Embedded Journalist: I Traveled 3,000 Miles for This?
What would cause someone to give up a relaxing weekend to fly out the the West Coast and watch the Jets mess their pants in public? Devotion to one’s team. Our Embedded Journalist, Mad Dog Mo made the trip west this weekend …
Here are his thoughts from watching the game. Whether you like or hate what he writes, admit it … some of the things he thinks are things you more than likely have thought about too.
Where to start about my game day experience in San Francisco on Sunday?
I am at a loss for words. I did not get much of a chance to soak up the local atmosphere, other then the 3 hour (15 mile) drive to my hotel after the game, because of my anger and disgust. The day started out bad when my buddy from Phoenix, also flying in for the game, got delayed en route. So for the first half of the game until he showed up, I sat there in a sea of people, all by myself. The Niners Fans I sat next to were there to see Brett Favre, little did they know he would be upstaged by THE Shaun Hill … umm who??? At least they bought me a beer.
For me, the game was over before it even began.
As the captains strolled toward midfield for the coin toss, I noticed someone was missing. After quick glance at the Jets bench I found the missing man, Shaun Ellis sitting on the end of the pine, all by himself. Even though Ellis had a good game, eight tackles and a sack, the team seemed splintered.
It was obvious on more then one occasion. Like when James Ihedigbo lay motionless on the ground, most of the team was huddled around him, others were off to the side praying for his recovery, Brett Favre, the leader of the team, was on the sidelines by himself.
Speaking of Favre, can anybody honestly tell me that the Jets are better off with him instead of Pennington? This team was not built for the quarterback to thrive; it was built to grind out games on the ground.
Hindsight is 20-20 but you have to wonder if the ground game would be better served by a more conservative QB with fewer tendencies to heave it downfield with reckless abandonment. Thomas Jones has to touch the ball more then the ten times he did on Sunday. Both guys are strong leaders but maybe Brett’s style is too laid back. Pennington was never afraid to get in someone’s face. That may be what this team needs right now.
The rest of the story has already been beaten to death. No pressure from the D-line, opposing tight ends and running backs uncovered catching everything in sight. Kerry Rhodes continues to be missing in action. Stuckey had a few good catches but the rest of the receivers were neutralized. Leon’s return was great, until it got called back.
It’s time for this team to decide if they want to be a playoff team. It’s time for this team to decide if they want to come home and beat Buffalo. If they don’t wake up soon they will be home in January watching the playoffs…all by themselves.
16 Responses to Embedded Journalist: I Traveled 3,000 Miles for This?
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kc. says:
I was all for bringing Favre in,but I just dont think this team is built for his type of play. If Chad was still our QB we’d probably have the SAME record we do now GIVE or take a game or TWO. If it comes down to the last game of the season and Chad comes into the meadowlands and BEATS us,I dont even know WHAT to say to that! We are a Jekyll and Hyde team. One week we go into Foxboro and into(undefeated) Tennessee and TOTALLY look like a playoff team and then the next TWO weeks vs. MEDIOCRE teams,we look like the DETROIT LIONS at BEST! ONE thing IS for sure,we had better start making QUATERBACK plans for the IMMEDIATE future! If its not any of the THREE we have now,then SOMETHING has to be done!
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ps. HOW could Cotchery get his FIRST reception(only ONE in the GAME) in the THIRD/FOURTH quarter!? HOW could Coles only have ONE reception!? HOW could Keller only have TWO receptions!? HOW could T.Jones only rush TEN times!?
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vajet says:
although i love this team, the past couple of weeks have been horribly frustrating, even more so after we know what our potential is.
and cmon people, this is a blog. i’d understand if people complained if the nyjets.com was talking about cp but this is a blog and fans should be able to say what they want. with that in mind, does anyone realize that even while running the wildcat offense, pennington HAS MORE PASSING YARDS THIS YEAR THAN FAVRE, EVEN WITH THE CRAPPY DOLPHIN SQUAD. if he comes into the meadowlands on the last game of the season, and the teams freakin play the game as close as they did in game 1, if pennington knocks us out of the playoffs i will be so frickin pissed i wont know what to say.
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MIKE GRIFFIN says:
Corey and I were there and this abysmal loss was mollified by pints of San FRAN’s best brew AKA ANCHOR STEAM! We did not hear the joyuous chants of the 49 Niner fans during and after the game hough we lost the bet on oucome of the game to my native San Fran buddy by having to leave the stadium and walk thru the surrounding area wiih both of us wearing Red 49 Niner T shirts. IT WAS A LONG AND WEARY DAY AUGMENTED BY TV DISPLAYING MY BUDDY SCREAMING WITH JOY WITH OUTSTRECTED HANDS AFTER THE NINERS FIRST TD RIGHT IN FRONT OF US FOR ALL OF NY TO SEE!
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TC says:
I posted yesterday that Favre hasn’t had a 300 yd game this season.That just ain’t right.It would have been better to not make the trade if this is what the offense was going to do!!
You can see what kind of reciever’s Favre had in GB.They get seperation and make play’s.Jenning’s is in the top 5 reciever’s this year.
We all know deep inside what’s coming,The last game will probly decide the division,as long as we can win in seattle……..That’s a big question mark!!!!
Maybe the 49ers can beat a Miami this week end and hopefully the Pat’s stumble 1 more time…………… -
subwayfare says:
“The rest of the story has already been beaten to death.” The rest of the story? With all due respect, no part of the story has been more thoroughly beaten, bludgeoned or trampled to death than that discussed in the paragraphs preceding that line. And God knows we’ll get a near fatal dose of it over the last game of the season. I’m so bored with every angle of this tired saga, I wish we had no QB and ran a wildcat-only offense at this point.
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JustAGreenGuy says:
That reminds me any word on Brad Smith yet?
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kd bart says:
CP hasn’t exactly produced an offensive explosion in Miami. In their last four wins, the Fins have scored 21, 17, 16 and 16 points. They won those games with their defense holding their opponents to 19, 15, 12 and 3. The only game in the last five they scored more than 21 points in, they lost to the Pats 41-28. The Fins have been winning with their defense.
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Yes, kd bart, and the Jets have recently been losing with theirs. Which is why the above discussion is so tediously irrelevant.
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Bent says: Mike – Anchor does numb the pain somewhat, doesn’t it? That might have been the highlight of my trip there last month.
I don’t know about Brad Smith, but let’s hope Patrick Willis is NOT suspended for the hit. That would make Miami’s game this weekend a cakewalk. As it is, I think they’ll be tested. Nobody has given the Niners any credit here – they have been giving teams fits the last few weeks.
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hank/naples says:
Mad Dog Mo:
Congrats !!! Your courage is preceded by your name. I say this beceuse I have borne the insults that all Farve worshipers hurl at anyone that dares to mention that Farve should be held, by any part, accountable for a loss.
You have incapsulated the true reason(s) why we have lost the last two games. We run the spread ( no backfield) more than any team in the NFL and we have paid dearly for it, and fans are still calling for more of it !!!
You are dead on !!! We must get back to what got us here ie: PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE and RUN, RUN, RUN TJ with vengance !!!!
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Bent says:
Nope.
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Please save us, Bent. For the love of everything holy.
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section133 says:
KC
Keller would have had three receptions if he didnt drop that first down pass that was right to him. That set the tone for the whole game…
Enough with all the looking back. We still have a good team. Lets whooooooop buffalos A$$ and then win out and take the division. A little optimisim here please
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Donster says:
This team ain’t goin anywhere near the playoffs unless:
a) they figure out how to put some REAL pressure on the opposing QB.b) Mangenious and staff figure out how to make some EFFECTIVE halftime adjustments if things aren’t going their way.
c) they all pull the heads out of their butts and play FOOTBALL !
Pennington didn’t have the zip to beat the Titans and we wouldn’t have beat the Pats. Do I have to have a hit taken out on him to not here his name mentioned on this blog anymore?