The worst kept secret in NFL circles is now official, former Denver
Broncos head Coach Nathaniel Hackett is now the offensive coordinator of
the New York Jets.
Formal announcement of his hiring came from beat reporters on
Thursday afternoon. Hackett, who went 4-11 as head coach of the Broncos
before getting fired in his maiden voyage, comes to the Jets with an
extensive background as an offensive coordinator, and of course he has
strong ties to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Hackett’s links to the Jets make a lot of sense. He worked with Jets
head coach Robert Saleh in Jacksonville when the two were down there
from 2017-18. He also worked under Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who
is like a brother to Saleh, and whose actual brother Mike LaFleur was
the Jets offensive coordinator until recently.
Plus with all the rumors swirling that the Jets could be a major player for Rodgers only adds to the intrigue of this signing.
That being said, Hackett will have a lot to answer to about his
one-year in Denver where the Broncos were the worst team in the NFL in
offense, and Russell Wilson’s career and reputation all but faded. A lot
of that is more on Wilson’s doing than on Hackett’s.
Until the Rodgers questions are answered, Hackett will be tasked with
reviving the career of Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, who still has two
years and $9.5 million left on his contract.
I remember in the summer of 2008 when then Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre announced he was coming out of retirement and that the New York Jets were linked as a possible suitor, not believing my ears.
"Could it be? The New York Jets who have never really had a Hall of Fame type quarterback under center end up with one of the all time great's at the position? Would I really get to see one of my favorite out of market quarterbacks suddenly play on my team?"
Yes, those thoughts crossed my mind, and the mind of every Jets fan back in the sweltering heat of August 2008. Then one evening, BAM! I turned on NFL Network and there it was: in bold type on the bottom scroll the announcement was official, the Jets swung a deal and acquired Brett Favre for draft picks (who cares, right?) while shipping Chad Pennington out of town. (He would end up in Miami as we all know).
The excitement was palpable. It was also the year I ended up with season tickets. I couldn't believe my good fortune. From the first game in preseason against Washington to the home opener against New England a few weeks later, Jets fans couldn't believe their good fortune either.
Brett Favre was now a New York Jet.
And for a while things were looking up for the Jets with Favre. Gang Green was 8-3 in November, coming off of huge wins over Tennessee and New England. The Jets were in position to be a serious playoff team.
Then the bottom fell out. Favre got hurt, played through it and the Jets lost four of five to finish at 9-7 and out of the playoffs, losing in the last week of the season to ... Chad Pennington and the Dolphins.
So what did we learn from this now?
The Jets are again rumored to be a destination for a Packers legend, this time in Aaron Rodgers -- the man, ironically who replaced Favre in Green Bay.
Do the Jets go all in? It's tempting. Rodgers is a 4-time MVP, most recently winning back-to-back years in 2020 and 2021. He is a lock for the Hall of Fame and owns a Super Bowl title to boot. The Packers always have a chance with him aboard.
That said, Rodgers is coming off statistically his worst season, throwing for 3,695 yards -- his lowest yardage total since 2015; 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions -- the most picks he has tossed in a full season since 2008.
To be fair Rodgers was hurt most of the season, battling a hand injury that hampered him at times. Not to mention the NFC North got stronger as the Vikings went 13-4 this year, and the Lions proved they are a definite playoff contender. The North is no longer a shoe-in for Green Bay.
Rodgers is also contemplating his own future. He admitted as much on the Pat McAfee show on Tuesday.
Much like Favre did in Green Bay, Rodgers likes to mull the future and takes his time in coming to a decision. Last year, he waited until deep into the spring to decide whether to return or force a trade to Denver. He eventually got the extension he wanted, even though star receiver DeVante Adams bolted for Las Vegas.
Now we are here again. According to Rodgers in his interview with McAfee, he's still mulling a decision and so are the Packers.
The Packers are due to pay Rodgers $60 million all guaranteed in March. They don't want to do that. There are also reports saying Green Bay would be willing to trade Rodgers, but out of the NFC only.
That is where the Jets enter. According to Peter King the Jets are a team willing to make a big splash, and Woody Johnson is reportedly want to get a big quarterback. At the same time the Jets are also saying all the "right things" about Zach Wilson that they want him to be the future.
Bringing in Rodgers would be tantalizing for the Jets for two reasons. 1) It would catapult their chances for the playoffs, 2) It would keep the Zach Wilson fantasy alive for another year with Wilson on the bench behind Rodgers.
Rodgers and Wilson are said to be close -- we'll see how that works out if they become teammates.
Then there is the cost. The Jets would have to part -- according to King -- with at least 2 first round picks, and would take on $48.3 million in salary. The Jets are already $2.7 million over the cap, and cuts are looming.
As pointed out by Jets XFactor, should the Jets acquire Rodgers post June 1, they would be on the hook for only $15 million in 2023 rather than $31 million now.
Still it's a lot to give up. The Jets aren't exactly a player away here.
They have a lot of holes to fill, namely on the offensive line, middle linebacker and safety. Quinnen Williams wants a new contract. His brother, dynamic linebacker Quincy Williams is a free agent and wants a new deal.
The Jets don't know whether Meckhi Becton will ever be the player they thought they drafted three years ago. If Becton is healthy, he will likely shift to right tackle. Alijah-Vera Tucker is coming off injury. Duane Brown is 38 and beaten up, and probably won't be back at left tackle. Center is also a question mark.
How does putting a 39-year old Rodgers behind this offensive line make sense right now? It doesn't.
Yet the fans don't seem to care about the salary cap, draft picks, and whether the Jets have the proper personnel to make it work.
They just want Aaron Rodgers in a Jets uniform.
Fact is the Jets would be better off solving their quarterback quandary by finding someone who can be here for the rest of the decade, not just one -- maybe two years -- like Rodgers.
Lamar Jackson is 26 and might be available if the Ravens can't agree to a deal with him. Derek Carr is in the prime of his career at age 32 and will be dealt by the Raiders. Either would be a stable addition to the Jets, and would spell the end of the Zach Wilson era.
The biggest gamble surrounding Rodgers in Green and White is this: everyone is on the hot seat. Should Rodgers falter with the Jets and they fail to win a playoff game, or fail to make the playoffs, it would mean Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas are almost assuredly fired.
When quarterback Jalen Hurts guided the Philadelphia Eagles on a
crisp 75-yard scoring drive to open the football game, culminating in a
16-yard touchdown to Dallas Goedert, one had to know that the Giants
were in big trouble.
Hurts was a perfect 4-for-4 for 60 yards on that opening drive. Any
concerns over Hurts’ injured shoulder subsided quickly as he tore apart a
healthy Giants defense. Hurts looked like the man that guided the
Eagles to a 13-1 start to the season, and the Eagles looked like the
team the G-Men saw in Week 14 when they served up a 48-22 smackdown.
On the Giants ensuing drive, Daniel Jones had Big Blue moving into
Eagles territory with completions to Richie James and Lawrence Cager;
but the drive quickly stalled when Jones was sacked for a five-yard loss
on third down.
Instead of punting the ball and playing defense, Brian Daboll
inexplicably decided to go for it on fourth and eight. Jones was nearly
sacked before tossing the ball away. The Giants turned the ball over on
downs at midfield.
The Eagles quickly responded, scoring again eight plays later with
Hurts hitting DeVonta Smith for a nine-yard touchdown to make it 14-0.
Just like that it felt like the game had totally slipped away.
And so the season ends in a 38-7 loss to the Eagles. Big Blue
finished the season 10-8-1 and 1-5-1 in the NFC East. All five NFC East
losses were to the Eagles and Cowboys combined. The Giants have a lot of
work to do in order to close the gap in their own division.
Regardless, it was an immensely successful season for Big Blue. The
Giants made the playoffs for the first time in six years, and won a
playoff game for the first time since Super Bowl XLVI in 2011. Daniel
Jones enjoyed a renaissance season, and head coach Brian Daboll proved
to be one of the best head coaching hires of the 2022 hiring cycle, and
could be the NFL Coach of the Year.
Now a busy off-season awaits. The first order of business will be
working out deals with free agents to be quarterback Daniel Jones and
running back Saquon Barkely. Reports over the past few weeks indicated
the Giants have an interest in bringing them back. The questions will be
can they? We will find out soon enough.
Tell the doubters to take a hike. Daniel Jones is the real deal, and the Giants are going to foot one hell of a tab when they negotiate a long term deal with him once this season ends, whenever it ends. That is because Daniel Jones proved once again that he is indeed a franchise quarterback.
His running mate Saquon Barkley also continued to show that he can be a back-breaking difference at running back.'
Perhaps David Gettleman wasn't that crazy after all?
The Giants went into Minnesota and lay down a beating on the Vikings 31-24 in the wild card round. And while there were moments where this game could have gone the way of the Vikes, it never felt that close. The Giants rolled up 431 yards of offense, 28 first downs and held the ball for 34 minutes.
Jones completed 24-of-31 passes for 301 yards and two scores. He also ran for 78 yards as well. His ability to move in and out of the pocket confused the Vikings, who had no answer for Big Blue's suddenly dynamic offense.
And how about receiver Isaiah Hodgins? Remember when the Giants were flirting with Odell Beckham? Well, since the calendar flipped to December Hodgins has left little doubt who is receiver No. 1 in this building. He kept that going on Sunday, hauling in a touchdown that made it 14-7, and later, using his tip-toes to make a game saving catch that helped set up Saquon Barkley's game winning score.
It was an unbelievable night for the Giants. Their first win the playoffs since Super Bowl XLVI, and it came in the franchise's first trip to the postseason in over six year.
Now Big Blue heads to Philadelphia to face an Eagles team that -- yes, swept the Giants this year, but this is a different Giants team than the one the Eagles saw in early December. And it certainly isn't the B-squad the Eagles saw in Week 18.
This is going to be a rock fight, and we can't wait to see it play out.
The New York Jets and Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur have parted ways. After an inconsistent 2022 season, highlighted by Gang Green's inability to develop quarterback Zach Wilson, LaFleur will not return in 2023.
According to multiple reports several teams had reached about LaFleur's availability leading to New York to agree to allow the embattled offensive coordinator to pursue other opportunities elsewhere. The Jets had initially played to bring LaFleur back.
LaFleur's departure was really no surprise, not after the Jets failed to score a single touchdown in their final three games of the year. Under his stewardship, the Jets offense was one of the worst in the NFL, ranked 29th in scoring this season, and 25th in total offense. Changes had to made.
Moreover, the underdevelopment of Zach Wilson was a problem. Wilson's struggles to master the offense, combined with the young signal callers pour mechanics, and -- what many claimed -- a lack of accountability, resulted in his benching -- twice -- this season.
Not all was bad under LaFleur. Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson developed into two of the Jets most important game breakers on offense. Hall rushed for 463 yards before a knee injury ended his season in Denver.
As for Garrett Wilson, he broke the Jets rookie record for receiving yards, and is in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
When Robert Saleh brought in LaFleur, whom he has known for well over 20 years, the hope was he would learn under the guidance of Greg Knapp, but Knapp tragically passed away in a freak accident in the summer of 2021.
The Jets will likely look for a veteran offensive mind who can cure the Jets ills; perhaps get Zach Wilson on track, or work with another veteran quarterback to get the Jets offense moving in the right direction in 2023.
And so it goes for the New York Mets. The Amazin's valiant attempt to lock-down a deal with Carlos Correa ends much the same way it did with the San Francisco Giants a month ago, with Correa signing elsewhere.
After contract negotiations between the Mets and Correa’s camp
stalled just before the Christmas break, the two sides never could agree
to a deal after it was initially reported that the Amazin’s and Correa
agreed in principal to a 12-year $315 million deal on December 21.
Like the San Francisco Giants before them, the Mets tried in good
faith to sign Correa, but concerns over an ankle injury from years ago
would up nixing the deal. The Mets tried to work something out with
Correa and his agent Scott Boras, but nothing came to fruition.
Instead Correa went back to Minnesota on a six-year $200 million
contract — a far cry from the 13-years, $350 million offered to him by
San Francisco a month ago. The agreement includes a vesting option for
four years and $70 million and will become official if Correa passes a
medical review.
According to Jeff Passon of ESPN, the Twins are expected to be
comfortable with Correa’s leg, an injury he had surgery on back in 2014,
and has not spent any time on the injury list for any setbacks to his
right leg.
The loss of Correa is the first real “L” that owner Steve Cohen has
taken as owner. He wanted Correa on the Mets, pursued him, had him on an
agreement, but in the end the Mets and Correa couldn’t get over the
finish line.
That means, barring an unforseen mega deal, the Mets enter Spring
Training with a platoon at third base between veteran Eduardo Escobar
(.240, 20 HR, 69 RBI) and rookie Brett Baty, who is one of the Mets top
three prospects in their farm system.
The Jets 2022 season came to a bitter end in Miami. A field goal
fest, that ended somewhat appropriately when Jets back-up quarterback
was charged with the safety resulting in an 11-6 defeat to the Dolphins,
who stamped their spot as the seventh seed in the AFC Playoffs.
As has been the case with the Jets during the six game losing streak
that ended their season, they couldn’t get into the end zone. Sunday’s
loss marked the third straight game where the Jets failed to score a
touchdown.
Only Garrett Wilson had a standout afternoon for the Jets, hauling in nine passes for 89 yards. That was it.
Sunday's loss to Miami only highlighted the growing problems with these Jets. They need a new vision offensively. There is no doubt about it. Mike LaFleur needs to go. His mismanagement of Zach Wilson is the most glaring of so many problems with an offense that lacks creativity and focus.
But the blame doesn't just stop there. Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas have to shoulder some of the blame as well. How is that the Jets over-evaluated Wilson in the first place? How is it that they continue to defend Wilson's presence on the team, yet continue to bench him at the same time. They send mixed messages that they truly don't believe in Wilson, and who can blame them?
Wilson doesn't look the part of an NFL quarterback.
The Jets must address offensive coordinator and quarterback this off-season. A veteran who can compete, if not supplant Wilson as the starter needs to happen.
Still there are concerns that the owner, Woody Johnson, might be meddling in things again. Rumors last week via the Michael Kay show that Johnson is using his relationship with Zach Wilson's family to keep the player on the team. If that is true, this franchise will beyond fixing.
The Jets have a very important off-season ahead of them, and it begins Monday when decisions are likely made on the coaching staff.
Even though they sat most of their starters including Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkely, the New York Giants gave the Philadelphia Eagles quiet a scare in the late stages of their NFC East battle in Philadelphia.
Sure the Eagles had the collateral of the Dallas Cowboys no-showing in Washington against the Commanders, but Davis Webb brought the G-Men back from a 19-0 deficit to give his team a shot at coming back in the final minute.
With Big Blue trailing 19-3 entering the fourth quarter, Davis guided the Giants on a nine-play, 59-yard drive that culminated in a 14-yard Davis touchdown run to widdle the deficit down to 19-9. After the Giants held the Eagles to a field goal, Davis tossed a 25-yard fade into the back of the end zone that much maligned wide receiver Kenny Golladay caught for a touchdown that cut the deficit down to 22-16.
For the Eagles, the victory cemented another NFC East title, the franchises 12th all-time, and first since 2019.
The Eagles will get a week off as the NFC's number 1 seed.
The Giants will visit the Minnesota Vikings in the wild card round. It will be a rematch of a classic Week 16 game that saw the Vikings squeak by the Giants 27-24.
More great news coming out of Cincinnati as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin had the breathing tube he was on removed, and was reportedly talking to teammates via Facetime.
The hope is that Hamlin can soon return home with his family.
Hamiln's return to life has been an incredible story to behold. He suffered cardiac arrest on the field after making a tackle in the Bills-Bengals game on Monday night. He was revived by medical personal on the field, who lifted him into an ambulance and took him to Cincinnati Medical Hospital.
Since that time the outpouring of support across the country and in the NFL has been incredible. People have been donating to Hamiln's charity for children's toys at a rapid rate that has now raised over $7 million.
His jersey sales also went through the roof, with proceeds going to his charity as well.
On Thursday it was reported that Hamlin was awake and was able to move his hands. The fact he is able to speak again is an incredible testament to the doctors and medical personnel who have worked on him ever since.
The NFL has decided that it will not resume the contest between the
Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals that took place on Monday night,
and was suspended after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the
field.
Hamlin who has been in the hospital ever since Monday’s game has made
“remarkable progress,” opened his eyes and held hands with family
members. Reportedly he wrote on paper to doctors asking who won the
game?
The score of the game at the time of Hamlin’s collapse was 7-3
Cincinnati. The Bengals (11-4) and Bills (12-3) were vying for the top
seed in the AFC with the Kansas City Chiefs (13-3).
Instead the NFL is implementing a scenario where a neutral site would
be used for the AFC Title game should either the Bengals or Bills get
to the game against Kansas City.
Ian Rapoport posted this great graphic that shows how the AFC Title game will play out.
In addition, if the Ravens beat the Bengals this weekend, and hold a
2-0 series edge vs. Cincy, the Bengals still win the NFC North based on
win percentage. That would mean their wild card match-up would determine
home field based on a coin toss.
There was a belief on Thursday that the NFL would create further
chaos by adding an eighth seed to each conference, which would have
meant the Jets would have had a shot at the playoffs if they were to
beat Miami, and Jacksonville beat Tennessee and Pittsburgh lost to
Cleveland. But, according to Adam Schefter the NFL never considered an
eighth seed.
When you play well, good things get recognition. And that is the case for Nets Head Coach Jacque Vaughn, who deservedly so, was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December.
The Nets are riding a 12-game winning streak after their 139-103 win over San Antonio last night, and went 12-1 in the month of December.
Since taking over for Steve Nash on November 1, Vaughn has overseen a slow, but methodical turn-around for the franchise. The Nets even recognized Vaughn's leadership abilities, naming him the permanent head coach on November 9.
He steadied ship after the Kyrie Irving anti-semitic Tweet crisis, and kept stars like Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons focused on basketball, and now its paying off.
Since November 27 when the Nets were 9-11, Brooklyn has rallied off a record of 16-1.
Durant has been the leading scorer in 11 of those games, twice scoring over 40 points against Orlando on November 28 and Detroit on December 18.
Irving has also picked up his game since coming off an eight game suspension. He has led the Nets in scoring in each of their last three contests.
"The NFL has not made a decision on when to resume Monday night’s game
between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals after Buffalo safety
Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest. However the consensus is the game
will not be made up this week.
"In a statement the League has made no decision on resuming the game at a later date, and Week 18 will proceed as scheduled.
"When Hamlin suffered the cardiac episode after tackling Bengals
receiver Tee Higgins, Cincinnati held a 7-3 lead in the first quarter.
"Hamlin received swift and immediate medical attention, namely CPR,
and was taken to Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was last listed in
critical condition.
"The outpouring of support and prayers for Hamlin has been incredible and touching over the past 17 hours.
"Both the Bills and Bengals are in a battle with Kansas City for the number 1 seed and home field advantage in the AFC Playoffs."
On a night where Penn State won its second Rose Bowl; Rutgers upended number 1 Purdue for the second time in a calendar year; the Brookyln Nets won their 12th in a row; Donavan Mitchell scored 71 points, and in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Bengals played host to the Buffalo Bills in a game with AFC home field on the line.
Josh Allen and Buffalo Bills players pray. Getty Images.
None of those story-lines matter right now after the frightening collapse of Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the first quarter of the Buffalo-Cincy game.
Hamlin simply made a tackle in a game where the Bengals led the Bills 7-3. He got up after making that tackle, then collapsed. Medical teams rushed onto the field to administer CPR, and soon thereafter lifted Hamilin into an ambulance to the hospital.
Depending on what news service you are relying on, Hamlin is in critical condition at this very moment. His vitals are back to normal and is on a breathing tube.
The game was suspended and there is no obvious word as to when it will be made up, if at all at this moment.
It was listless and dull, and like a tumble weed in the desert came and went with little notice or fanfare. That was the Jets playoff hopes in a dismal 23-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on New Year's Day.
Happy New Year Jets fans? More like Groundhog Day.
The Jets had no answer on either side of the ball. Robert Saleh and his coaching staff were out-coached from pillar to post by Saleh's mentor Pete Carroll. And ex-Jet Geno Smith delivered the knock-out punch he waited years to for against the team that once drafted him and nearly grounded his career.
Smith threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns, most of that success coming in the first half, as Seattle carried a 17-6 lead into the break.
The game was pretty much decided in the opening drive, when Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III gashed the Jets for 60-yards on the first play of scrimmage. Two plays later Smith lofted a pass to tight end Colby Parkinson to make it 7-0.
The Seahawks would never look back.
As for Walker III, the Jets couldn't stop him as he torched the Jets for 133 yards on 23 carries.
On the flip side, Mike White had no answers. The once heralded people's choice tossed two interceptions and never looked comfortable in the pocket; perhaps still bothered by the rib injury he suffered four weeks ago in Buffalo.
The loss ends the Jets season. Even though Gang Green has to play one more game next Sunday at Miami, it won't mean much other than playing for pride and jobs in 2023. Call it what it is, a frustrating month for Jets fans who watched this team go from 7-4 to 7-9 in the blink of an eye.
When Landon Collins stepped in front of a Nick Foles pass, picked it off and returned it 52-yards for a touchdown the party finally and fully commenced. Yes, it was only the second quarter, but the score made it 21-3, and, all due respect to the woeful Colts, the game was over.
The Giants rolled over Indianapolis 38-10 as Big Blue clinched its first playoff berth in six years. It's been a long time coming for the Giants and their fans. One can't blame them for wanting to soak themselves up in the joy of total victory on a beautiful New Year's Sunday.
Daniel Jones continued to pad his resume for the off-season. The free-agent-to-be was 19-of-24 for 177 yards and two touchdown passes. He also led the G-Men in rushing with 91 yards on 11-carries and two scores.
According to a report earlier Sunday, the Giants are interested in bringing back both Jones and Saquon Barkley. That would be a great idea. Both players have come into their own this year, especially Jones who has enjoyed a renaissance under Brian Daboll.
Daboll and GM Joe Schoen came to New York with limited expectations, and understandabily so. This was a team on the rebuild. They were focused on trying to find out who fit and who didn't. Instead this season turned into a year Giants fans will never ever forget. A season that will go a long way in re-establishing the Giants as a power in the NFC and NFL.
Giants fans were ecstatic with the victory, and understandably so.
The Giants will face the Eagles next week in the regular season finale, a game that might mean a lot to the Eagles, who are still battling Dallas for the NFC East crown. The Giants meanwhile are pretty much locked into the sixth seed, meaning they could face either San Francisco or Minnesota when the wild card round commences January 15.
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