COMMENTARY | As a die-hard Jets fan I know all too well the pain of another disappointing season. The Jets’ miserable 2011 campaign, a season in which our loudmouth coach boasted a Super Bowl title, ended on a three-game skid and with a locker room devoid of leadership. To make matters worse, our two most hated rivals, the Giants and Patriots, just played for the Super Bowl. And what is the organizations most likely response to this debacle of a season? To go get Peyton Manning of course!
This encapsulates everything that is currently wrong with the New York Jets, starting from the top with the ownership and flowing all the way down to the fan base. The Jets are all about signing big free-agent stars with big names, huge contracts, loud mouths, and who are largely passed their prime. This all started with the signing of Brett Favre in 2008, and has continued in the form of Lito Sheppard, Jason Taylor, Plaxico Burress, LaDanian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes, and Antonio Cromartie. The problem with all of these signings is that these players were all either too old to play at a consistently high level, too self-absorbed to be team players, and cost the team numerous draft picks.
Peyton Manning is not the answer to the Jets problems. He is just coming off major neck surgery, is about to turn 36, and will cost well over $20 million. Manning just missed an entire season and we have no idea how his body will respond. Will he be the same player? What happens when he gets hit? If he were to get injured — and I believe there is a very high chance that he does — the season would end instantly.
Even with Peyton Manning, the current Jets roster simply is nowhere near talented enough to win a Super Bowl. They are at best a marginal playoff contender. The offensive line needs to get younger and add depth, the safety position needs to be drastically improved, and pass rushers need to be acquired. The Jets also need to get younger wide receivers, a new punter and new kicker, and could probably use another linebacker. If the Jets have any intentions of contending in 2012 they need to add depth and get younger on both sides of the football. Right now the team is too slow on offense and defense; the wide receivers were among the least explosive in the league and the defense has zero ability to protect the edge. In its’ current state, this team couldn’t win a Super Bowl even if it had Johnny Unitas playing quarterback.
The entire Jets organization needs to understand that you build a team through the draft, not through free agency. Free agency is supposed to supplement your draft picks and round out your team, not the other way around. Getting young players in the draft allows for team chemistry to form and fosters a sense of stability and leadership, all three things that the Jets currently lack. Peyton Manning is a great player, no doubt, but he is neither worth the risk nor the money. Breaking the bank for Manning would set the franchise back at least another five years and the Jets should take the money they would give to him and invest it in young talent. Another aging superstar is simply not what the Jets need right now. Anybody who thinks that Peyton Manning is the final piece the Jets need to win a Super Bowl is simply fooling themselves. He wouldn’t have anyone to pass protect or throw the ball to anyway. Just ask Mark Sanchez.