By now you've probably heard the story about the Jets fans who drove about nine hours to watch their favorite team in Jacksonville last Sunday. Before the game, a 29-15 Jets defeat, they managed to check in with owner Christopher Johnson on the sideline.
"Hopefully the team will actually show up this week," Johnson said, alluding to four other non-competitive efforts in the six previous games.
Gee, I wonder whose fault that is.
Johnson, who will remain in charge until brother Woody returns from his gig as ambassador to the United Kingdom, has been otherwise absent from the public since the offseason while his team is ablaze. With Gang Green already 1-6 and wounded beyond belief, it wouldn't shock anyone if they fell to the winless, tanking Dolphins on Sunday.
The Jets are especially hurting at inside linebacker, with practice squad player James Burgess the last man standing, and on the offensive line. As to where the Jets are mentally, you'd need a team of doctors to sort that out.
The locker room was already buzzing from the organization's curious stance with guard Kelechi Osemele, who was waived last week after electing to have surgery on his ailing shoulder, and then the Jets somehow managed to alienate All-Pro safety Jamal Adams, a team leader and their one player with a spiritual connection to the fan base. Adams is miffed that general manager Joe Douglas listened to trade offers for him right up until Tuesday's deadline.
I'd say someone needs to blow this team up, but they're doing a pretty good job of it themselves.
Funny, this was supposed to be the year the Jets turned the corner, with some new (expensive) players and a new head coach in Adam Gase. Instead, this franchise continues to run in circles. Fire the GM. Fire the coach. Fire the GM and the coach. Where is the wheel stopping next, or will it stop at all, if the Jets embarrass themselves against the Dolphins and then the in-house rival Giants the following week?
It's sickening.
After what has transpired this season through Tuesday's turbulence, you'd think the owner would want to assist with public damage control at some point. You know, reaffirm the plan.
Nah.
If you're looking for someone to blame for why this team can't get out its own way, start at the top. After all, it's Johnson's idiotic organizational structure to have both his GM and coach report separately to him, thereby cementing the risk of dysfunction. That might work if the owner was a football expert. Johnson's outsourcing of previous searches indicates he's far from one.
Instead of firing general manager Mike Maccagnan alongside former coach Todd Bowles immediately after the final game of the horrific 4-12 2018 campaign, Johnson allowed Maccagnan to blow through over $100 million in salary-cap space and select the wrong guy with the third overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. (Note: Quinnen Williams may develop into a fine player in the future, but you take an edge rusher who can get to the quarterback over an interior defensive lineman every day of the week and twice on Sundays.)
Less than a month after the draft, Johnson only then decided to can Maccagnan, hiring Douglas too late to fix the mess he inherited this season.
Johnson's pick was justifiably praised, though it remains to be seen whether Douglas can deliver the goods in an environment where so many have failed. Douglas' resume, which included apprenticeships under Super Bowl champions Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore and Howie Roseman in Philadelphia, is impressive. Plus, he was reportedly tight with Gase, who did not get along well with many folks in Miami during the previous three seasons he was at the helm and may or may not have had a hand in Maccagnan's sudden demise, depending on which reporter you trust.
Those bonds are being tested, given the club's utter ineptitude this season and, most damaging, the apparent regression of Sam Darnold - the supposed franchise quarterback. Darnold, who missed three games while battling mononucleosis, has committed eight turnovers in the last two contests. Despite the hype that Gase is some sort of quarterback guru, there is nothing in his record where you can highlight an example of him developing a young QB. Of course, The Athletic's Connor Hughes reported this week that Gase hasn't yet lost Johnson's faith in him. Johnson took great pride in announcing that he made the final call to hire him in January.
But how much faith will the players have in this program over the final nine (NINE!) weeks playing out the string? Adams seems to have one foot out the door. The other foot suddenly appeared on Thursday's injury report, which limited him at practice. The condition is not considered serious but the damage to Adams' psyche is much more damaging, prompting some unsolicited advice from that beacon of practicality, O.J. Simpson, on Twitter. I fully expect Adams to create havoc this offseason about his contract, if he's not traded on Draft Day 2020.
As if nine years without a single playoff appearance wasn't enough to torture Jets fans, this team has been a marvel at establishing new lows almost every week. That's some legacy to leave, Mr. Johnson.
For a FAN's perspective of the Nets, Devils and Jets, follow Steve on Twitter @SteveLichtenst1
