The Aaron Hernandez case highlighted some of the difficulties that NFL teams face in investing in people who are entirely unscrupulous if talented players. The Hernandez gamble backfired leaving at least one dead and a team trading back jerseys so fans can erase the memory of 81 and start fresh. That is the Patriot Way. Who are we kidding here? Since the Belichick, winning is the Patriot Way, but the loss of both TE’s puts that in jeopardy.
I’m an ardent Jet fan and looking at the rest of the division I have to believe the team has a legitimate divisional crown shot now. The Patriots will be a tough 9-7 if Brady can sustain a passing game with no receivers. The Jets will run first and put up decent numbers so long as Sanchez is out of the way. The Bills will still stink, leaving the Dolphins as the team to look to as the wildcard. I don’t know who the Dolphins are or who they will be behind second year QB Ryan Tannehill.
So, can the Jets make the playoffs? Yes, because they have to. They have to in spite of Sanchez. They have to, because if they don’t Coach Ryan is gone, and I’m not ready for that yet.
Some Thoughts:
- The Paula Deen fallout continues. She seems to me to be a target–a touchstone or even a talisman for our current feelings about racism. We want to believe we are past it so we shun anyone (anyone who isn’t too powerful) who has even the slightest perception of being racist.
- Haven’t seen a big screen release of a stand up comic since Eddie Murphy. Is Kevin Hart the new Murphy?