The Jets’ Dysfunction Isn’t A Conspiracy
We unfortunately live in a world where conspiracy theories flourish, so it should come to no one’s surprise that the sports world is not immune. The latest one making the rounds, including from some respected NFL insiders, relates to the Jets’ quarterback dilemma.
From my perspective, the Zach Wilson Conspiracy Theory will remain just that since there isn’t any proof that Jets owner Woody Johnson is forcing his Head Coach Robert Saleh to play the much-maligned third-year quarterback. Beyond that, it just doesn’t make any sense.
I get that the Jets offense has become a running joke. It has many problems, and Wilson certainly is at or near the top of the list. The way New York’s last two opponents played, they were a step from imitating University of Louisiana Coach Red Beaulieu from the hit comedy film “The Waterboy.” Beaulieu figured the only way he could lose a lead to South Central Louisiana State was if he gave Adam Sandler’s Bobby Boucher opportunities to turn the tide from his linebacker position, so he had his quarterback take a knee after every snap and punted. Similarly, the Giants and Chargers basically dared the Jets to drive the field against them, betting that they couldn’t do it if they played 12 quarters.
It almost worked for the Giants, and then the Chargers ran away with a 27-6 decision on Monday night while producing less than 200 yards of total offense. L.A. sacked Wilson eight times and forced three fumbles, recovering two that led to 14 points.
A banged-up and generally lousy line isn’t helping matters, but Wilson isn’t helping himself either with the way he’s been holding the ball too long in the pocket and missing layups. He has posted the NFL’s lowest expected points added per play among the 44 QBs with at least 400 plays since his No. 2 selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, per rbsdm.com, and he isn’t getting any better--he is still in last place in the metric this season. So it is fair to wonder what he has to do to get benched.
But Johnson owns a football team that is valued at over $6 billion. Does anyone really think he is going to be unduly influenced in such a monumental decision by members of Wilson’s family, including one who is a former CEO and co-founder of an airline that sponsors the Jets?
Let’s remember a few things:
1) It was never the organization’s intention for Wilson to be the QB1 this season in the first place. Management flew across the country during the offseason to woo Aaron Rodgers, a 39-year old future Hall-of-Famer, before he made up his wandering mind as to whether or not he should retire. Everyone at One Jets Drive was well aware of Wilson’s inadequacies then but was willing to bet on the slim hope that learning from a master in a backup role could jolt his development forward. They knew it rarely happens, but they deemed it preferable to going out and getting a different garbage signal-caller in the market to be their QB2. Johnson signed off on all of it, including the mega financial commitment owed to Rodgers, who unfortunately ruptured his Achilles on the fourth snap of the season opener against Buffalo.
2) New York’s current alternatives to Wilson are Tim Boyle and practice squad member Trevor Siemian. Tom Brady was never, EVER riding to the rescue. While many fans, including me, can fall into the trap of pining for the backup, it is entirely possible that Saleh knows better from watching them practice. Sure, others in the past have vastly outperformed Wilson’s meek production playing under the same adverse conditions, but even the great Mike White was a paltry 2-5 as a Jets starter in Wilson’s stead the last two years, and he always got hurt. Joe Flacco (1-8) was even worse. To play behind this trash offensive line, your quarterback had better have a good set of wheels—Boyle and Siemian do not qualify on that front. Or did you forget that it looked like Siemian had his leg amputated from a sack by Cleveland star Myles Garrett the last time he suited up for the Jets back in 2019.?
3) The Jets were on a three-game winning streak before Monday night’s Chargers debacle. Add in the bye week and they hadn’t lost since October 1—to the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs in a game that was tied in the fourth quarter. Wilson’s performances may have still been way substandard, but he was playing exactly how Saleh & Co. expected him to play—putting the games in the hands of Gang Green’s top-tier defense. Though fumbles have been a recurring issue, Wilson has played interception-free for three consecutive games and has thrown just one pick since Week 2.
And 4) The Jets haven’t qualified for the postseason since 2010, the NFL’s longest active drought. Though Monday’s loss was crucial and dropped them to 4-4, New York’s playoff chances aren’t yet in the remote stage. Think about it: Why would Johnson jeopardize this position just to placate a friend? In addition, how would this look to Rodgers? Forget about his PR bravado about coming back to play this season; the Jets would be in salary cap hell if he opts to stay home in 2024 because the owner is pulling some youth travel baseball crap.
The conspiracists allowed for Saleh’s benching of Wilson last season after his dreadful outing at New England in Week 11 because of his post-game behavior, which threatened to split the locker room. My sense is that New York isn’t there yet.
Yet.
A third straight nightmarish showing from Wilson on Sunday night in Las Vegas should be the end of his rope. The Raiders (4-5) are not a good football team, but they got a jolt from a head coaching change to Antonio Pierce last week and they have a game-wrecking pass rusher in Maxx Crosby. It is not out of the question that New York’s eyesore of an offense is exposed again in full view of a national TV audience.
If Wilson does continue to regress in his pocket presence and downfield processing during this game, Saleh shouldn’t even wait until next week—his job is to put the team first or else he’s going to get fired anyway, so pull him for Boyle and see what happens.
Just don’t expect any miracles from a QB3. This is a bad offense who, to their credit, took advantage of a few teams who bungled those games away. Because that’s life in the NFL. But now that Lady Luck isn’t smiling as much, the picture has turned quite ugly.
For long-term success, the Jets will have to stop with the quick-fixes and settle on a head coach who understands modern offense and can develop a young quarterback, something this franchise has never been able to do.
The Jets don’t need conspiracy theories to prove they’re dysfunctional; they’re fine with doing it in plain sight.
Prediction: Raiders 16 Jets 6
Photo by: Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images