A major media narrative throughout the spring and summer had the Jets tanking this season to secure a high draft pick in 2018 and grab a potential franchise quarterback.
Based on the Jets’ play over the first couple of months, that certainly looks to be a fallacy at this point.
A big reason this narrative spread like wildfire was the Jets released myriad veterans early last offseason, including cornerback Darrelle Revis, center Nick Mangold, offensive tackle Breno Giacomini, kicker Nick Folk and wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
And this urban legend went to the next level when the Jets released linebacker David Harris and wide receiver Eric Decker in early June.
On June 6, NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah tweeted, “From an NFL executive-‘I think the Jets might have the worst roster I’ve seen in a decade.’”
On June 7, an ESPN headline proclaimed: “Now it’s clear: Jets are tanking the season, looking ahead to 2018.”
Under this headline, Rich Cimini wrote about the release of Decker and Harris, stating “In a matter of a few hours on Tuesday — Bloody Tuesday, we’ll call it — the New York Jets’ ongoing rebuilding plan took a sharp turn in another direction. Their GPS has a new destination: Tanksville.”
A June 7 New York Daily News headline proclaimed, “Tanking strategy gets the Green light as Jets dump veterans David Harris, Eric Decker with eye toward next year’s draft.”
Long-time Daily News columnist Gary Myers wrote:
“Tank you very much.
“Connect the green and white dots: Black Tuesday in Florham Park is the final piece of an unsightly 0-16 season that leads to USC quarterback Sam Darnold with the first pick in the 2018 draft.
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FIRST DOWN- A lot of potential, but a lot to learn
There is a lyric in an old song by the rock group Chicago that sums up where Zach Wilson is right now:
IN HIS OWN WORDS WITH DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR JEFF ULBRICH - Ulbrich breaks down Jets' defensive personnel
(Marcus Maye) can do it all. I would feel comfortable with him (at free or strong safety). He’s a guy that, to me, he can play deep, he can play the half field, he can play the middle third, he can do that and you feel comfortable with it. I think he’s got range, speed and athleticism. I think he’s got ball skills and instincts to be a deep safety. But I think he’s got enough size and girth and want-to and courage to play in the box. It’ll be fun to utilize all the things that he does. He can cover tight ends; he can cover some of the wide receivers in this league.
Dan's Minicamp Diary
Becton bombarded with weighty questions
Saleh calls Wilson ‘relentless' as a worker
QUESTION SESSION WITH QB ZACH WILSON
Jets hope initiatives will increase winning edge
Aside from adding as many good players as possible to help the Jets improve, coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas are trying to turn over every stone to find extra ways to give their team a winning edge, and two examples of this were announced over the course of the offseason, with the additions of a game management coach (Matt Burke) and the installation of an Athletic Care and Performance Department. Let’s take a closer look at these two moves and how they might help the Jets:
Dan's Spring Camp Diary
This time of year for learning, experimenting, not stats
AUDIBLES-Saleh doesn't cave on offseason work
Tom Brady might be wrong about this one.
SAFETIES
Justin Simmons, Broncos 6-2 • 202 pounds • 27 years old
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
Trent Williams, 49ers 6-5 • 320 pounds • 32 years old
LINEBACKERS
Lavonte David, Buccaneers 6-0 • 226 pounds • 26 years old
