Tim Tebow Resident In Big Apple Is Not Home

It’s not easy being an athlete in New York. It is somewhat a misunderstanding when it comes to the Tim Tebow trade and, as bizarre as it is, he is relocating to a city of drama and craziness. Never is there a dull moment in New York, and with Tebow claiming his citizenship, the media circus has only gotten more berserk.

There is no bigger distraction, even spiritually, in sports other than Tebow simply for shoving his religious beliefs in our faces. It’s all probably for the overexposed Christianity flap-doodle, or for Tebow’s inability to throw with anticipation and only produce enough magic to pull off the miracle. Even though, he’s a charismatic superhero, the holy son of optimism and natural powers, resplendent on the field, he’s the most polarizing human being in sports.

It is, however, awkwardly strange that he ends up in an environment where he will, no doubt, feature extensively on the front page of local newspapers vilified for playing the quarterback position non-traditionally with the type of style not seen too often from a peerless NFL quarterback. If you haven’t been staying on top of things, the flawed quarterback was traded from Denver to the Jets in exchanged for fourth and sixth round picks, including an additional $2.5 million.

The addition of Tebow absolutely creates a plethora of fame, but with all the swirling controversy in an uproarious locker room as players are committed to the blame game, he can either be useful or ineffectual. What happened to the hearsay of him potentially returning home to Florida as Tebow could have polished his career with one of those mediocre franchises in the state where he once was a college legend? What happened to the sensible predictions of him ending up in Miami or even Jacksonville, a pair of NFL teams in desperate need of a quarterback, though the Jaguars are committed to breeding quarterback Blaine Gabbert?

The soon arrival of Tebow, as a situational quarterback and maybe even an inspirational, charismatic voice that motivates and drives starter Mark Sanchez to finally produce in the quarterback role, makes sense to some degree with new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. It’s a move that seems to be the right fit for an offensive system catering perfectly to Tebow’s singular running style. With Sparano, the creator of the Wildcat formation, Tebow could benefit the Jets. This all may not be such a bad combination when Tebow’s running style complements the Wildcat offense, designed to create a mismatch with a speedy runner against an unprepared defense.

But, then again, he’s in a town where criticism is heavy, in a town where fans and the media can be aggressively finicky and belittling of his mistakes and flaws, such as Tebow’s inability to transform into an elite passer. It’s what Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan desired and decided to obtain him in a trade to serve as the second-string behind Sanchez, whose paltry performance last season toppled much promise and heated up an ongoing rift in the Jets organization. It’s confusing to see what the Jets saw in Tebow and why the front office felt they needed him, after giving Sanchez a three-year contract extension, which increasingly raised his guaranteed money to $20.5, due to him over the next two seasons.

This isn’t the strangest deal ever, and even if this seems like a perfect fit — in many ways — it makes no sense whatsoever. The more we talk about Tebow, the more he becomes famous to America pop culture, a role model, a pious figure who many admire simply for his good character, dignity and humility. The more we doubt him, the more he’s willing to put time and effort in improving his poor throwing motion. This is what fascinates those who truly eulogize Tebow – either the most likable or polarizing athlete in sports.

It’s notable that he has good work ethic and tremendous appreciation for the game he plays, especially after he was named the Broncos starting quarterback a year ago to replace a struggling Kyle Orton, which resulted in a seven-game winning streak and playoff berth. This has been, no doubt, an interesting offseason – even greater — an intriguing spring for Tebow and the Jets. If this team is trying to develop Sanchez and assure that he turns into a reliable passer, anticipating for him to play skillfully for every penny he’s worth, then bringing in Tebow could initiate disturbance and even reduce his confidence and pride.

In every way, Tebow is moving on to New York and competing for the starting job, in the saddle to take the place of Sanchez if all hell breaks loose next season. If this Tebow trade foils, Ryan is indeed out of a job, as the circus hasn’t left the town since his arrival, known for guaranteeing Super Bowl victories and constant failures. By making this deal, the Jets created unnecessary quarterback controversy, pairing two aspiring quarterbacks all on one franchise in one town.

The Big Apple just became the Circus Big Top.

Trading for Tebow, who had led the Broncos on an incredible run last season, was an insult to Sanchez and it gives us every reason to believe that the Jets are moving in a new direction and could shut the door on him in favor of Timothy Richard Tebow. That’s not only disrespectful — that’s also being disloyal to Sanchez, who the Jets said they deeply love and want as their everyday quarterback. It’s almost like seeing an ex-boyfriend secretly flirting with an unnamed chick while still in a relationship with the girlfriend. The drama exists in New York — it really does — and sadly, the Jets have no trust in Sanchez with a superstar like Tebow waiting in the wings.

As insane as this week has been, regarding the trade talks surrounding Tebow that eventually turned out to be true, these were all sights for which he’ll be used on third and fourth-down plays in most series. The dumbest thing of all of this — even though he can arrive to New York and exemplify a superhero — is that he’s pampered, ennobled and treated like he’s the greatest quarterback on the planet, when in all, he’s nothing more than only a backup to Sanchez at least for the beginning of the season. It almost comes across as if the Jets traded so much talent to receive Tebow when, in reality, they gave the Broncos nothing. The arrival has brought another circus to town, rightfully so.

And, as always, the New York Giants are laughing at the Jets, having all the bragging rights in the world after their recent Super Bowl win. This wasn’t such an intellectual deal, after all. Worse of all it could delay the development of Sanchez, who once was known as Sanchise long before he sputtered and degenerated. Please forgive me if I’m paying no mind about his storybook run with the Broncos. It’s not an overreaction to refresh our memories on what a success he was last season, mastering the role as a quarterback perfectly and had won seven of eight games after the Broncos placed him into the lineup following a 1-4 start.

He’s not your average quarterback. As we all know, his mechanics are bad and he has a slow release. As we all know, he has potential, much of it, but is still a work in progress and not quite ready. This is all bad for a franchise with enough problems as it is. Sanchez was named the team captain, but couldn’t bring the team together as a unified squad. The other troubling issue is a moody Santonio Holmes, surrendering on his teammates at the end of the season. And, well, Ryan admittedly said he had lost his locker room.

So what does that tell you?

Sometimes it’s hard to understand the Jets. And, in this case, nobody knows the team’s intent. This is what it takes to win games?

I’m not even sure the Jets have the answer to that one.

Jets lost Swagger That Led to Mediocrity

He has voiced so many opinions and thoughts about the Jets in pregame news conferences, that Rex Ryan is verified as a jester for his bizarre silliness. A week doesn't pass, it appears, without his peculiar antics or hilarity.

So now, already, we are left to guess if the losses have softened the spirit for the Jets, who haven't been cohesive or poised but undisciplined and divided. If we became accustomed to the Jets 2-3 start, including the humiliating loss nationally, now we're really becoming used to the scarcity and lack of success as this team was supposed to be ranked as one of the contenders with a chance in reaching the Super Bowl.

His peculiar demeanor shouldn't bother us, but if the Jets have the urge to win, maybe now would be a good time for the Jets to curtail arrogance and zip it shut. If the Jets are ambitious to accomplish more than just clinching a playoff spot in pursuit of a championship, maybe Ryan should let the game speak for itself because all the unnecessary trash-talk has poisoned the team.

If the Jets keep losing, though Ryan is the public figure folks in New York adore with his bombastic and erratic antics, he'll finally take criticism from the masses in New York and the local newspapers could banter with him on the front page as he'll feature as the headline. Too much humor disrupts, I know. Too much lack of discipline damages cohesion, I know.

This is, to simply put it, the most dysfunctional team in the league, perhaps not even close to winning a championship and instead close to qualifying for an acting gig for Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. The reality in football this season is that the Jets-Patriots rivalry is nothing but hype, and has bothered our self-consciousness as we are hypnotized by a meaningless rivalry.

It used to be an American trait for populace to buy into the ridiculous hyperbole as the meanest war in football became bigger than the Yankees-Red Sox hype. But now, although it is the perception of mutual animosity for a pair of protagonist, there'd be no reason to relight romance for the rebirth of a moribund rivalry like the old days. Any fight is uneventful if the duel is not saturated with bad blood, and assuming that the Patriots are no match for the Jets, then it's not really fun watching an annual meeting.

It's funny how, for a legion of reasons, people still embrace the Jets-Patriots engagement when it's only another game on the schedule. It would not be a surprise to see the Jets miss the playoffs, prematurely dismantling in a season they were projected to elevate beyond standards, wilting on offense despite having enough reinforcements and dividing among a unit inside the separated locker room.

The assumption is, of course, the Jets aren't playing together but individual ball and should actually, in such a quick process, emphasize the significance of cohesion and teamwork. If anything, Mark Sanchez earns his teammates' trust and surely has evolved into a leader but his team's nucleus is not workable. They like him and, relatively, they trust him.

The downside is -- his damn team is not performing like a Super Bowl contender, and in truth -- it's possible to think of the Jets as a disappointment. We understand, Ok? This is a unit unprepared and uncontrolled bothered by tumult because of poor judgment from on-the-field mistakes that comes from the lack of team effort. The championship aspirations have suddenly vanished, and now Sanchez is frustrated after a 30-21 loss on Sunday in the latest renewal of a rivalry. Do you blame him?

"We got a couple of third and manageables, we just gotta convert," Sanchez said after the game disappointingly. "Some underneath passes, we just gotta connect and I don't know the reason why we came out so slow. We had probably the best week of practice all year this week. Guys were into it. We knew our plays, we knew the gameplan."

It's never sweet for the Jets to lose against their hated rivals, but it's too bad New York couldn't prevail in a hostile territory in Foxborough, an environment where the Jets are disrespected and demoralized badly by Tom Brady and the Patriots. It's foolish of people to call this a rivalry -- and every season we believe in the nonsense.

So whether you like it or not, it's not a rivalry, but just another game on the schedule. This was never worth the hype, but since the Jets vs. Patriots have had the greatest show on turf in recent memory, it's sensible of fans to await an AFC East clash. This year, anyway, the Jets don't have the edge over the Patriots. This time, the Patriots have the edge over the Jets, and not by a slight advantage, but a huge differential. It wasn't long ago when the Pats, having their rivals numbered nearly every time they met, when the Jets lost by an embarrassing six touchdowns to New England in December. And then, more impressively, they won a month later in the playoffs by destroying Brady and the befuddled Bill Belichick in a game that Ryan roughly out coached the nominal Beligenius.

Not that time.

It's the most contentious rivalry, but it's not very telling when the Jets are inferior, falling as quickly as the other football franchise in town. If Gang Green can't beat its nemesis, for what has become one of the best football battles in a long time, then it is considered unsuccessful.

And thus far, the Jets have been unsuccessful not even intimidating or invulnerable. It's not, even if this is essentially America's primary sport to embrace and enjoy each weekend, fun watching the Jets but painful seeing them squander critical games. It is frankly a nightmare, as Halloween quickly approaches at a time when fans are panicking over the Jets, to realize that New York lost its third straight game.

The Jets are struggling because, with the stubbornness and silliness amid the season of pursuit to glory, they have no identity. Watching the Jets at Gillette Stadium, with the softest pass defense in the league and no hard-nosed football, was like rooting against a paltry pee-wee team. That's all you need to know about the Jets, a sad story written this season as we can laugh our asses off. It's the same thing every week, a tiring routine aging faster than the Statue of Liberty.

The unspoken weaknesses about the Jets is that, because of their indecisions and indiscretions in drawing plays on offense and adjusting on drives, they are frustrated among offensive players. The problem -- and this is the biggest issue -- is the Jets inability to stop the run and hinder the opponent's passing game. The Jets were fun to watch, but now they're not.

This time, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer looks on from the sideline daze and upset with an offense in turbulence. Five games into the season, and the Jets aren't fighting for a playoff spot, let alone winning games. The craziest aspect of the Jets recent downfall is that the Patriots still manage the edge, beating them every chance they have, despite that New York absorbs exposure and spotlight simply for Ryan's loudmouth.

With his dramatic reality shows, Ryan is the celebrity nut, from his foot fetish, to his obscene gestures that featured on tabloids, to his outrageous theme on HBO's "Hard Knocks" where he made a complete fool of himself -- he and the Jets were given national spotlight. It's true that the Jets are mired in disarray thus far, staggering against their archenemies to take more energy out of the players.

It's true that nobody is intrigued by Santonio Holmes, but are disbelievers. It's true that nobody is satisfied with Plaxico Burress, but is irritated. The only person who might be radically showing his emotions is Sanchez, who swung the door to the interview room open Sunday evening and walked in mad.

He folded his arms and stood around, for about five minutes, leaning against a door. It wasn't long after that Ryan, a descending coach who is too busy trying to be hilarious more than serious about his team's perfection, walked into the room, in full view of the media, venting on what actually went wrong with the Jets.

“I never thought I’d be here losing three straight, but that’s where we’re at,” Ryan said. “We’ve earned it.”

I've never thought they'd be losing three straight, either.

But the reality is that they've lost three straight. And in the standings, the Jets are 2-3, sitting two games behind New England and Buffalo with a stumbling offense and an unstable defense that couldn't forestall the Patriots on a series of plays. The weaknesses for the Jets are that the team can't run the ball efficiently or proficiently and they can't lesson the mistakes.

The eight penalties for 89 yards hurt New York, along with its inability in the blown coverage on Wes Welker when he dusted for a 73-yard catch on the Patriots' opening drive in the second half. There was no coverage for Deion Branch on his 2-yard touchdown, and the Jets can't win by struggling to convert on seven of its first nine possessions.

When it was over, Brady had finished with 321 passing yards, leading to Stephen Gostkowski 28-yard field goal that sealed the victory. But even though the Jets saw gradual improvement in the running game behind a balanced offensive line by the return of Nick Mangold, the lack of explosiveness and prowess is how New York had fallen short. It could become worse if the Jets drop another next Monday night against winless Miami, following three consecutive road losses.

There is no denying that the Jets need much work. But at this rate, the Jets are going nowhere.

Sanchez's Role as Leader Shines Brightly on Broadway

There's a magazine out there of Mark Sanchez. You've probably seen it -- the latest issue for GQ Magazine's September Style Issue, on stands August 23, a public outrage leaving New Yorkers rambling over his overblown portraits that feature several photos of the Jets' starting quarterback.

And so when headlines swirled two weeks ago about Sanchez posing for photos to reveal his pretty boy persona, it significantly hatched a national disturbance as local tabloids ridiculed the Jets star. It's at best conveniently to discover that he has the penchant for flaunting in photos and, even larger than ever, he's the magnet on Broadway, the blossoming athlete everybody adores in the Big Apple.

He spent most of the offseason modeling for magazines -- especially having seen Sanchez in photos posing, a sexy quarterback known for his sex appeal more than his leadership. That's not to mention the frequent photo shots of Sanchez featuring with model Hilary Rhonda in the June issue of GQ magazine in 2009 and inducing a distraction to prompt a media circus.

That's not to mention that he appears to be gorgeous as girls are madly attractive and in love with the celebrity who can produce his own reality TV show and bait viewers. The point is that -- even if he is taking too much heed to his sex-appeal and can be boastful in parading his body -- Sanchez masters his role and understands the expectations are immense in a town where a spate of the modern media has a large influence on how players perform.

There is no credibility issue here. There is an exaggerated issue here, as some are tense and curious to know if Sanchez is fully capable of engineering the Jets. The problem is that he draws disruptions with his absurdity, vanity, self-loving and self-importance and often underachieves in postseason games because, well, he is seen on the front cover of tabloids or magazine issues.

It's no telling whether the overexposed celebrity status affects his performance on the field. It's no telling whether the notability drives Sanchez to play with much intensity and a full-driven mindset that motivates the 24-year-old quarterback, who enters his third season taking on the responsibility, to perform flawlessly on a franchise in position of a Super Bowl win.

The most interesting figures, like Sanchez, could be a remedy entirely in a town entertained by celebrities or even athletes. Sometimes it seems as if people's stance on the matter is hypocritical, as often happens in New York, in which subjects in relations to sports are rhetorical. Then, suddenly, if Sanchez is publicly seen in a photo, the world glances at the comical, compelling portrait.

And there have been many times, as of recently of course, when Sanchez has absorbed much attention, not only on the football field but off the field as well becoming a supermodel in a town known for its fashion. Meanwhile, in question is his leadership and ability to be effective in the quarterback role for a franchise that demands prosperity.

His leadership, though, reached an all-time high a season ago when he led the Jets to the postseason and almost carried his teammates and bombastic head coach Rex Ryan to the Super Bowl, only to fall short after coming all so close. The comical, abnormal and captivating images -- a player clearly comfortable being the face of a demanding franchise and playing with scads of pressure is incredible.

If he is finally accepting the role as leader to keep the Jets in contention, this happened decisively and rapidly, a youngster who has mellowed into a valuable piece in New York just as much as Sanchez has become an iconic darling for the ladies gazing at his stylish appearance. He's the turning point and, by himself, has developed a culture as the Jets are Super Bowl contenders and brainwashes the gentlemen, many of whom watches football every Sunday, that Sanchez is a franchise quarterback.

But after all, no one has put in more time and effort than Sanchez, by working out early in the morning, by devoting much of his life to improve his consistency and by working on his throwing motion. So, it turns out, he's already poised inside the pocket and has nifty footwork to elude the pass rushes or blitzes.

The city adores Sanchez, not for only wearing white pants and a black tank top for the GQ magazine spread but also for the photos he appeared in, his mobility, his work ethic and his potential, proving to be part of the Jets' plans in the future. His presence is felt, his long-term future as quarterback under the Jets is certain as long as he can stay healthy and perform efficiently, leading New York to a pair of Super Bowls in his tenure with the team that brought in Sanchez and believe he can handle the obligations of playing for a high-marketed team.

So here is Sanchez, with an aura just as spectacular as his sex appeal. It was bound to happen, probably sooner before later. The population was overly fascinated with Sanchez's photographs, reacting in a surprised manner, not realizing that he is a quarterback in the shadows of Joe Namath. This isn't the time to wonder if Sanchez is a more effective model than quarterback, or whether the Jets may soon struggle with him calling the snaps.

This is the time to assume that Sanchez has matured and accepted a challenging task at the toughest position in football, ready mentally and physically to embark on a journey. He could be an actor on Broadway, and have the charm and humor to jokingly bring smiles and laughter. That being said, he also has the arm strength and mobility of a gunslinger and has become proficient in the pro-style offense.

He's a Southern California dude, a Hispanic representing his heritage at a position where he stands alone in the NFL. But now, he is waving and smiling at New Yorkers, loved by strangers and elated to be the starting quarterback in a community where he was welcomed. Shortly before the 2009 NFL Draft, he desired to land with the Jets, begging the organization to pick him. And the Jets traded up to 12 spots for a franchise quarterback, stealing Sanchez with the fifth pick in the draft that granted him his wish, landing on a franchise where the stakes are usually high.

It was a place he wanted to be and he had no problem begging to land in an environment of such scrutiny and pressure. Sanchez, a native from Irvine, is a firefighter's son, a quarterback raised on the importance of hard work and dedication. The well-known quarterback can walk down the busy streets in Manhattan and run through Central Park to shake hands with strangers, more noticeable than Ryan, his buffoonish coach who has become the media's best friend by his absurd antics during postgame interviews.

Where Ryan no longer is -- Sanchez is the promising star leading an elite fraternity of a fundamentally sound team with a potent roster defensively and offensively. What are the odds the Jets win the Super Bowl?? It's feasible given the two prolific receivers with Santonio Holmes and the addition of Plaxico Burress.

Maybe it's now best Ryan guarantees a Super Bowl win. If so, it would mark the first Super Bowl title for the first time since Richard Nixon took office. Any team can shimmer and win it all -- particularly the Jets.

If the Jets win the Super Bowl anytime soon, thank Sanchez.

Mark Sanchez Leads Jets, Gets Even With Patriots: This Sends a Statement

For a moment, the world laughed at the New York Jets, one of the most appealing franchises in the NFL labeled as the most overrated franchise, based on their abysmal and humiliating performance in a prime-time meeting with the Baltimore Ravens.

One day soon, the team in the Meadowlands is likely to blossom as an unstoppable force and escape the inept times to end derision that religiously ridiculed the Jets, a team over the summer that bothered us greatly with its cockiness and smart ass guarantees of a Super Bowl win.

Maybe it wasn’t the time and place for prematurely forecasting an appearance on football’s grandest stage, but as a confident unit, maybe it had some truth.

As the most talented franchise in the NFL, the Jets are the type of team that seek our attention with nonsensical publicity and we love to acknowledge an efficient core, especially when it brings fun to the game populace enjoys in America.

The latest noteworthy win, after convincingly pummeling its foes the New England Patriots, might redefine a sense of belief the rest of the way as the Jets are still on pace to prove worthy of testing its wills in the Super Bowl.

It gives antagonist Tom Brady all the reason to despise the enemies of their division more than ever, weeks removed from his bitter statement when he was asked if he watches the HBO show “Hard Knocks” and said that he hates the Jets.

And something significant always happens when the Patriots and Jets encounter each other on the same turf, raged over the ridiculous trash talk and hard blows in every meeting.

Given the history of antipathy, a critical win may have been enough to settle the score and avenge a heartbreaking letdown last season.

They were sluggish and too complacent in the first half, fatigued and had trouble slowing down the Patriots efficient running plays as Jets head coach Rex Ryan called a sequence of unforeseen schemes, but were incapable tactics and allowed the Pats to gain positive yardage.

They were bullied and outran by an undersized receiving core, and the secondary played like kids who stepped onto the turf for the first time.

But in context of strengthening as a competitive force in football, the Jets challenged came ever quickly and finally happened when Mark Sanchez led New York to a 28-14 win over the Patriots to make a significant statement.

For once, we all understand what Ryan meant when he boldly described the Jets as a Super Bowl team. It wasn’t amazingly, as it seemed, all about the offense but a tenacious defensive unit, which set a tone during the second-half and harassed Brady and his bunch.

It was almost time to panic, and fans had begun to maintain their collective breaths nervous and frightened over the possibility of witnessing a huge disappointment.


With much buzz surrounding the Jets for what is supposed to be a remarkable season amid a pursuit, after many of whom credited the Jets as a trendy pick to win the division, Sanchez matured and completed 21-of-30 passes for 220 yards with a career-high three touchdown passes.

LaDainian Tomlinson, a classy veteran with blistering speed, flashed back to his record-setting days and intensified the rambunctious crowd in the stands on a 31-yard run and ensured a scoring drive without center Nick Mangold.

It’s no longer accurate to refer to Sanchez as a hapless passer who appeared to be confused and frustrated with his incompetent performance. This time, his body language defined him as a franchise quarterback, and he surely was the difference in the Jets recovery.

The assumption that the Jets have invested much hope in Sanchez ever since bringing a modest leader to the organization to rid the flustering era of worthless failures is benefiting the team aiming for headline performances and relevancy.

Seemingly, of course, the Jets were resilient in the aftermath of a devastating rout to the Ravens, and the lost of defensive leader Kris Jenkins after suffering a knee injury.

The adversity has brought the Jets together as a cohesive core, now a team with enough heart and fortitude to assemble a nice pursuit and punch a ticket to the Super Bowl.

From the luxurious suites, owner Woody Johnson watched elated with the sudden progress and growth of Sanchez. Filled with much pressure, he plays with the Super Bowl expectations and a franchise that resides in a territory where the media is very critical if a player under-performs.

In a town where tabloids and fans ridicule useless athletes, Sanchez played a key role in a must-needed win to avoid a 0-2 skid and defied the odds in dazzling performance.


He played with a determined desire and displayed a skilled throwing motion at the New Meadowland Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and fired up the energetic crowd with the ability to translate his mobility and tremendous energy on the pro level. If you haven’t notice, the Jets are blessed to have an elite quarterback.

The frightening turn-of-events happened moments after Randy Moss’ jaw-dropping one-handed touchdown late in the second quarter, and without prolific cornerback Darrelle Revis, the Jets were still potent and physical by raising the intensity level.

It was a huge loss that Revis grabbed his left hamstring and didn’t return. By halftime, they trailed, they seemed victimized and they seemed doomed.

But the Jets survived in desperation and sent a statement to the NFL, becoming a modest favorite to rise to the occasion on Feb. 6.

There were times when Ryan’s team relied on the Patriots clumsiness and took advantage of two pass interference calls to take a commanding lead.

At one point, the Jets effortlessly picked off Brady’s intended pass to Moss on a sterling defensive play. In an instance, the ball was tipped by the Patriots wide receiver and then bounced off of Antonio Cromarite’s helmet and into the arms of Brodney Pool.

In the end, Sanchez was surrounded by a swarm of photographers and reporters. A legion of fans gathered collectively outside the tunnel and applauded him for overcoming a shaky and awful performance. It couldn’t have come at a better time against the Jets’ arch rivals on a day they were limited and lost Revis to a hamstring injury.

It couldn’t have come at a better time that the ageless Tomlinson finished with 102 all-purpose yards. It couldn’t have come at a better time that Braylon Edwards amazingly caught five passes, and converted on the two-point conversion.

It couldn’t have come at a better time that tight end Dustin Keller caught seven passes for 115 yards and a touchdown.

As the Jets get the last laugh against the Spy-gate criminals, Sanchez made it all possible and stopped the devious Bill Belichick and his partner in crime Brady.

“This is just the beginning,” Sanchez said.

Indeed.

It could be the beginning to a wonderful ending.

Patriots-Jets: A Bitter War Sends a Reality Check to Lackluster Jets

It doesn’t take long, just unforeseen drivel and everlasting trash talk, before a long-awaited Sunday sends each team into a bitter clash and lures television viewers, as the game of the weekend is Patriots vs. Jets, a pair of teams set to meet on a collision course in a late afternoon war.

So now, it’s a traditional birthright to anoint a couple of teams that have fueled a hated rivalry and allured fans all over the world, magnetizing our minds and hearts as loyalists wait to be entertained by a resentful feud in an emotional contest. If there’s anybody more whimsical and comical, it’s New York Jets' head coach Rex Ryan, the funniest man who tells jokes about his own belly during news conferences and becomes famous in a community, where local tabloids tease the next comedian to make Broadway laugh.

If there’s a villain everyone despises greatly, it’s Bill Belichick, of course: the Spygate criminal and arrogant mastermind who really wasn’t a modest genius, but a devious con artist for ruining the aspects of football with his slick demeanor. Now, suddenly, we are witnessing an unfriendly tale in football and a competitive symphony between the Jets and Patriots.


By now, it is known that the Jets disclosed the truth and accused the Patriots of cheating, shockingly disgracing and embarrassing Belichick as three of their Super Bowl rings were called into uncertainty and tainted. The full-blown history of animosity comes as no surprise, and it was exactly not surprising a few weeks ago when Tom Brady was asked if he watches “Hard Knocks,” the Jets reality show and said bitterly that he loathes the Jets.

“I hate the Jets, so I refuse to support that show.”

This was a harsh statement for the Jets, who are now fiery and ready to take on the enemies of the AFC East division. It was a modest assessment that those were retaliation words, more than senseless words, and could easily force the Jets to be meaner, disciplined, and more violent. Maybe this is a wake up call entering the second week of the regular season, currently 0-1 in the standings.

Maybe this cures any thoughts of another meltdown as the Jets take on their foes in a critical matchup early in the unpredictable season. Seen as darlings and a rebirth in football, the overexposed show on HBO has advertised the Jets as primary contenders in an unsettled division. As recently, the team wearing green in New York is overrated, unprepared, and incapable of riding to the Super Bowl.


But with plenty of talent and reinforcements, the Jets are capable of punching a ticket to Dallas. As it is, no one expected the Jets to begin the season 0-1, but at the New Meadowlands Stadium, particularly with a feel of desperation to avoid an 0-2 skid, the Jets will enter the game with a stronger, urgent mentality and partly because of its opponent. In many instances, the Jets seem very vulnerable and have to withstand the pressure as doubt becomes immense for a team which embodied much fluidity.

For now, of course, the Jets are a respectable pick to win the division, despite the slow start that can suddenly transform into a credible streak. But with all the adversity, New York is suddenly facing hard times. And ever since they collapsed on Monday Night Football in their season opener against Baltimore and accounted for the most penalty yards in 22 years, learned defensive star Kris Jenkins will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury, and lastly, were accused by a female reporter who filed a harassment complaint against players and coaches, the Jets hit a downside.


In a way, this is a huge advantage for the Patriots. This is supposed to be an ecstatic game in the most intense atmosphere. The Pats will treat it as if they are contending for a playoff berth or like this is a postseason matchup, still upset over the revelations of Spygate. Back in the day, Jets owner Woody Johnson hired Eric Mangini from Belichick’s staff. From there, it sparked an ugly feud, and Belichick refused to talk to him as he clearly was viewed as a traitor for accepting the coaching gig in New York and converting to green attire. He simply broke NFL rules for spying on teams, publicly creating a fuss once the Jets exposed evidence of his secretive tapes. That explains why THE BRADY BUNCH hates the Jets, as well as BELICHEAT, right?

Exactly, end of discussion.

By working underneath the so-called mastermind, Mangini obviously knew all of Belichick’s secrets and infected schemes. Ever since then, the Pats disliked the Jets. Ever since then, the Jets disliked the Pats. So, it’s a mutual feeling of hate and bitterness, no doubt. And publicly announcing that a player strongly dislikes a team builds rivalries, and the Pats and Jets have become the biggest, most appealing rivals in the NFL. This isn’t just another game. This is a violent game with lots of implications.

The Pats and Jets are expected to collide with powerful blows and brutal contact, to spill blood all over the turf. How interesting we are gazing at yet another rivalry happening before our very eyes, more fun and exciting than the Lakers-Celtics, Yankees-Red Sox, North Carolina-Duke, or Candiens-Bruins. All that matters is a bitter rivalry on opposite sides. As it turns out, Ryan is bombastic and silly, but more than ever, he’s a flawless defensive specialist with innovative tactics to inhibit Brady’s passing display, another way to make his task miserable.


The problem is, of course, the Jets offense and Mark Sanchez’s miserable performance. In comparison, he’s a pretty boy as was Joe Namath, who recently tweeted “conservative play calling style,” referring to the Jets' struggling offense.

Sanchez has the intangibles to be the best quarterback in the league, but as of now, his body language reveals frustration and paranoia terrified to hurl downfield passes and worried about throwing interceptions for an encore season, tossing a mere 22 picks last season, and pitifully lost 31-14 to the Patriots last November.

He badly tossed four interceptions, and New England’s top receiver Wes Welker caught 15 passes for 192 yards. But this time around, Sanchez is looking to rebound and get even with the demons standing in their way, just as the Pats are looking to maintain an edge over the Jets.

So here we go, ready to watch the Jets-Pats war.

Let the fight begin.

Not Ready for Takeoff: Why the Overrated and Overhyped New York Jets Will Disappoint in 2010

It seems that some in the media as well as many others throughout the blogosphere feel the New York Jets are the favorite to win the AFC East, if not the AFC itself. Some even feel they could be a top contender to win the Super Bowl.

There’s been quite a bit of hype about them lately, and if you ask me, it’s beginning to get annoying.

Am I the only one not buying into the New York Jets’ hype?

I don’t see them even making the playoffs, let alone dominating the AFC East, the AFC as a whole, or the entire NFL. Instead, I feel the Jets will fail their fans miserably, and will be a huge disappointment this upcoming 2010 season.

First, the Jets struggled to even make the playoffs last season. Now, how they did last year isn’t always a good indicator for how they’ll perform this year, but it does give you a starting point, as you have to look at why they struggled, and whether those areas have been addressed.

The Jets, even with a stacked defense and a solid offense struggled last year mainly because Mark Sanchez was just terrible. The defense was stacked with characters like Bart Scott and Darrelle Revis, and yet, the Jets still were lucky to get to 9-7 on the year largely because of Sanchez’ inability to lead his team.

Entering Week 16 of last year’s regular season, the Jets played their starters against the resting 14-0 Colts. In my view they got lucky with that win, as Indianapolis pretty much handed it to them. The same thing pretty much happened in Cincinnati. The Jets could have just as easily finished the season 7-9, and it was a surprise to me when they didn’t.

Largely overhyped by the New York media, Sanchez was lucky he had the luxury of an impressive defense, and even more fortunate he had such a solid rushing offense. Without those two elements, his flaws would likely have been even more exposed than they actually were.

However, Thomas Jones carried most of the load of that great rushing attack, and was the true leader on offense for the Jets. He’s now gone, and Jets fans deluded belief that Shonn Greene and/or LaDanian Tomlinson are going to easily shoulder that load are in for a rude awakening.

Even with an incredible offensive line, the Jets struggled last year at times, and with the departure of Thomas Jones, I see those struggles continuing. I just don’t see Mark Sanchez leading them to the Promised Land. I believe Jets fans are likely to see another year where his interceptions outpace his touchdowns.

New York has added some decent components, such as the aforementioned LT, as well as Santonio Holmes and Laverneous Coles on offense, and Antonio Cromartie and Jason Taylor on defense. However, I don’t see them being enough to improve this Jets squad from last year, and with their losses in personnel, I believe they could be worse unless Sanchez improves dramatically.

Laverneous Coles and LT are role players at best on this team, both of them well past their best days. LT has lost much of his speed, and won’t be juking-out any defenders or pulling out any flashy moves like he did in San Diego. Those days are gone forever. I give him one or two years before he finally hangs up his cleats.

Holmes is a good option, but those Jets fans who think he’s the equal of say…Fitzgerald or Moss are in for a big surprise. He’s nowhere near that talented. He’s strictly a possession receiver, and with Sanchez throwing to him rather than Ben Roethlisberger, I see his production dropping dramatically. Not to mention, Jets fans won’t even be seeing any action from him until Week Five.

When they do, they better keep their fingers crossed that he can help.

On the defensive side, they do have Kris Jenkins returning, and the addition of Jason Taylor will help a little, but I believe he’ll be nothing but a role player on this Jets squad, and won’t be anywhere near what he used to be.

Cromartie, on the other hand, will disappoint badly. I believe he’s highly overrated. He’s only had one good year so far in his career in my view, and that’s just not enough to believe he’s going to be a foundation for the Jets secondary. Couple that with the fact Revis might hold out because of rough contract negotiations, possibly not even playing this year, and the Jets would be screwed in the secondary.

In summary, I can’t really understand why people are hyping the Jets so much. To me, they’re overhyped and overrated. They have a tough AFC East to traverse this season, and are likely going to lose more games than they win against those division foes.

The New England Patriots are still there, with a now healthy Tom Brady. The Miami Dolphins are a dark horse in the division everyone should keep their eyes on, and Buffalo, while not the greatest team in the AFC, will probably steal a win against New York simply because they’re division rivals, and that’s how it goes down most times.

I have New York finishing third in the AFC East. Sorry, Jets fans, but I’m not buying into the hype.

Meet New York's Main Attraction: Root for Rex, Jets

Only on Fifth Avenue in New York City, near the entertaining site of our country, Broadway absorbs much excitement and buzz. If you are from the city where the skyline defines the glamorous landscape and haven’t realized there’s a popular coach in the state, it’s because you haven’t heard or relished the funniest dude mustering veneration.

This rarely happens for a first-year coach, in a state where the media is critical and fans angrily lambaste underperformers. If a coach commits failures, rather than produce enough wins to expose all the positives, the New York tabloids are anything but compassionate or lenient and scorns the embattled coach. Rex Ryan isn’t a victim of mockery, after bringing reliance to a feeble franchise and giving an exhilarated population reason to utter “J-E-T-S”, repeatedly. For a season of ambiguity that altered to a season of improbability, Ryan prevailed in the biggest challenge and vindicated he’s an expertise for appointing a defensive mentality.

In fact, instituting and fortifying the New York Jets is a huge success, given the horrid days and long seasons before you could say Rex. The masterminded exertion paid off, to characterize a spectacular season. He reduced the agony, healed avid fans and season ticket holder Fireman Ed’s sore bones, willing to sit and witness misery on frigid afternoons at Giants Stadium.

But in a town where the Statue of Liberty stands tall, where taxi cabs crowds the streets, and where loud screams of opera is heard, Ryan has met expectations and dealt with petty scrutiny. He has shied all the criticism and ignored all the judgment, finding a friendly home in New York where he is more than a big clown or a crybaby. It wasn’t long before he became popular, liked for the comical press conferences and outlandish speeches that generated laughs.

Relatively speaking, the NFL needed a humorous speaker, someone daring enough to arouse the league with a bombastic personality. To hear Ryan talk and say some of the craziest things are laughable, and being able to complete an unimaginable mission makes it even better. As the wildest NFL coach, in fairness, it’s precise to think of him as the most popular resident in New York. The humor, sometimes, has a tendency to befuddle and annoy us, but usually it sends a message to his team and results in a victory to validate idealism.

If he had trouble maintaining a coaching job in the NFL, devoting his life to standup comedy wouldn’t be such a bad suggestion. For weeks, the Jets were doubted and tossed to the backburner after stumbling, but survived on a hot winning streak to cap the season. Lives were salvaged, a remarkable 3-0 start was valuable, and Ryan was identified as a finesse savior. So don’t mind him, if he gripes or dwells every time the Jets losses.

This is a strategy that provoked his team to accomplish the improbable, a trait they’ve capitalized on well. After he griped and blubbered over abhorrent losses, the Jets improved as a unified core. Late in the season, they never strayed and won five of their last six games to qualify for the AFC’s fifth seed. With a win over Cincinnati in the season-finale, Ryan and company stayed alive to revisit the Bengals for an encore in the wild card round. The change of scenery wasn’t much of a factor as New York was dominant again, and advanced to the AFC semifinals for a date at San Diego Sunday night.

Their stunning growth in one season under Ryan has much to do with his original philosophy. It’s called the K.I.L.L—Keep It Likable and Learnable. His theory, thus far, has functioned brilliantly. Right now, the Jets lead the league in rushing offense and total defense. It’s not a joke whatsoever. By far, this is a dangerous team and easily could be mistaken or underestimated if you’re not prepared to stifle a compelling ground attack. Back in San Diego, coach Norv Turner might want to warn everyone of the discounted defense that will bring forceful hits.

Turn the attention to Darrelle Revis, a shutdown cornerback who has frustrated top receivers all season by merely allowing fewer than 30 yards a game. Focus on Malcom Floyd and Lito Sheppard, whom both consist of menacing speed that have broken down offensive assignments. As a result, defense wins games. Meaning teams relying totally on offense are favorites to subside.

Thanks to Rex, the amazing thought of winding up in the Super Bowl is floating through the minds of the wildest crowd. The Jets, indeed, could be least expected and advance to the biggest game, on the biggest national holiday in sports. There’s always another team out there, willing to shock us as Arizona stunned us a year ago. Based on the rookie quarterback, Mark Sanchez’s performance of late, advancing to fulfill the greatest dream is possible.


Living in New York, he’s the biggest attraction since Joe Namath, a legendary name that represented the Jets for a long time. Fans faces wore gigantic smiles, finally realizing a franchise quarterback had made its presence felt and earned fame. He’s loved because of his features, but also the style he brought from college such as mobility and accuracy, needed tools for a top-notch rookie.

You’ve given him a nickname, in which he’s now known as Sanchize? You’ve accepted him after he implored to play in an environment where underperforming is inexcusable. After dealing with much mediocrity and scrutiny, the Jets are playoff contenders under Ryan, a coach specialized in defense.

Those Jets, Those Jets. Yes, those Jets are tough and dangerous. Let’s all root for Rex, who's confident in his players and thinks they're the team to beat. Let’s all root for Rex, the interesting character who laughs and jokes about his belly. Let’s all root for Rex, the trademark of New York sports, that is.