Folks if I may, Enough of this bringing in washed up or re treaded QB's or any other player who fits that profile for that matter. The NYJets are becoming a retirement home for some of these players, a team to come to and suck for one last year before calling it a career. As far as QB's go, we still have one on this team who to this day has never been given a fair shot. I know many of you will disagree with me to death, but when Kellen Clemens started those 8 games he spent most of his time running for his life. He had to play behind the revolving door of an offensive line that no one deserved to begin there career with. Do any of you actually remember that hit the kid took in the NE game??? God, the defender came like he was shot out of a cannon. It was amazing that this kid could even get back up.Not to mention he started again the following week, this kid is tough as nails. I can tell you that hit would have ended Chad's career for certain. So it's no wonder that some of that pocket presence many detractors talk about, was not there. I'm old school and can remember when a young QB never even set foot on the field his first 4 years. Now they are expect to start in the second year, and be Joe Montana, Marino, and Elway rolled into one. This kid was drafted by the Jets with there first pick in the second round and as I recall most of the experts thought the Jets got a very good young QB. So what do the Jets do, they finally start him behind what was the worst offensive line in the NFL at that time, hands down ! This in turn almost gets the kid killed and still , he won more games then the season vet was able to win behind the same line. An if you take in to account the drops in a few of those games of passes that were right on the money,he would have been 5-3 and had a winning season. On leadership, the players on the team seem to take to him right from the start, even the leaders like Coles and Cotch accepted him and had high praise for his effort. Now I don't know if it was Mangini who messed this kid up, or BS not working with him, or the fact that they did not or would not make him the starter last year. Hell, for all I know they may have told him that Chad was moving on or going to be released after the 2006 season and be prepared to lead the team. Only to start hearing about this open competition in TC and wondering what the fuck is going on. Like I said I don't know, but something was not right with him last year in TC, it seemed the fire was put out in him. Then all of a sudden he is sat behind a legend and never heard from again. You think that might just shake your confidence a little, you think maybe he was saying to himself just let me finish out my contract and get the hell away for this mess that is the NY Jets.. As far as what he does in practice there have been many great players that sucked in practice, but come Sunday they were all world. So to all the doubters I say, look at the kid's body of work on the Sunday's he played, against first stringers playing a complicated defense and not some vanilla bullshit, behind the worst offensive line in the NFL and then judge. No doubt Ratliff has potential but if you guys are judging him good enough to be the starter by his performance in preseason playing against third stringers, and at the same time calling Clemens a bust by his performance against first team starters in real game action, well then pardon me, but you don't know shit about the game of football. So If I were GM this is how I would proceed on the question of QB for the NY Jets. Brett Farve, It was a fun experiment but it time to hang it up! We can all hope that Brett calls it a career and moves to Green Bay for the next season and takes that spokesman job for the Packers. This fan does not wish to see him back, it only delays a decision that needs to be made this year, and that is to get younger and stronger under center. The NY Jets do not need a 40 year OLD man under center, this is a young man games and his time has pasted. I also don't like the stories that keep leaking out about him being aloof and a loner. I understand how that could come about after so long in Green Bay and moving into a new situation. Yet, this is the last thing the Jets need at this point in time. The QB has to be a the leader of the whole team and maybe while really not allow to express themselves on the issue, players felt that Brett was a mistake. So again the kid was forced to wait, but this time the peices were in place for him to have a better chance for sucess and to be the leader and QB many thought he would be coming out of college. So this year as GM, I would liike to see this happen,, Right after the Pro Bowl I would tell Brett I need an answer. I would also tell him if he wishes to continue to play we will give him his outright release. My gut tells me the Jets will not have to do this and Brett will retire to enter the hall on his first ballot in his Packer Green and Yellow. This will serve two purposes one it will give us cap releif to the tune of 13 million dollars, which we need, second it will allow me to name a new starter at QB. An that new starter will be Kellen Clemens, there will be no competition or best man wins the job crap. Clemens is the new QB of the NY Jets and it his job to lose. Now if by some chance Ratliff out plays him or out thinks or out smarts him, then we can make a change. But going into the whole offseason program the team will know that Kellen is the new leader of the team. I would look into bringing in a vet with the clear understanding that the best he has to look forward to is being the backup and mentor to the younger guys. I would make it plain that Kellen is the starter and unless Kellen is injuried, that there will not be much chance for the vet to get playing time under center. I would also let him know that this will be a short term gig as I would be hoping that Ratliff could fill the numner 2 spot as soon as possiable. Now, the catch, I would stick with the kid thru good times and bad. If this team did not pull Brett during the last five games this past season then Kellen does not get pulled either. Barring injury Kellen get the whole season to show the NY Jets why he deserves a contract extension and why he should remain the starting QB of the NY Jets. My prediction, Kellen has a rough start but by training camp he is rolling with a very high confidence level. He establishes himself as leader of the offense and out right leader of the team. He makes Schot a happy camper by finally having a QB he can open his whole playbook for. Kellen goes on to have a very good year and wins over both the Fans Press and coaches and owner and GM of the NY Jets. Many fans on the blogs and Jets messaging sites are eating crow and saying how they knew he would come around all along......
Clemens is 1000000000000000 times better than JaMarcus Russell the OL-in-QB-disguise. And that's not so flattering. So how do you like your SB trip this year? Oh. Raiders didn't even win half the game they played this year. I didn't notice that.
Yeah, Kellen was put in a terrible situation, and he deserves another shot, but my hopes aren?t high, that he will ever be a serviceable NFL-QB. His decisionmaking and Pocket Presence were horrible, and he?s not very acurate. Even with that bad OL, he should have shown us at least some little thing, he?s good at, but there was nothing. I would love to see him become a true QB, and prove me wrong, but I just can?t see it happen. He should get another shot at the Job, but going into preseason with him as a clear #1 would be a huge mistake.
He is nothing more than this decades Browning Nagel! Second round savior who well be lucky to be in the Arena Legues in four years. I say lets get Ratliff eight games like Kellen had and see who is the Jets next savior.
Clemens has already shown more than Nagle ever showed. Nagle had one good startistical game and we lost. He's better than Nagle, that doesn't mean he'll be good but he deserves a chance.
wow, really. since when did 8 games became the standard for delivering a verdict on a qb. by that rationale heres who sucks Peyton Manning Troy Aikman Steve Young Terry Bradshaw now im not comparing him to any of those players. But to say Clemens was given a fair shot is ridculous. so to call someone a lost cause after 8 games is pretty unfair and too soon.
I'm aboard with KC! Lets give him a shot w/ our improved oline. I was at MnT Stadium those years ago to watch Kellen play vs. the Ravens. He started off slow but in the end the skill position players let him down. Same as in the Washington game. Better Defense + Better Oline = A qb who doesn't feel pressured to take unneeded risks or the pressure of not having any protection in the pocket. I still believe Kellen...I still believe.
I say give him an egual shot with Ratliff and see if he can hold his own. We know he couldn't beat out Chad and I don't think he can beat out Brett R. The best shot we have is Carr or Anderson. They both are better and more experienced QBs. If we go for a different QB, please let him not be a thirty something retread.
Was there an announcement that Favre is not coming back? I didn't see that. If Favre wants to come back, he will be the Qb. I am okay with that. If he does not come back, I think the smart move is to give the ball to Clemens. My guess is the best way to play the cards the Jets have is to give him as many reps as possible, tailor the playbook to him, get him another receiver to add to the wr corps, extend his contract for one year only, and see what vet Qb can be picked up as a backup. If they think Ratliff can back him up, I'd be okay with that, too. Despite the love for Ratliff here, I don't see them giving the ball to him. Signing a Qb with a high pick? Maybe if it's a BPA deal, with a great choice falling to them, but there are too many other holes on the team that need filling. The one thing none of us should want to see, and for me will completely dissipate any excitement or optimism I have about Ryan, is if they announce a Qb competition in camp. In fact avoiding that prospect is a definite factor in making me more sanguine about Favre coming back, since we know there will not be that worst case scenario if he does. I know none of these scenarios are all that great, but except for the Qb competition, I don't think they are all that awful, either, as some here seem to think.
Nice well thought out post I suspect the reason Shotty was extended is not so much to influence Favre as it is to keep Clemens in the same system since he will probably be the face of this franchise in 09.
LMao I'm not even going to waste my time with that ,as your arguing that K Clemens should be a starting QB. The guy lucky to be a backup on anyone roster. Keep settling for crap at QB and your no closer to ending the 41 year old drought. BTW . Answer me this. Who was the last franchise Qb Jets had . Joe namath. (even though he dosen't belong in hall) Coincidence. NAh I hope your FO believes K Clemens or B ratcliffe is the answer. Would love to see either when they come visit Oakland this year.
Raiders have their franchise QB - Jamarcus Russell. Jets don't have a QB on there roster that anyone would want. Again stop trying to recreate the Patriots magic.(Finding a gem in later rounds) Roll the dice on a franchise QB when you get the chance. (those chances don't happen too often) Or be a franchise stuck without a championship for 41 years. When is it going to sink in- the Qb position is one of the most important positions in football.
It could still prove to be either, actually. If Favre does come back, and has expressed any preference for Schott, it could have been and presently remains a factor. But going back to a discussion from last week, I have to assume Ryan pumped Schott's brain for his view on Clemens. I just have to hope that Schott has and has expressed a preference among the young Qb's currently on the roster to Ryan, and also described the system and outlines of the playbook to him that would be suitable for Clemens. In that connection it is perhaps encouraging that there has been no word about a Qb competition out of Jetland, but of course that would also be explainable if Favre is still viewed as a realistic possibility of coming back.
