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This is a non-story as far as I’m concerned.
I saw a couple of stories on this.
Headline – “Jets GM: Sam Darnold will compete for starting QB gig.”
This was a radio show called, “The Rich Eisen Show.” I’m not sure where this show is appears, but it’s with the Eisen, an NFL Network talent.
Mike Maccagnan was his guest.
But you know what, I’m not 100 percent sure that is what he exactly said.
“We’re going to basically expose him to everything,” Maccagnan said. “We’re going to give him the opportunity to go out there learn and earn the position. Of course our focus is not necessarily to throw him into the fire until he’s earned it. We’re very excited about him, his upside and potential. He’s going to have every opportunity to go out there and hopefully fulfill every potential we see in him.
“Nothing’s been predetermined one way or another. There’s a chance for anything on the table. Nothing’s been sort of set in stone in terms of how we’re going to do this in terms of a firm time frame. But he’s going to have every opportunity and we’ll see how it develops going forward.”
This is just rhetoric.
Here is the deal people – the Jets need to make the playoffs this year, or come close trying.
They have missed the playoffs seven years in a row.
This GM and coach tandem have lorded over back-to-back 5-11 seasons.
The owner, who is a very nice man, can call them “quite extraordinary” like he did after the season, but the fans and media don’t have to call a pair of guys coming off back-to-back 5-11 seasons that?
I don’t think so.
And if they have another lousy year, don’t you think some planes might start flying with banners, regardless of the contract status of the GM and coach.
Darnold is 20-years-old with great potential, but he has a lot to work on. Last year he had 13 picks and nine lost fumbles. He had 20 interceptions in the last 20 games. He needs some time to fix some things.
Considering the Jets need to win this year, and this kid, who has a lot of talent, has a lot to work on, he isn’t competing for the starting job this spring and summer.
I’m not saying he shouldn’t play late in the year if they are out of the playoff hunt, but to act like this is some kind of QB competition right now, with Darnold part of it, kind of reminds me of last year’s QB competition, which was a charade. Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg weren’t in Josh McCown’s stratosphere in the spring or summer, but we were told it was a competition. It was a Potemkin Village QB competition.
And they have a new offensive coordinator who said last year about paying young quarterbacks, “This is professional football. This isn’t Triple-A.”
The Jets are paying Josh McCown $10 million this year. If he doesn’t start any games, that will make him one of the highest paid backups in history. But forget the contract, he gives them the best chance to win in 2018.
So people, Darnold isn’t competing for the Week One starting job, not matter what some people gleaned from that interview.
No way.
May 2, 2018
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