Could it get any worse?

[HipCheck]

Please go 1-15

So many of you probably don't know, so I need to inform you. My beloved New York Jets are cursed. Now I don't know what caused the curse. There was no "Trade of the Bambino" and no black cat crossed their path, but there definiely is a curse.

The curse started as far back as I can remember being a fan. The Jets made the AFC title game in 1982 against the Dolphins in what became known as The Mud Bowl, b/c the Dolphins purposefully didn't cover the field. In the sloppiest, poorest excuse for a field in NFL history, the Jets lost 14-0

Then draft day 1983, where, to some strange cosmic circumstance, the Jets passed on a young kid named Marino and chose Ken O'Brien, who is best known for being the ONLY NFL QB to pass for over 100 TDs but never rush for one. He was a tree back there. Marino? Well, you know the rest of the story.

Then 1986, where the Jets headed in to a Monday night game with the Dolphins with a 10-1 record. I remember hearing announcer Paul McGuire say "The Jets will not win another game this season." He was right.

With the end of the 80s came the end of the Ken O'Brien era. Enter Quarterback Browning Nagle. Remember him? Me neither.

Then the Jets signed Boomer Esiason. A capable guy who's best years were behind him. November 27, 1994. Dan Marino, yes THAT Dan Marino, leads the Dolphins offense on a last minute drive in the Meadowlands. Trailing by three and out of timeouts, Marino completes a pass deep into Jets territory. Presumably running up to the line to spike the ball and stop the clock, Marino fakes the spike, and throws a touchdown past a stunned Jets defense.

Now let me point out that these were some of the GOOD years for the Jets. They won games. They made playoffs, but they didn't challenge for anything. Then enter Pete Carroll, the current USC football coach...he lasted 1 season as Jets head coach.

Rich Kotite was the next Jet coach. 4 wins over 2 seasons. Dark, dark times. But all changes with the Tuna.

Bill Parcells comes in and rebuilds the lowly Jets. He brings a new attitude. A new philosopy. A new era. Parcells signed Patriots running back Curtis Martin and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Vinny Testaverde in time for the 1998 season. The 12-4 Jets looked Super Bowl bound. They held a 10-0 lead in the third quarter of the AFC Championship against the Denver Broncos. Testaverde threw two late interceptions and Curtis Martin had a crucial fumble, and the Broncos won 23-10.

"We'll get them next year." No you won't. In the first game of the 1999 season, Testaverde blows out his achilles tendon. The Jets are never the same.

In 2000, Parcells steps down as Jets coach. His replacement? Bill Belichik. But less than 24 hours after being named coach, Belichik steps down. Why? Perhaps he knows there's a curse. Belichik now has 3 Super Bowls rings with the Pats.

And speaking of the Pats, remember Drew Bledsoe? Yes, he was the Patriots starting quarterback for years. The Patriots lived and died with Bledsoe's arm. That is, until early in the 2001 season the JETS Mo Lewis put a crushing hit on him, knocking him out of the game and causing internal bleeding. This opened the door for a young 6th round draftpick backup named Tom Brady. New England, you're welcome.

Then, there's the Herm Edwards era. Testaverde gets hurt in 2002, and backup Chad Pennington enters the game. He leads the Jets on a miracle run, somehow winning the AFC East and making the playoffs. The Jets completely blow out the Colts 41-0 in the AFC Wildcard game in the Meadowlands. They lose to Oakland the following week, but to the Jet fan, this is ok, all things considered. The future is bright.

That is until 2003, where, in a preseason game against the Giants, Pennington is ankle-tackled and lands on his hand, crushing it into about a billion pieces. "We'll get 'em next year."

2004, Pennington misses 3 games with a shoulder injury, but continues to adequately lead the Jets to the playoffs. Chad is playing thru pain and not playing his best, but the Jets beat San Diego, and have the Pittsburgh Steelers on the ropes. Tied late in the 4th, Jets kicker Doug Brien hits the upright on a long field goal with 2 minutes left. But Brien gets another chance to propel the gets to the AFC title game. He pulls it wide left. Jets lose in overtime. "We'll get 'em next year."

Enter 2005. Pennington has a surgically repaired and healed rotator cuff. As an insurance policy for an oft-injured Pennington, the Jets sign Jay Fiedler, who is called by one analyst as the "best backup QB in the league." Last Sunday, Pennington injures his surgically repaired throwing shoulder on the second of two consecutive sacks. It does not appear too serious.

Jay Fiedler enters the game. Six plays later, in completing a 16 yard strike to a wideout, Fiedler lands on his throwing arm, feeling a "pop". Pennington re-enters the game, foolishly, it turns out, because he has another torn rotator cuff and is done for the season.

One quarter, one season, gone. Two QBs lost within 15 minutes of one another. I won't mention the third string quarterback by name just because it does not matter. He will eventually fail as well. It's in the cards. It's part of being a Jet.

What's the best scenario now? Please lose every remaining game. There is a guy named Leinart that is waiting to be drafted #1, and we need that pick. We need a new era and thus, a new promising QB to get hurt...

Ahhhh...to be a Jet fan.

[cpa49707]

If the jets have a curse i wonder what happend to the Detroit Lions?????

[cpa49707]

Everyone in Michigan would be happy to send Joey Harrington to the jets along with some cash :fool:

[Golfdog]

It's those awful Jets uniforms. How can anyone be fast in those throw-back rags? They need something that looks like it belongs in today's NFL, not the days of Joe Willie Namath.

[DemolitionMan]

While the Jets are having a nightmare season, they have had some success in the past that is much better than other teams over the last 20 years. Somebody already mentioned the Lions. How about the Cardinals? Not everyone gets to win the Super Bowl. And when you do win one, it takes a lot of forces to come together. One thing goes wrong and that's it.

 

Still, the Jets do have big problems and the answer is not Leinart. It could be worse, you could be the Packers right now.

[kkhere]

the sad thing for the jets is curtis martin hasn't been able to make up for the lack of pennington

[Lord Thomas]

As a resident of metro Detroit for 18 years (from birth to 18), who is now attending college in Milwaukee, I'm not sure how much I pity the Jets....they at least have injuries to complain about, which is more than I can say about the Packers and the Lions (with the exception of Garcia)

 

-Thomas