Content available exclusively for subscribers
New Jersey – A few things to get into today in this edition of Dan’s Website Whispers. Don’t miss out. Sign-up now. Just $7.95 a month for the good stuff daily . . .
It’s ideal for a team to have two weeks to prepare for the complexities of New England . . .
The Jets would probably be 4-6 right now if not for Jordan Phillips.
Phillips is the defensive tackle who went low on Ryan Fitzpatrick in Miami hurting his MCL, which precluded him from playing against Los Angeles.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the Jets would have scored more than six points with Fitzpatrick at quarterback against the Rams . . .
Manish Mehta had another story that garnered a lot of national attention and was great click bait for the Daily News website.
Headline – “Fear of player revolt is why Bowles won’t name Petty Jets starter.”
“There are rumblings on One Jets Drive that Bowles is concerned his team will check out if he plays the second-year signal caller against the Patriots on Nov. 27,” Mehta wrote.
I don’t think he knows this. I just think this is 2 + 2 = 4 logic.
While many fans want to write-off the rest of the season and just let Petty player, that isn’t a mindset shared by players. Far from it.
Players want to win. It doesn’t matter what the record is. I’m sure many of you have played pickup basketball in some small park or gym. These are meaningless games, but you want to win!
“Food tastes better after a win,” players often say.
This sport kicks the crap out of your body. You want to have something to show for it after beating up your body for three hours on Sunday. You want to win games. Do you think the Jets players just want to go out there and use the rest of these games as a petri dish to develop Bryce Petty? No. Regardless of whether they are going to playoffs or not, they want to win games.
Players have a way different world-view than fans and reporters.
“We don’t look at things that way,” Breno Giacomini said to a question last year related to a dumb media meme like “is this a statement game.”
It’s also not fair to people paying hundreds of dollars a ticket to go to a game where the primary goal is player development not winning.
Look, I know Fitzpatrick is a journeyman quarterback, but he gives the Jets their best chance to win right now.
He’s better than Bryce Petty.
The Jets need a win for team morale, regardless of their record.
Brandon Marshall had four catches for 15 yards against Los Angeles.
Marshall does some of his best work when Fitzpatick “throws him open” or gives him chance at 50-50 balls. Young quarterbacks like Petty tend to stay away from throws like that because they are scared of throwing picks.
Petty was hesitant to pull the trigger last week. He didn’t trust his eyes.
Fitzpatrick should start the next game.
This isn’t NFL Europe
I have long been of the opinion that throwing away games to develop a quarterback is a position devoid of integrity.
I’m from the Herman Edwards school – “You play to win the game.”
November 18, 2016
Premium will return by 9:30 pm on Monday.
