My point is that he has well earned the right to have an opinion about the franchise, whether it be negative or not. Additionally, most people (not all, as you pointed out) are retired by 68. It's not a matter of can he help, it's a matter of does he want to (in that way), and you can't blame him if he doesn't want to. If your point is that if he wants to speak negatively about the Jets, he should do something to help them, then IMO you are just being irrational. Yes, it would be nice if he did, but again, he doesn't owe us any help just to give his opinion as you seem to suggest.
Well then if he doesn't want to help, then he shouldn't be all aghast or taken aback by the cold-shoulder treatment that the Jets are giving him currently. Thing is, though....He actually is. He even stated as such if you read the articles leading up to this movie. He is trying to have it both ways : Criticize and expect to be welcomed with open arms. It just doesn't work that way. If he wants to continue his diatribe against the Franchise, that's his perogative but he shouldn't expect any roses-and-chocolates from them as a result. Just saying.....
I think you may be misinterpreting the interview you seem to be referencing. If we're thinking of the same interview (the one featured in your own topic), I really didn't get any impression that he was "taken aback" as you say by the poor relationship with ownership/coaches, but only that although he wished it was better, he has to speak his mind. “I don’t want them upset with Joe, but damn it, I have to say what I see, what I think, what I feel." - sounds to me like he fully understands why they're upset with him, I don't sense any surprise. I did not see anything that he said to suggest he didn't understand or was surprised by the tense relationship, I only saw his comments on it (that is, that he wished it was better). If there is something I'm missing feel free to point it out, but I have to disagree with your comment about him "trying to have it both ways." Again, I don't see any reason why he isn't entitled to his own opinion about the franchise. The reason why the media picks it up and we all end up hearing about it is BECAUSE of his stature. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to suggest that we all have to value his opinion (although I personally do) or conform to it, but making the point that he shouldn't speak his (albeit negative) opinion without offering help just doesn't register with me, even if your "taken aback" comments are true, which again, I've personally not seen anything supporting that.
I just watched the show and now I think I know why John Riggins left the Jets. He said when he heard the cheers for Joe he just closed his eyes and wished it was for him.. The Mohawk not withstanding, there was only room for one #1 in New York and that's what he wanted. Need some one with his tenacity now!
The clips from the practices were amazing. The sound the ball made when he threw it. WOW. Namath is the best QB ever.
I don't disagree but I remember at the time that all the media talked about was Namath going to the AFL and what it meant for that league. I don't remember anybody ever mentioning Collins, probably because it was a little before my time or maybe it had more to do with the 400 grand than the two title as QB at Alabama playing under Bryant who had already become a legend in his own right.
Namath won the National Championship which is much better than winning the Heisman. THe HBO Documentary is Fantastic. Joe Willie Namath was and is an amazing person and a great Quarterback and anybody who doesn't understand it because they are too young needs to go watch the HBO Film Namath. Oh and BTW Rex Ryan has worshipped Namath since he was a kid and still loves Namath. If some dumb lineman like matt slauson doesn't like it - who really cares? nobody will remember who matt slauson was in another 3 years.
Collins career was ending as my interest in football was forming, but I'd guess at a few reasons as to why he didn't get the same recognition as Namath... First, at the time he signed, the AFL wasn't considered on par with the NFL, so it probably looked to many as if Cannon went to the less-talented league in order to cash in. That fact alone probably caused many to measure any of Cannon's accomplishments against a "could he have don't it in the NFL" yardstick. It's true that the AFL wasn't considered on par when Namath signed either, but by then their fan base was much larger than it had been and by Namath's second year, the two leagues were meeting in the Super Bowl. Second, Cannon's years as a running back were limited. He played most of his career as a tight end. He was very good at the position, but to most people's minds, the importance of the tight end position isn't/wasn't anywhere near that of the running back position. Third, while it's true that Cannon's services began a bidding war, Namath wound up signing a contract for not just an "unheard of" amount of money; to many it was "undreamt of" money. For a rookie quarterback, in the lesser football league, in a town owned by the Yankees, to be making more than not just anyone on that team but anyone in sports, made Namath the topic of conversation at dinner tables all over the country. BTW, I can't believe I have to defend Namath on a NYJets board.
Did you catch the shot of Weeb and Buddy Ryan conferring with Namath on he sidelines (in '68 AFL championship I think)? Made me think that Rex's destiny is to be HC of the Jets.
Unbelievable. Did I write that winning the Heisman is better than winning a national title? I did not write that. Don wrote a factually incorrect phrase. I corrected it. End of story.
Cakes, i have no idea what you wrote and I wasn't even responding to you really. so relax. This thread is about Joe Namath not you.
He doesn't have a negative opinion about the franchise. He had an accurate opinion about the weaknesses of this team - and he was 100% Right on the Money. You may not like that or you may appreciate it - but saying the team isn't good enough to win a SB - isn't a negative opinion about a franchise - its an honest opinion about a particular team - Folks around here need to pay attention and learn the difference.
I have heard in the past where Namath credits Buddy Ryan for The Jets winning the superbowl and it was some of Ryan's schemes that gave him so much confidence they would win that he had no problem guaranteeing it.
Agreed. Maybe the younguns will realize that Namath was one of the people that moved football from something that solely old men watched towards the multi-billion dollar business it is today. That's why he is in the HOF, kiddies, not just because of his "stats". And that is also why what he says is relevant, to this day.
He comes to training camp every year for a few days. And when some parts of his visit were put on Hard Knocks last season, most of the numnuts on this board ragged on him, his clothes, his family, his advice to Sanchez, etc. Now he is being criticized for not helping. This thread is becoming as hard to read as the rest of the threads on this board since the last few weeks of the season. Talk about darksiders. This site is one of the most depressing places on earth right now.
Stick around a little longer. I've been defending him to the crowd that never saw him play for years. Even those that are football smart do not realize the impact he had on the team, the city, the league, the sport, and the era. They only want to look at his stats - and completely out of context most of the time. Take the SB win. They look at his stats and wonder what he did that was so great. Back then, the QB called the plays. He had the best defense in football on its heels all day. And he did it with short passing and ball control.
