For both fans and players, theres one important game left this season, and thats the Patriots game. If the Jets can knock off the Patriots win streak, thatll be as good as a super bowl for me, and for the players, it would be a nice moment, to say the least, in what has otherwise been a frustrating season. What kills me is that at this point, with the defense making something of a return to being at least halfway decent, I think with Pennington we might have at least some chance at making it happen (or anyway, a Jets win would require a miracle of slightly less magnitude). Clemens has a future in the NFL, but so far he hasn't been very good at all. He wasn't miserable against Pittsburgh, but we won because of Thomas Jones and the defense; he was simply awful today against Dallas. Regardless of wins and losses, he just hasn't thrown the ball well at all; nothing pains me more than watching him miss on throws that Pennington makes regularly (that first play where Baker made the miracle catch wouldve gone for another 10+ yards with Pennington in there to put the ball where it needs to be), and I personally find no consolation in the fact that Clemens' incompletions are moving faster than Pennington's. I know it won't happen, because the Jets coaching staff made the decision to take their lumps now with the new kid and they won't want to mess with his progress by taking him out just for a chance at a symbolic victory over a rival. But at this point, I think it's blatantly obvious that all the people who wanted to see Clemens starting because they thought he would give the team a better chance to win now were quite wrong. And personally, as a man who would give anything to see any team at all beat the Patriots, I sincerely regret the fact that itll almost certainly be Clemens and not Pennington leading this team against them. As a fan of the Jets, I sincerely hope that his experience this season will help Clemens improve and that he'll eventually grow into a winning starter, but as a devoted Patriots hater, it pains me to think that the guy who gives this team the best chance to knock the Patriots off their high horse will be riding the bench.
Man wow, god, I love how ppl just do a complete 180 once a loss happens, just like how ppl now hate mangini... I dont understand why you would think less of Clemens all of a sudden after this game. We had absolutely no running game, Coles was out, our recievers played REALLY poorly against Dallas, we were on a short week, and we were using an offensive gameplan that has probably expired after last week. I mean it's not even like this guy threw 3 picks, he threw ONE and receivers were rarely open. He was throwing from all 2nd and long and 3rd n long situations as well because of the empty running game on first down. Jesus Christ. This guy is the truth, he has the tools and the moxy, give him time.... And he DEFINITELY gives you a better shot to win ANY game than Pennington.
Some of us don't think any less of Clemens after this game - we were saying after the Baltimore game , Washington Game , and Pittsburgh game. It doesnt matter how hard you throw it if you cant throw it where it needs to be. We won the Pitt game in spite of Clemens not becuase of him- Three and out in OT - the defense bails us out, Leon returns the punt into FG range. I am in no stretch a Chad Lover - But if Clemens is our starter next year- Chad will have more wins than him with whatever team he lands with. This more a statement of how BAD this team is and Clemens is not the guy ( ala Peyton , Marino , Fouts etc.) who will just air it out and take over the game. All the Chad Bashers were claiming we had one of the Best Receiving cores in the NFL and he couldn't take advantage. Now they claim we have one of the worst becuase it doesn't support their position that Clemens is the guy -- Yeah we lost one receiver - but who's fault is that - OH the guy with the Rocket arm who underthrew him.
One reciever? the best reciever on the team and is the only guy that has speed. Cotchery covered by Newman yesterday was dominated, Brad Smith is nothing more then a #4 wr and Justin Mccariens is 50/50 on if he will drop it or not.. 40 yards rushing yesterday and no protection doesn't help either.
I wouldn't bet on anybody doing it, but I think Pennington would have a better shot than Clemens. As things stand, there are only three teams left with any shot at keeping them from 16-0: Giants, Ravens and Steelers. The Eagles, Dolphins and Jets are all average teams, and barring massive injury, the Patriots should pile the score up on all three. If bringing Pennington back only gives the Jets a .01% improved chance of beating the Patriots, I'd say Mangini should do it.
i dont understand how people can make judgements so quickly on a quarterback.. hes had 4 starts against arguably 4 top 10 defenses behind a garbage o-line and 2 consistent recievers on the team, one who has been hurt half the time. im not making excuses for him but if you know anything about football you know that quarterbacks are generally given 2-3 years to develop in the nfl. look at his draft class the qbs that went before him.. all three have had at least a season and a half to start for their teams. leinarts hurt so he gets a pass for now, but he didnt look too great during while healthy, kurt warner even got playing time. cutler has been decent on a what came into the season as a playoff team.. 15th in passing yards and 11/9 td/int ratio and they are what 5-5? you think their calling for cutler to be replaced? and vince young, who plays on one a team with one of the top run games in the nfl and a very good defense, a 5/12 ratio and still hasnt really thrown the ability to throw the ball well consistently. i dont think they want him out of tennesee. meanwhile, kellen clemens has started 4 games.. 4 games.. and has been shaky at times, all of the dallas game, but hes shown flashes of potential. theres no way our o-line was competing with dallass monster defensive line and guys like ware comin after him. couldnt run the ball either, and our only true downfield threat was out. give the guy a damn break.. lets spend this offseason trying to protect him better, and if possible getting another weapon on offense, preferrably a free agent wr to replace mccareins.. then we can start evaluating clemens.
The Patriot's may well have home field by the time we play them. It will be a totally meaningless game for both teams. The Jets should have one goal for the remainder of the year, figure out who is a keeper and who is gone. Chad has proven he is done, Clemens has proved nothing. We need to find out if we need to agresively pursue a QB in the off season. That is much more important than beating the Pats in what is likely to be a meaningless game for both squads.
22 days left to Judgement Day. Don't be fooled into thinking it will be a meaningless game for the Pats. BB holds grudges. He is going to bring it. The Jets just better come to play.
If BB holds a grudge and it costs him Brady and a SB this year he will be looked on as a cheat who sacrificied a SB to get even. He needs the trophy this year, anything short of that and he is not only a cheat, he is a dope.
Sorry Winny I think Belly is out to rewrite the history books which means going undefeated & winning the VLT. I do think that once he is up say 28-0 or something like that he may relent & remove Brady, Moss & some of the other valuable tools he has in the tool box
