I think at this point you can say the gap between Jets & Pats has increased - ON PAPER. However, between the draft, preseason and general aging a lot can happen before the start and end of a season.
Excellent post .... I don't give a crap what any team "looks like on paper" - at the end of the day its the coaching & the will of the players on the field that matter.
I agree with this. Chad has no arm strength and we all know we need to upgrade at CB. They have improved their offense a lot and we have done very little to our defense.
I've been a Jet fan way too long to have blind faith optimism. I choose to look at the facts these days instead. In the case the facts are that NE did much more in FA then we did and they have 10 picks (2 in the first) to our 6 in the draft. You would have to be blind to see it any other way.
What the Pats did: * signed an above average LB to a monster deal * signed or traded for 4 career #2 & #3 wide wide outs * signed Kyle Brady (if the Jets signed em the fans would be screaming bloody murder) * signed that all pro superstar Sammy Morris * pissed off one of their best defensive players with the franchise tag I see you posting over and over how much better the Pats have gotten in FA .. but who did you want to Jets to go after? Where did you want to Jets to spend the extra money? The Jets on a whole are younger than the Pats - ussually means less needs in the off season. Jets moves also included locking up Brian Thomas & Cotch to long term deals. Those two moves count towards the offseason. I just don't see the need to panic at this point. Sitting back enjoying the offseason ... looking forward to the draft & next season. Looking forward to rooting for Wadsworth to become the second Jet in as many years to win come back player of the year - and looking forward to watching this team grow under the Tangini crew.
Thank you. I was wondering if anyone would get that. Do you want the noise brought on you? What? The noise... BROUGHT on you. Just hike the ball, nutjob. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HVyOrnzLuo
I'm impressed that you can predict the future. Can you tell me who is going to win the World Series this year so I can place a bet and get rich? More picks does not equal a better draft.
He really summed it up, but way too much reality check was used. He is right about "some things"but this is another year and we are better too. With all that being said we will split with a real possibility of sweeping the pats in the regular season.
I dont think you can really measure "gaps" between teams. It's certainly a great metaphor for rivalries w/ inferiority/superiority complexes between the likes of Jets and Pats. But there are too many factors that get involved that can truly measure something like that. The fact is, I see a Patriots team that simply does not have the same swagger/dominance that it had 2-3 years back. Whether they are better than us talent wise, is regardless. What should matter is that I believe they are very human and very beatable. That wasnt the case a few years ago. Other than that...we'll fight our battles on Sunday. Let the chowderheads run their mouth, that's what they do best...but guess what? No city's fans hurt more after a big loss to an NY team, than these twerps'. It'll be sweet when we finally do knock them off their throne.
we have lost some ground, HOWEVER at least our team is still young enough that our players can still develop into better players...Players like Cotch will have the ability to improve still, as we saw last year, whereas many crucial patriots players are aging...and other young ones are yet unproven....dont let this year's FA deceive you
Fair question. I'm not sure. Thomas, Turner maybe. I'm not a believer you will ever win the SB by solely building through the draft. People don't last long enough in the NFL for that. The people you draft now will walk in 4 years anyway. Just look at the all pro offensive linemen we lost over the course of a few years. More then any other sport the NFL is a win now sport. That and the fact we don't have much in the way of draft picks this draft means to me it will just be another wasted year. But after 38 who's counting? When you make the playoffs 3 out of four years you spend the money to get the missing parts. Wait for the draft and you will never stop waiting.
Please name one team in the history of the NFL that has made a big free agency signing and then won the Superbowl the following season.
I can understand that thinking ... but on the same point you have to stop and take a peek at how the Pats got where they are now. This is the first time in the last 5 or 6 years that the Pats went out & spent big. Before this year they brougth in roll players, low key guys & built "though the draft". You just can't have it both ways. What you really need to do is step back & look at where the Pats are right now. * instead of Cory Dillon as #2 back - now you have Sammy Morris - upgrade? * Of all the receivers the Pats now have - is there a #1 - a "go to guy"? * Daniel Graham has been replaced by Kyle Brady - upgrade? * Thomas is a talent - not positive on his contract, but I thought I read $10 million a year avg.? Ouch! * Will Samuel become a problem? What if they end up trading him? Again, the Pats are the best team in the division until we knock em off. But at this time of year I don't believe you can say they are way ahead of the Jets talent wise. * Thomas Jones - instant upgrade @ running back. * Clement back - means we return our line from last year intact so we have 5 guys who have a full season together - Kendall missed 2 games .. the other 4 started every game. * Bowens & Coleman will upgrade pass rush (upgrade yes - how much is to be seen) * if ONE of either Wadsworth (as stated I am rooting for em) or Haynes pans out then that is a bonus .. niether guy rec large contracts. * resigned two of the catalysts for last year in Cotch & Thomas. * defense showed markedly better play in the second half of the season in the 3-4 / 4-3 hybrid the Jets are using. Another offseason to shake off the rust & the Jets should become a top 10 - top 12 defense. The Jets of course have questions ... but so does every other team at this time of year. Its just way to early to say the Pats have got us beat ...
What they were missing from last year's team were linebackers and wide receivers. That's what they focused on and that's what they got. I can only think of two FA acquisitions we ever made that meant something. (there may have been more but I don't remember them). They were Curtis Martin and Kevin Mawae. They were studs for years and almost got us to where we all want to be. All I'm saying is if there is a good talen out there, go get them and don't think you can draft somebody in the fourth round that will be just as good. Sure, sometimes you get very lucky but you can't build a team planning on that luck to materialize. Oh, I forgot Testaverde. We can all hate him for finally getting old but he too was a huge part of 1998. The closest we've been since 1969.
Granted ... & the Jets needed improved running game & pass rush ..... and we addressed both. Yes ... always other needs, Jets are way behind ... stick a fork in them .. etc etc.
