“How ‘bout it that one of the greatest nights in the history of the New York Jets happened when there was no game happening?”
That’s how Joe Benigno began his final Football Monday call to Tiki & Tierney this season, referencing how the Jets swept Rookie of the Year honors last week during the NFL Honors show and saw both Darrelle Revis and Joe Klecko elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Of course, he then came up with a new slogan for the 2023 Jets, “The Drive for 55,” marking that next year could mark 55 years since the Jets reached a Super Bowl, so he wasn’t showing all the love.
“Even if Aaron Rodgers comes out of the dark room and sees the light and it says ‘Jets,’ let’s go with it!” Joe laughed. “I’ll get him the acid, just come here!”
When it comes to those 2023 Jets, though, the search for a veteran quarterback is now going on in earnest as the season has ended, and Rodgers is of course the big name being bandied about.
But who does Joe think will actually be the Jets’ QB in 2023?
“I still think it’s Garoppolo, when all is said and done,” Joe said. “First, good job by Derek Carr – why should the Raiders get anything for him after they unceremoniously dumped him? – but I still think it’s going to be Garoppolo.”
Joe would take A-Rod, D-Carr, or Jimmy G, but the one guy he DOESN’T want just saw his old OC join the Jets staff.
“The one guy who is unacceptable is Ryan Tannehill,” Joe said, noting that he knew the Jets had literally just hired former Titans OC Todd Downing as their pass game coordinator. “You can’t sell this to the fan base like that. I’d take Baker Mayfield or trade for Sam Darnold before I’d want Tannehill – there’s no upside there, so you might as well have Mike White be your QB.”
But what happens if everything falls apart and the Jets don’t get Carr, Rodgers, or Garoppolo?
“I think if I’m Robert Saleh and company, I’d be looking for where I’m working next year,” Joe laughed, “but I’d seriously look at Baker Mayfield if that’s that. He’s had some comeuppance here, and a chip on his shoulder; he’s been humbled a lot, and I think he does have some talent.”
The gang then debated whether or not Zach Wilson would still be around if the Jets get one of the big options, and it seems to depend on who it is because the name will determine the likely tenure.
Follow WFAN's midday team on Twitter: @TikiandTierney, @TikiBarber, @BrandonTierney, and @TheHoffWFAN
Follow Joe Benigno on Twitter: @JoeBenigno_Real
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