The Jets (Finally) Got It Right

Stephen Russo explains why the Jets got this coaching decision right.

For the better part of a decade, the New York Jets have been swimming in the sewers of ineptitude. They have consistently had the look and perception of dysfunction. They have taken repeated half-measured attempts at digging themselves out, only to find themselves deeper in the hole of mediocrity that we are all so desperate to climb out of. And now, after the 2020 season, the Jets are proud owners of the longest playoff drought in the NFL. And as the offseason officially begins (which is typically a Jets’ fans Super Bowl), I ask you to put everything on hold for just a brief moment. Forget the Deshaun Watson drama. Don’t worry about Zach Wilson or Justin Fields. Forget Darnold and if he’ll stay or how much he will get us in return if traded.

(more…)

The Darnold Decision

The season from hell has come to an end and the man responsible, Adam Gase, was finally relieved of his duties no more than 20 minutes after his return from New England. The most pressing thing that this franchise had to accomplish is done, and they have rid themselves of the biggest problem since Rich Kotite. Now the Jets embark on what is really the “most important offseason” in franchise history… as if we haven’t heard that one before.

(more…)

A Plea to Jets Fans: Don’t Hit the Panic Button

Stephen Russo on why Jets fans have reason for optimism.

There is no doubt the Jets delivered a gut punch to every fan this past Sunday in Los Angeles. Somehow, some way, Adam Gase managed a win against Sean McVay on the back of 76-year-old Frank Gore and his 24 touches (and his 2.7 yards per rush). The entire Jets fanbase took a collective hit to the groin like we did when Keith Byers fumbled in Denver, or when Drew Coleman let Peyton Manning’s pass go over his fingertips to Pierre Garcon, or when Big Ben hit Antonio Brown on 3rd down to seal the deal, or when Ryan Fitzpatrick almost connected with Kenbrell Thompkins in the 4th quarter in Buffalo, or… did I make my point clear enough?

(more…)

New York Jets – Ranking The Head Coach Candidates

Stephen Russo ranks the New York Jets head coaching candidates…

Adam Gase’s 23-month tenure as HC of the NYJ has been one for the record books. He has set records for bad offense, ruining careers, ineptitude, affinity for 37-year-old running backs, and number of people involved in a single play call. However, one thing that Gase should include on his resume is that he was the first person since Bill Parcells to unite the Jets fanbase. It seems as though he is the one person who is unanimously hated across all of Jets land, and pretty much has been since day one. You don’t have to go back too far to realize that Gase was very low, if not the lowest, on everyone’s totem pole of candidates back in January, 2019. He may have gotten a slight nod over Rich Kotite or Lou Holtz, but in his almost 2 years he has proven every single one of us right.

(more…)

The New York Jets Dream Offseason

Stephen Russo with his dream offseason for the New York Jets

In a season mired by historical ineptitude, the Jets have also managed to find themselves on the verge of some other history. They are well on their way to the worst season in franchise history, possibly having the worst season in NFL history and they are pairing that with potentially the worst point differential of any team, ever. They are led by a historically bad head football coach, and to top it all off I think that we can all agree that they have made history for the earliest they have ever made a fanbase want to fast forward to the offseason. However, the upcoming offseason provides the light at the end of the tunnel that so many of us need.

(more…)

New York Jets – The Sad Truth About Sam

Stephen Russo with thoughts on Sam Darnold…

It pains me to write this. It really does. If you’ve read my work before, you know that I am a Darnold believer. From his bounce back after the first pass of his career to the highlights he gave us late in his rookie year and in the middle of his sophomore season, I’ve been on his side. If you go back to before the season, I actually predicted the Jets to finish at 8-8 with a shot at the playoffs based on the sole reason that I felt Darnold was ready to make the leap in year 3… I was wrong.

(more…)

New York Jets 1st & 10 – Kliff & the Cards Smoke the Jets

Stephen Russo goes 1st and 10 on the New York Jets latest blowout loss…

1st…

Before anything else, I’m a fan. I bleed green. My father instilled this in me at a young age the same way that I am doing with my 6-year-old son. The story is that Joe Namath signed a deal with the Devil to beat the Colts in Super Bowl III, and if that’s the case I’m pretty sure my dad was the one who handed him the pen.

(more…)

New York Jets – A Letter to the Johnsons

Stephen Russo vents it out to New York Jets ownership…

Dear Chris & Woody,

Congratulations. You’ve done it. You have beaten us. You’ve taken a fanbase that, despite all it has been through, would still remain hopeful through every year, every game, every training camp, and every offseason. We have waited patiently, we have continued to try to see the positive and clung to it with all we could, and you have successfully defeated us. Through years of missteps and bad management, mistakes and poor judgment, and an awful product on Sundays more often than not, and we still stayed by your side in hopes that this would turn around. We’ve been through it all.

Every year, March and April are more exciting than the fall because at least then we aren’t disappointed by the games, we’re actually excited about the potential for success. Yet somehow, every year, our hopes are ruined before Thanksgiving as the Jets continue to be out of the playoff conversation well before then. We have given you an insanely low bar to clear – just play competitive football. And somehow you have managed to fall incredibly short.

(more…)

New York Jets 1st & Forever – The Adam Gase Rant

Stephen Russo with his 1st and 10 rant on the New York Jets and Adam Gase

1st…

I’m guilty. I allowed myself to buy in… sort of. I let my desire to remain objective cloud my judgment. Now let me be clear; I was out on the Gase hire when it was made. I was all the way out on it. I was in the “anybody but Gase” camp. But, when they made the hire, I figured I had to make the best of it. I probably gave him more credit than what was due for a 6-2 finish in 2019. I allowed him to convince me here and there with the little things – the quips, the snarky replies to reporters, Sam Darnold’s belief in him, and yes, Chris Simms interview with Connor Rogers on the Badlands podcast. I thought that maybe there was more to him than meets the eye. Maybe there are things that I am not seeing that is going to lead to him being better than what I thought I knew. I even went as far as texting my father that I thought I was “warming up” to Gase on the Thursday before the season opener.

Boy, was I wrong.

(more…)

New York Jets 1st & 10: Painful Season Opening Loss in Buffalo

Stephen Russo goes 1st and 10 on the New York Jets week one loss to the Buffalo Bills…

1st…

Allow me to preface everything I will write from here with this: it is just one game. I will not look to fill the air (or the page) with excuses, because we really don’t care, we just want results. However, the facts are the facts. This was a season opener after the strangest offseason in history with a completely new offensive line and basically a new receiving corps against a very good opponent. So, I will not be hitting the panic button just yet… but damnit I am close.

(more…)