carroll coaching tree, having spent time with the Seattle Seahawks during their Legion of Boom days, and won a Super Bowl ring with them back in 2013. Ironically, Saleh was on the Seahawks coaching staff that beat the Denver Broncos when Adam Gase was Denver's Offensive Coordinator. 

Even San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan said he would be surprised if Saleh didn't land a head coaching job this winter. 

The question is how quickly do the Jets want to act. Alex Marvez of Sirius XM Tweeted out this afternoon that the Jets could try to get Saleh signed, sealed and delivered as quickly as possible, because he is highly sought after from teams like the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. 

That said, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY and Yahoo Sports wrote that Jets GM Joe Douglas has cast a wide net, and there is always the chance the Jets will invite more candidates for a second round, including Bills Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll. Daboll, Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bienemy, and Saints Secondary Coach Aaron Glenn can't conduct second in-person interviews until next week after the divisional round of the playoffs conclude. 

Then of course there is Doug Pederson. Pederson was fired Monday by the Eagles after a power struggle with GM Howie Roseman. Pederson is close with Douglas who was in the Eagles front office before taking the Jets General Manager's job. There is a thought that if Pederson wants to coach again this year, he would be a top target for Douglas and the Jets. 

If the Jets decide that Saleh is their guy and make him the head coach it will be fascinating to see who his offensive coordinator will be. 

There is a lot of speculation that he plans on bringing over Mike LeFlur or Mike McDaniel with him from San Francisco for that very role. 

Both are extremely young; LeFlur is 34, and McDaniel is 37 -- but he looks younger than that. 

What kind of offense a Saleh-led football team is going to have is very important -- especially with the Jets. Saleh -- or any other candidate that takes the Jets job -- has to decide what to do with quarterback Sam Darnold. The Jets have a $25 million, 5th-year option on the table that has to be picked up this spring. The Jets could stick with Darnold or trade him. 

If they do trade away Darnold, New York could target either Justin Fields or Zach Wilson in the NFL Draft with the second overall pick. However after last night's National Title Game, some fans think the Jets should break norms and take wide out deVonta Smith who had over 200 yards receiving in 'Bama's 52-24 triumph.  

It will be interesting. The question is is Saleh the guy? Or do the Jets want to keep looking for a head coach?

Doug Pederson fired by Eagles, Now candidate for Jets job?

 Could former Eagles coach Doug Pederson land with the New York Jets? 

There is a possibility, and according to multiple reports, its hard not to connect the dots and see it as a reality. Pederson worked closely with Jets General Manager Joe Douglas when the two were in Philadelphia, and Douglas has spoken glowingly about Pederson in the past. 

The Jets are in the midst of a head coaching search that has taken them to consider at least 9 known candidates including Eric Bienemy, Joe Brady, Brian Daboll, Arthur Smith, and Aaron Glenn. Douglas said he would cast a wide net, and he has done exactly that. 

However, the potential to reunite with a former colleague in Pederson who has a Super Bowl ring to his credit might be hard to pass up. That is if Douglas and the Jets can get answers as to why Pederson's tenure in Philadelphia ended in such acrimony. According to multiple reports coming out of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pederson had a lot of issues with GM Howie Roseman over their vision for moving the franchise forward, and owner Jeffery Lurie decided to side with his GM. 

 

 It sounds none to similar to what happened to the Jets over a year and a half ago when Christopher Johnson fired GM Mike Maccagnan after a spat with then head coach Adam Gase. Are the Jets ready for this? Are the Johnson brothers? 

Fans are divided on the subject, with many not wanting any part of Pederson because of Carson Wentz's struggles the past two seasons, and the way Pederson handled a week 17 match-up with Washington where it looked like he tanked. Does Pederson want to answer questions about it his first day from the New York media? 

So many questions are left on the table and must be answered before the Jets move forward.

Mets make Ultimate Splash, Land Lindor and Carrasco from Indians

 Well, Christmas might be two weeks ago, but the Mets gave their fans quiet the late X-mas gift Thursday when they swung a deal for Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco, solidifying two huge needs for the Metropolitans. 

What makes the deal even bigger for the Mets is the fact they didn't give up a whole heck of lot in return. Heading to Cleveland are shortstops Amed Rosario and Andres Giminez, and prospects Josh Wolf and Isaiah Greene. 

For the Indians the move comes as they are shedding payroll, and with Lindor set to become a free agent next winter -- his departure from the Indians was inevitable. If anything it became more so after he rejected a $200 million deal last year. He wants a deal in the neighborhood of $300 million. 

The question for the Mets is are the willing and able to spend that much on Lindor -- should he decide to stay in Queens after the 2021 season? It's a question that will hover over them all year. 

Still, what the Mets get in Lindor is one of baseball's most gifted athletes. A four-time All-Star, two time Gold Glover winner and two-time Silver Slugger recipient. While he may not be the level of Mookie Betts or Mike Trout, Lindor is considered one of baseball's best players. 

In six years with the Indians, Lindor averaged 29 homers, 86 RBI and a .285 batting average. His best season came in 2018 when he amassed 129 hits, 42 doubles, 38 homers and 92 RBI. He fits right into the heart of the Mets order, probably batting second - sandwiched between Jeff McNeil and Pete Alonso. 

Mets Presidents Sandy Alderson said the Mets haven't spoke to Lindor's agent on a contract extension, but hinted that it would be visited very soon. 

Meanwhile, the Mets get a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter in Carlos "Cookie" Carrasco. Two years ago Carrasco overcame Leukemia to pitch in the final month of the 2019 season. He was named AL Comeback Player of the Year for that effort. He parlayed a rough 2019 into a solid 2020 season, where he went 3-4 with a 2.91 ERA. In his career Carrasco is 88-73 with a 3.71 ERA. The Mets inherit his contract which has two years remaining on it through the end of the 2022 campaign. 

The question is what's next? Invariably the deal likely takes the Mets out of the sweepstakes for Trevor Bauer, but they still have a shot at George Springer who was rumored to be deciding between the Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Patrick Graham will stay with Giants as DC

 Giants Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham is going nowhere. 

After the Giants cross-town rivals, the Jets asked for permission to interview Graham for their head coaching vacancy, the Giants quickly signed Graham to an extension. 

Retaining Graham was a huge move for the Giants, after the defense improved exponentially this past season, ranked 12th in the NFL in total defense. That is up from 30th a year ago. The Giants also had the best red zone defense in the NFL, and a unit that recorded 40 sacks without a top flight edge rusher. 

This was a no-brainer for Big Blue. 

Meanwhile the Giants-Eagles turf war, or should I say, Tank War got even more interesting this week when Head Coach Joe Judge lit into Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson, claiming his counterpart damaged the integrity of the sport by pulling Jalen Hurts in the fourth quarter of Sunday nights game. The Giants would have made the playoffs had the Eagles won. Many Giants fans, and Giants players felt the Eagles tanked to hurt them specifically. Check out the vlog.  

 

Washington Win Knocks Giants Out of Playoffs

 WASHINGTON 20 - EAGLES 14 

The Giants can sit there and stew all they want. They can blame Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson for removing quarterback Jalen Hurts from the ball game in the fourth quarter, down 17-14 for Nate Sudfeld all they want. Bottom line is the Giants didn't do enough to make the playoffs. 

 

The Giants were in this position, hoping against hope that the Eagles would shock Washington and essentially send Big Blue to their inevitable playoff extinction at the hands of Tom Brady and the Bucs, because they didn't do their job. 

The Giants lost four games this year by four points or less, including an excruciating 22-21 loss to the Eagles and a 25-23 loss to the Bucs in the middle of the year. The Giants also had fate in their hands when they won up in Seattle in Week 13 to get to 5-7. Then they lost three straight, including no show performances against the Cardinals, Browns and Ravens. 

And yet members of the Giants, including the fans have the audacity to blame Philly? The Giants are owed no explanation. If anything Doug Pederson owes his own players in Philadelphia an explanation. Maybe he's trying to get fired? Who knows. But he owes the Giants nothing. 

 

The Giants finished 6-10 this year. They made strides this year, looked like a real football most of the time. They have a head coach in Joe Judge the players bought into this year, and who actually looks like he might be the promising leader the Giants have been looking for since they fired Tom Coughlin at the end of the 2015 season. 

The quarterback though might be another story. Chances are Daniel Jones will be back under center next year, but he will have a microscope on him big time much the way Sam Darnold did this year with the Jets. Jones needs to step it big time in 2021. 

So the Giants season is over. Keep sulking Giants fans over spilled milk. Blame the Eagles all you want. Bottom line is if the Giants had just taken care of business this year, they wouldn't have had to rely on the Eagles in Week 17.

Giants Extremely Lucky to Still Have Shot at Playoffs

 GIANTS 23 - COWBOYS 19 

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. And in the case of the 2020 New York Giants that may indeed be the case. Thanks to a horrible decision by Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy for not challenging was a clear trap on the part of Giants wide receiver Dante Pettis, on a 10-yard "completion" at the Dallas 32-yard line, the Cowboys lost out on a shot at winning the NFC East -- pending a Washington loss tonight. 

McCarthy decided not to challenge the play, the completion stood, and Graham Gano converted on a 50-yard field goal to give Big Blue a 23-19 lead with 6:27 to go. Had McCarthy challenged, the Giants would have been out of field goal range. Perhaps punted. Perhaps Dallas gets the ball back down 20-19, needing only a field goal to win it 22-20. But that never happened. 

Instead, Andy Dalton and his blood soaked hand couldn't get Dallas over the finish line. The Cowboys pushed the Giants right to the bring though. Dalton moved Dallas all the way to the Giants 17-yard line before tossing a game killing interception in the end zone on a pass intended for Dalton Schultz that was picked by Xavier McKinney.

But things would only get weirder. 

A fumble by Wayne Gallman on second and five, was initially ruled a recovery by Dallas, but the heads lineman called it a Giants recovery. Review later showed that Gallman not only fell on the ball -- literary - with his rear end, but recovered the loose football on the bottom of the pile. Ball game. 

Quarterback Daniel Jones finished 17-of-29 for 229 yards, two scores and an interception. His 33-yard touchdown to Pettis in the second quarter, where Pettis bobbled the football before rolling into the end zone gave New York an seemingly insurmountable 20-6 advantage. 

Unfortunately, the Giants offense disappeared in the second half, earning only six first downs in the entire half. Evan Engram proved to be a huge culprit as well, getting called for a huge holding call that cost the Giants a first down. In short it was amazing the Giants escaped a near choke job in the final week of the season. 

Now the Giants have to hope and pray that the Eagles - of all teams - beat the Washington Football Team on Sunday night. If that happens, the Giants win the division at 6-10. If Washington wins, the Football Team will win the East at 7-9. 

Future schedule: Well, if the Giants win the NFC East Sunday night, they will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next weekend in the wild card round. 

Beyond that the Giants 2021 opponents are as follows: Home: Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, Carolina, Atlanta, Arizona or LA Rams or Seattle, Las Vegas, and Denver. 

Road: Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Kansas City, LA Chargers. 

The 2021 season will also introduce the 17th game, and as it stands right now, the NFC East will face an AFC East opponent next year for the 17th game. The Giants will face the Miami Dolphins as a result, since both teams wound up no worse than second place. If the Giants win the NFC East, that opponent will instead be the Buffalo Bills.

Jets End Gase Era with 28-14 Defeat in New England

PATRIOTS 28 - JETS 14 

Celebrate Jets fans, the Adam Gase era is officially over.  Gang Green ended the season the only way it could with a disparaging 28-14 loss to the New England Patriots in Foxboro. The game was punctuated by another rough day for quarterback Sam Darnold who finished with two interceptions and was sacked three times. 

If this is Darnold's last game as a Jet, it ended the exact same way it started three years ago in Detroit, with an interception.  

The Jets somehow grabbed a 14-7 lead in this game when Darnold orchestrated a six play, 75-yard drive to open the second half, but New York would never reignite their offense again. The Jets managed only 26-yards the rest of the day, until Darnold engineered a 16-play, 65-yard drive that ended in his final interception of the game that landed in the hands of Jonathan Jones. 

Gase's era is over. It was reported Saturday night that the Jets would part ways with the embattled coach after Sunday game. Gase officially finished his Jets tenure with a record of 9-23, the third worst winning percentage by a Jets coach in franchise history joining Lou Holtz and Rich Kotitte. 

The question now is who will be the next Jets head coach? And will Sam Darnold have a part in that future? Right now the answers don't look good for Darnold whose $25 million option has to be picked up by May. The Jets could trade Darnold this spring, and hit the re-set button by drafting either Ohio State's Justin Fields, or BYU's Zach Wilson. Of course that all depends on who the new coach will be. 

Future schedule: While the future of the Jets coaching staff and roster is up in the air, one thing that is certain is the schedule. 

Home: New England, Buffalo, Miami, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, New Orleans. 

Road: New England, Buffalo, Miami, Indianapolis, Houston, Denver, Atlanta, Carolina. 

Due to the implementation of the 17th regular season game, the AFC East and NFC East will face an opponent who finished in the same spot in the standings. That means the Jets will see the Philadelphia Eagles next year in the regular season. Where the game will take place is TBA. 

Adam Gase will be Fired Following Pats Game Sunday

 The Adam Gase era is officially over. 

After numerous rumors from unspecified sources via WFAN's Craig Carton and a website called uStadium, it is now official Gase will be gonzo from the Jets sidelines. 

According to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissaro of NFL.com, the Jets are expected to fire Gase following the Jets season finale in New England. 

Gase went 9-22 in two years as Jets coach - a stay that felt just as long as well as tortured. He alienated the teams superstars and chased them out of town in Jamal Adams and LeVeon Bell, and ruined the development of quarterback Sam Darnold in the process. 

The question for the Jets now as the move on from Gase is can the find a coach who can get Darnold on the right track, or B) do they find a coach who wants someone cheaper like Justin Fields or Zach Wilson, both of whom will be there when the Jets pick second in the NFL draft. 

Likely names linked to the job inlcude: Ravens Defensive Coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale, Colts Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus, Titans Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, Chiefs Offensive Coordinator Eric Bienimey, Iowa State's Head coach Matt Campbell, and maybe Michigan's head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

In short -- if the Jets are smart, and if the Johnson brothers allow Joe Douglas to search for and pick the head coach, this could be a very thorough process. Bottom line is the Jets have to get it right this time. They blew it big time when they hired Gase, especially looking back when they had Mike McCarthy, Matt Rhule and Kliff Kingsbury in the building for interviews and didn't hire either of them, settling on Gase instead. 

The Johnson brothers should do themselves and the future of the franchise and butt out of this search process. No more firms. No more consulting with the likes of Charlie Casserly. No more nonsense. Get it right this time.

Justin Fields gives Jets Options with Number 2 Overall Pick

 Entering Friday night's contest between Ohio State and Clemson all of the talk was centered around Clemson superstar Trevor Lawrence, the presumed first overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft. By the end of the night  all of the talk was instead about Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, who lit up the scoreboard in a 49-28 Ohio State upset victory. 

Now the New York Jets, who sit as the number two overall pick have options. They could seriously take Fields with that pick or keep Sam Darnold and use Fields' presence as leverage to get a haul of picks in return for #2 overall. Suddenly the Jets are in an advantageous position. Check out the vlog below!