Jets Lose to Seattle?!
Dear Eric Mangini,
1. Explain to me just why you would settle for a punt, yes people, a punt, over a potentially game-changing field goal?
In one of the most mind-boggling moves of the season, on fourth down with the Jets in field goal position, Jay Feely proceeded to kick a successful field goal only to have it negated thanks to Mangini and Co’s stellar clock management skills (a delay of game penalty was issued to the Jets).
2. Then, with all 3 of your timeouts remaining, you elect to go for a fourth and a prayer deep in your own territory with over 2 minutes and 30 seconds remaining. Honestly, what are you doing?! And we once thought Herm Edwards time managment skills were questionable. Within the past 4 weeks, I have witnessed a collection of players transform from a truly promising football team to the same laughingstock of a decade ago.
This loss was truly disheartening. As a Jets fan for as long as I can remember, this was about as discouraging as Doug Brien’s miss of a game winning field goal vs. the Steelers during the 2004 playoffs, and at least that was somewhat justifiable. To score 3 points versus by far the worst defense in the league is unbelievable to say the least. Now people will try to pin this loss on one of Brett Favre’s worst performance of his career. It is not to say that Favre should most certainly be allocated some of the blame, because he looked lost out there (hurling the ball across field, across his body, all over the place). In my honest opinion, Favre will always be nothing more than a gunslinger– a potentially exciting and successful player. Yet when it really comes down to it, Favre is nothing more than a hurler and always will be. It is no mistake that Brett Favre holds the all time record for interceptions!
Chad Pennington, if you’re out there somewhere, please forgive me for treating you so poorly last year. You truly do deserve a pat on the back for everything you did for this franchise and everything you sacrificed during your time as a Jet. And your character only continues to impress me, having put up stellar numbers in a city not renowned for its professional football. I think if the front office could do it again, they would make all the same moves except one– releasing Chad Pennington and then proceeding to trade for the seasoned Brett Favre.
Jets fans will have a hard time living down this one. The team was in full control of its own destiny, win out and they were in. Perhaps they didn’t deserve it. To fall flat on your face in a game versus the Seattle Seahawks, a team that had won just 1 game at home prior to today, a team that was sporting 5 new offensive linemen, a team that had only beaten the lowly St. Louis Rams and the even more dreadful San Francisco 49ers all year, is a surefire example of a team full of pretenders. End of thread.
P.S. Don’t let Bob Sutton back next year. Ty Law please stop coming back, you clearly speak louder than you play.
