What does J-E-T-S spell? Inconsistent.

While nursing the consequences of a fun filled Saturday evening for my 25th birthday, Sunday's performance by the New York Football-less Jets could have given a sober 70 year old woman a hangover. For the past few weeks I've found myself looking desperately for the same team that manhandled the undefeated Tennessee Titans, and keep coming up with what looks like the same old disappointing Jets. They could have locked the division up weeks ago, but after disappointing losses to Denver and a horrendous 49ers team that was without Frank Gore for half the game, they continued their downward spiral yesterday. By some miraculous act of something otherworldly, they managed to score 10 points in the fourth quarter without even managing a first down. That's almost the equivalent of saying, they won the game even though the other team outplayed them...wait a minute, that's actually what happened.

Jets fans have the idiotic play calling of Bills coach Dick Jauron to thank for this half-hearted miracle that gave us an early Christmas present. Had Jauron called a running play and continued to give the ball to Marshawn Lynch (who the Jets couldn't tackle all afternoon), they'd probably have the win all locked up. I am convinced however, that Jauron did this to torture the soul of every Jets fan, including myself, who now have a renewed false sense of hope going into the last two games of the season.

The Gang Green go out to Seattle next weekend to play the Seahwawks, a team who barely beat the Rams yesterday, yet still nearly upset the Patriots last week. This is a game the Jets could very well lose, and judging by how they've played lately, have a 50/50 shot at losing. Jets play the Miami Dolphins in the final game of the season, which if both teams win next weekend will decide who takes the AFC East, and who gets to go home.

Games like the last 3 the Jets have played are the reason Brett Favre's beard gets a shade grayer each week (though he's partly to blame for their shortcomings this year) and may likely be his reason for actually retiring (again) after this season. I'd like to see Brett back (mainly because Kellen Clemens isn't our savior), but will not be angry or disappointed if he isn't. Eric Mangini is great at finding a game plan, and using it...for the entire season, even when it stops working or teams figure it out. Prime examples: They run the ball almost every time Leon Washington is on the field; If Brad Smith is in, they're going to some sort of ridiculous triple reverse option (Smith didn't play yesterday, and I think the team is better off with Clowney in. He's a faster and better receiver, and his name is Clowney.) They don't blitz anymore and wonder why Shaun Hill looked like the reincarnation of Joe Montana last weekend. Luckily J.P. Losman might be the worst QB on the planet, thus a main reason to why they won against the Bills.

Long story short (I know, too late.), the Jets, though they seemed to be the new and improved Jets at the start of the season and especially after the Titans game, are the same old Jets. Or as Mr. Hurley in "Big Daddy" called them, "The goddamn Jets." That's right, their horrendous shortcomings have been so bad in the 1990's/2000's that they get a shout out by a drunk old man at the Blarney Stone in an Adam Sandler film (If you saw the game yesterday you'd also notice Sandler was at the game, as well as Michael Douglas).

I really don't know where I'm going with this whole post other than to revoice what was once my former disdain for the New York Jets. I rewatched "Step Brothers" and "The Dark Knight" before and after the game yesterday in my day of lethargy, and both were more rewarding and fulfilling to watch than the Jets have been in the past 3 weeks. I hope this does not understate the greatness of both films, as it is not my intention for the overt crappiness of the Jets recently to be so dismal that it would mean watching "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" would also be more rewarding or fulfilling.

One more sidenote: what the hell is up with Chad Pennington? The guy leaves the Jets then unleashes 40 yard passes of the likes we have never seen? Must be the warm Miami weather loosening up his once linguini-like arm.

Kevin Arnold Loved the Jets, And So Should You. Broadway Brett: El Capitan.

Remember "The Wonder Years," one of the greatest television dramas in history? What a great show (that I'm still waiting for on DVD), with a great main character, Kevin Arnold, who famously championed for Winnie Cooper's affections while donning a vintage Jets jacket at the height of the Broadway Joe era. Kevin's older brother Wayne is still one of the most hated characters in TV history, one that could make you want to put your fist through some drywall.

Anywho, here's a Broadway Brett update on the same day that the NFL's season kicks off with the Giants-Redskins game tonight. (Editor's Note: I've got Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley going on both of my fantasy teams tonight)

Yesterday it was announced that Brett Favre and Alan Faneca have been voted the offensive captains of the New York Jets for the upcoming season. While I would have liked to see wide receiver Laveranues Coles or maybe tight end Chris Baker as captains, I don't disagree with Brett being one, since he is expected to be the guy who leads this team all season. Coles and Baker lost some pull though when they got into contract disputes/holdouts with management in the off season. Faneca, while also being added to the team only a few months back still has pull over Jerricho Cotchery and Leon Washington, who are still a bit young to be looked at as captain material. Thomas Jones has only been there for one (lackluster) season at running back, and still has much to prove in the fans' and team's eyes, so that's not much of a surprise.
That "C" stitched on his jersey now won't make Brett Favre any better or worse; but same goes for Tom Brady's "minor" (stress fracture) foot injury. Here's my prediction on this ongoing rivalry between the AFC East opponents who meet for the first of 2 regular season match ups next week. The Pats and Jets will split their two games this year; I think the Jets have a shot winning it in week 2 since the Pats haven't (as far as we know) been illegally videotaping Favre on the Jets, and Brady might still be rusty. He will especially have trouble when Calvin Pace tries to rip his head off along with the rest of the revamped Jets defensive unit. Tom Brady, as Walter Sobchak (played by John Goodman) in "The Big Lebowski" best put it, is "entering a world of pain," this season. (See Walter below.)
The Jets will win 10 or 11 games (12 if a couple of the close ones fall their way) and get a Wild Card playoff spot since they don't play in the NFC West where a .500 team can not only make the playoffs, but win their division. The Pats will win at least 13 or 14, but their geriatric defense, and questionable O-line is going to be winded toward the end of the season like they were in last year's Super Bowl. That is why I predict the Patriots will lose somewhere between the first round and up to or including the AFC Championship, either to the Colts (if Peyton Manning stays healthy), Jaguars (another solid D that has a great season under their belt), the Chargers (if they can stay dominant without Shawn Merriman, because he'll take a career and/or season ending injury somewhere by mid-season with the bum knee he's adamant about playing on), or shall I say the J-E-T-S Jets?

A year or two ago I'd be labeled "looney tunes" for such a prediction. However, this is the first season in a long time any Jets fan can firmly say or believe that they have a legitimate shot to win any game they're in on any given Sunday. The Patriots are probably the most feared team in the NFL this season, and even they have questions coming into this year after going 0-4 without Tom and his bum foot throughout the preseason.
(Editor's Note: This is one of the best pictures of Tom Brady I have ever seen.)
Granted losing the biggest game in franchise history to end their season will weigh on the Patriots and give them extra tenacity this year, but on paper and on the field they are a weaker and more vulnerable team than they were last year. This is especially evident when one thinks about how they will need to have more left in their tank at the end of the season for a lengthy playoff run. Sure, Brett Favre is going to be 39 in a month or two, but the fresh life the Jets have breathed into their offensive line, backfield, and defense are more changes than the Patriots have made. If the same team that got pounded by the Giants defense (that boasted only one Pro Bowler) in the Super Bowl shows up this season, other equal or better defenses will be knocking the hobbled quarterback down even more this season.

Interesting enough, ESPN correspondent and Boston (yuck) fan Bill Simmons, has a somewhat similar view on the Pats and Jets. While he sees the Pats being questionable, he still has them making the AFC Championship, and losing to the Jaguars who he has for his Super Bowl pick. The Jets are his annual sleeper pick, though he has them losing their first two games on their way to a surprising 11-5 season. The record prediction sounds about right, but I see them winning at least one of their first two games, if not both. The third game against the Chargers is a toss up depending on whether Merriman is on the IR list by then or how much Phillip Rivers cries like Halle Berry accepting her Academy Award during the game.

You can read all of Bill Simmons's season predictions here on ESPN's website. Although I despise Boston sports teams, I like where his head is at. But I will say I think his view on the Giants is a bit harsh and skewed to the fact that they ruined his team's shot at perfection in the Super Bowl. While I think the Giants are going to have a tougher time this year with their losses on defense (Osi's knee surgery, Strahan's retirement, Mitchell's bouncing), I think Eli Manning will have a better and more consistent regular season than he has previously. They're definitely at least a 8 or 9 win team, but I still think the New York story of the year will be the Jets This is also due to the fact that the Yankees are horrendous this season, and the Mets are likely to come up shorthanded at the end of the season or in the playoffs, the ongoing trainwreck that is the Knicks organization, and the Rangers who have lost Sean Avery, JaomirJagr, and will probably end up at about the same spot they did in last season's playoffs.

Here are Simmons's thoughts:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080904

"Michael Strahan Coming Out of Retirement??? Byaaaaaa!!!"

On Saturday night, Osi Umenyiora, the Giants lone Pro-Bowl selection and star defensive end from their Super Bowl Championship team went down with a season ending injury in their annual preseason game against the Jets. Today, they have started to go to a drawing board similar to that of their neighbors the New York Jets; find a recently retired first ballot Hall of Famer and woo him back into playing. The way the Jets traded for Brett Favre, who decided he wasn't ready for retirement, was as great for publicity as it was for the team. However, if the Giants cajole Michael Strahan out of retirement, it will be a completely different story, though on the surface it appears similar.

The main difference between the two situations is in the motivation. Brett Favre has come back because he has a bonafide desire to keep playing the game he has been a legend at for over 10 years. Money is not an option, since what the Jets are paying him is less than half of the $25 million the Packers offered him as "Please, for the love of all that is holy, do not play football" money. Not only that, if it was really about anything other than a desire to play, he would never in a million years come to the Jets. Even a Jets fan can admit they never in their wildest dreams ever imagined that Favre would play for the Jets before just staying retired. He hasn't had that a Steve Young or Troy Aikman helping of concussions throughout his career, so it is also safe to say he's not a couple beers short of a six pack. He moved his family across the country, to the biggest frying pan of media scrutiny, and turned away $25 million from the Packers to continue being a quarterback in the NFL with a desire to win. Plain and simple.

Michael Strahan, on the other hand, is a different story. Not soon enough after announcing his retirement, Strahan signed a broadcasting deal with Fox Sports to work the games on Sunday starting this season. As of right now, he's got a storybook ending in place; after winning the Super Bowl at the tail end of a 15 year Hall of Fame career, he goes out on top, like Elway. Strahan is also much more likable not only in the Giants spectrum, but among the rest of the league when compared to his former teammate Tiki Barber, who came as close to seeing someone eat their own foot throughout the course of a season as anyone last year. After retiring, prematurely and without a championship, Barber signed a lucrative broadcasting deal, then proceeded to bash his former team (mainly eventual Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning) who went on to win it all. He has alienated any chance of coming back in any role with the Giants, and burned more bridges in the course of a year than Julius Caesar. Needless to say that's a completely different rant, so back to Strahan.

Though he would be welcomed by the fans and his teammates with open arms, Michael Strahan should put the comeback rumors to rest before any more fuel is added to the fire. With his asking price for a return being anywhere between $8-$12 million, his return would strictly be about the money, unlike Broadway Brett's. I think the Giants front office dropped the ball on this one by letting it get out into the media so quickly (though media speculation may have fueled the rumors before the Giants even had time to think about it), and any football person should know they won't be any better or worse with or without Strahan this year.

If the Giants truly believe that the absence of Osi Umenyiora or the addition of Michael Strahan will make or break the defense of their championship, then they have bigger problems on their hands. Finally letting go of one of the faces of their franchise rather than trying to mercilessly buy him back when his heart is not 100% in it, will allow them to move on and focus on the season on hand. Bringing Strahan back will shift the media frenzy from the Jets and the Favre story back over to Eli and the Giants, who have had less pressure on them in the past month or so due to Brett's arrival. Less media scrutiny, and less pressure from overzealous selfish players like Barber and Shockey is what brought the Giants together for their eventual Championship run. Bringing Strahan back into the picture will take the pressure off Brett and the Jets (so you won't hear me complain) but ultimately, will do more harm than good with less than two weeks left before the start of the season by giving Eli more to think about.

Tom Coughlin got his Super Bowl and got his contract extension and ultimately, it's the front office's call, but I think the Giants are smarter than risking the next several years for a crap shoot with a guy who hung it up much more wholeheartedly than Favre did in March.

"Opening Night for Broadway Brett"

In my debauchery-filled weekend of sun, fun, and beer, I sadly missed the preseason debut of Broadway Brett Favre and the Jets on Saturday night against the Washington Redskins. Although the Jets lost, Brett put on a great first performance considering he joined the team less than 2 weeks ago. The future Hall of Famer went an impressive 5 for 6 passing, for a total of 48 yards, including a four yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Dustin Keller. Any doubts Favre had were removed when he stated after the game that, "I knew I had made the right decision when I was on the field tonight." Ah, Brett Favre, he had me at hello.

Speaking of cheesy lines from a Tom Cruise film, Mr. Scientology himself was on hand at the game, making a rare New Jersey appearance, though he's originally from Glen Ridge. Cruise happens to be very close friends with Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who I'm guessing was his host for the game. This picture from ESPN.com showed Tom at the game actually being friendly with the fans, not like that time he almost engaged in fisticuffs with Matt Lauer on the Today show (2nd picture) a couple years back.

I think Favre's first real test will be when the Jets host the Giants this Saturday night. It will be the first time Favre is playing against the defending Super Bowl champions since throwing what would end up being the game winning interception in the NFC Championship Game last season. Perhaps this was Favre's plan all through the offseason: fake retirement, then get traded to the Jets and steal away any memory the New York media has of the Giants Super Bowl victory by robbing the headlines until the season starts. This should make for a good match up, and will most likely be Favre's last action until the season opener in Miami since most teams keep their starters on the bench for the fourth week of preseason games.

Another football event worth noting that took place this weekend was another quarterback making a debut with a new team: Chad Pennington and the Miami Dolphins who faced off against the Jacksonville Jaguars, also on Saturday night.
I wish Chad and the 'Phins all the best this year (so long as they don't get in the Jets way for the 2 games they'll play) as I'll always be a fan of his, and the image of him in a Dolphins uniform was just as jarring as Favre wearing the Jets shade of green. The Dolphins won their game 19-14 while Pennington also put up rather impressive numbers for a guy who's been with the team for about 10 days. Chad went 5 for 6 passing with 55 yards, no touchdowns. Ironic that these numbers were nearly identical to Favre's, save for the touchdown. We'll just have to see if they stay as even keeled for their season opener in Miami on September 7th.

The Jet Brett Favre era took the field for the first time this weekend, and Jets fans will be on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what he has in store for the rest of the season.

It's 5 Months Away, but the Super Bowl Halftime Performer Will Be...

BRUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!!!

The the football season hasn't even started yet, but it's being reported that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be the halftime performers at this year's Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay, Florida. So there you have it, you have 5 months to set your TiVo and not miss a minute when you have to make a mad dash to the bathroom because your sister-in-law's guacamole was made with expired sour cream and mushy avocados.

Honestly, once I read this at Variety's website, I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet. Looking back, having the reunited E Street Band play at the Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002 would have been more fitting than U2 in their tribute to 9/11. However, it still doesn't change the fact of that being one of the most powerful, resonating halftime shows in the Big Game's history.

So, why the change of heart for the E Street Band? Perhaps they are true to their tradition of an All-American rock band and want to give the Jets and their new (old) All-American quarterback, Broadway Brett Favre some extra motivation to make that trip to Tampa Bay in January. It may take a Thunder Road to get there, and Favre's Glory Days may be behind him, but if the Jets play their opponents with a tenacity like they're Held Up Without a Gun, then maybe Brett and the Jets will go all Murder Incorporated on the competition this season.

If that's the case then they would truly prove that they are Born to Run with the Boss to Florida. Hell, they could even take the same flight back to the swamps of Jersey and have a victory show at the stadium when their fans greet them on the homecoming.

The NFL and Springsteen's people have been mum on the subject, so hopefully in the coming weeks we will know for sure if this match made on Exit 16W of the New Jersey Turnpike is in fact true. If so, it's a teaming that is truly Born in the USA.

More Jet Favre News...

The people at EA Sports waste no time...Here's an image of what newly acquired quarterback Brett Favre will look like in Madden '09. And I must say, it looks damn good! Many in the press as well as fans are already concerned with the big stage Favre will be landing on in the hot skillet that is the New York media. However, these Debbie Downers should remember a few things:

1. The Jets play in New Jersey, and have since the mid 1970's. They will continue to play in Jersey for many years to come when their new stadium (with the Giants) opens at the start of next season.

2. The Jets were 4-12 last season. That said, giving up next to nothing for him and having a 5-11 season would be an improvement in the New York media's mind.

3. The last time a New York starting quarterback wore number 4 his name was: Glen Foley.

4. Bill Belichick is already trying to cheat his way into a strategy to beat the Legend, and I'm sure he lost some sleep over this last night. His misery is our happiness.

5. Brett Favre is no stranger to the media, and historically has dealt with media scrutiny quite well. His turn as the character, Brett Favre in 1998's box office smash "There's Something About Mary" shows his poise and composure under the scrutiny of the media circus that is a movie set. Brett also played a janitor alongside Mike Holmgren in the 1996 film "Reggie's Prayer" about a retired pro football player who befriends a troubled student on the high school football team he coaches.
Click here to see Brett show off his acting chops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjDC6P16hSg

In my intrigue of how fast Wikipedia works amid breaking pop culture related news, I did a search on Brett Favre; here's the opening paragraph as of this morning:

"Brett Lorenzo Favre (born on October 10, 1969, in Gulfport, Mississippi) is an American football quarterback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 2007."

Damn, Wikipedia is faster than TJ Houshmandz-whachamacallhim. Also, I didn't know his middle name was Lorenzo. You know who else was named Lorenzo don't you? That's right, the father in "A Bronx Tale" played by Robert DeNiro. He epitomized perseverance and that "stick to your guns" mentality that Brett Favre personifies more than anyone else in the NFL today.

Coincidence, I think not. This is a case of the legendary Lorenzos. And don't adjust your computer monitor; yes, I just connected Brett Favre's comeback to "A Bronx Tale"