Keidel: Difference Between Jets, Giants Has Always Come Down To QB
By Jason Keidel
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Poor performance is never just one thing. While we try to pound the pinata, put on our GM hats every year, losing is a litany of missteps.
So the reason the New York "Football" Giants have done so well over the last 30 years and the New York Jets haven't isn't one lousy trade or lovely draft.
No, the Jets have earned their sobriquet as Gotham's little NFL brother. One bad move at a time. Whether it's picking Dave Cadigan over Michael Irvin, Terry Williams over Thurman Thomas and Dermontti Dawson, Ken O'Brien over Dan Marino, or Kyle Brady over Warren Sapp.
There's a fun -- or galling, if you're a Jets devotee -- article on Bleacher Report, outlining Gang Green's gangrenous drafts since the Richard Todd era, a medieval times of sorts.
There were 57 players drafted in the 1986 and '87 drafts who played in a Pro Bowl, and not one was a Jet. Even if you tried to be that inept, you'd have a rough time of it.
But if we were to crystallize the issue, shave it down to the NFL nub, the most glaring gap between our local football clubs is ... quarterback.
Since 1986, the Giants have played in five -- five! -- Super Bowls, while the Jets have played in zero -- zero! -- over the same period. The Giants had Phil Simms for their first Super Bowl run, and for the bulk of their second. Their fourth and fifth Super Bowl appearances came courtesy of Eli Manning.
Both were bookends on a Kerry Collins run -- an anomaly that still existed back in the day, and was ended by Baltimore's bone-crunching defense. Maybe 20 years ago, the rare team could sneak in with an average quarterback and smothering secondary and rabid pass rush.
But contemporary football, current football, is run by the glamor boys under center. And though there isn't much rather glamorous about Eli Manning, he's big, clean and clutch.
And he's durable. Like Brett Favre durable. Manning hasn't missed a game since he replaced Kurt Warner over a decade ago, and now is the sole owner of the longest starting streak in the league (178 games, including playoffs), already third all-time. It's fitting, since the younger Manning brother is a member of the most freakish, football DNA in human history. Old man Archie was battered like a boat in a hurricane in New Orleans. Peyton was legendarily tough until his endless line of neck surgeries. And Eli doesn't give any negative vibe, no hints of early, or even timely, retirement.
And if you comb through the Jets' drafts since Joe Namath, you'll find some serious incompetence. But that's true of any franchise. Only the 1974 Steelers -- my beloved black and gold -- ever had a flawless spring, picking four Hall-of-Fame players.
So, sure, the Jets picked Al Toon over Jerry Rice, and plucked Mike Nugent over Vincent Jackson, Frank Gore and Justin Tuck. They also drafted Geno Smith, their current, quarterback variable. But that draft was bereft of QB talent. Who else would they take that year? EJ Manuel? Matt Barkley? Tyler Wilson?
You can't defend the drafts the Jets have composed, a most wretched symphony of poor scouting, coaching and evaluating. But in the absence of physical proof perhaps some metaphysical cocktail is in play. The Jets can't just be that bad every year. Or can they? Is drafting Blair Thomas over Emmitt Smith just pure football evil, the NFL iteration of The Walking Dead? Or are the Jets just unlucky, shunned by the football gods every season? Luck -- including Andrew -- is never on their side. Every NFL team, save the Washington Redskins, passed on Marino, who became the passer nonpareil.
We often hear of the hidden gem of a draft. Tom Brady was drafted in the sixth round. Russell Wilson was picked in the third round. Even the most hallowed of all, Joe Montana, was bagged by San Francisco in the third round, behind Jack Thompson, Steve Fuller and Phil Simms.
There's a sense the Jets are finally onto something here, home to a competent HC/GM tandem. If they can somehow whack their way through the weeds of QBs -- from Geno Smith to Ryan Fitzpatrick to Matt Simms to Bryce Petty -- and find a serviceable signal-caller, then they're in business. As Mike Francesa said, the Jets have a rather robust defense, and have some fertile offensive talent, from Brandon Marshall to Eric Decker.
Now they just need someone -- to paraphrase another former Jet -- to just throw them the damn ball.
Follow Jason on Twitter @JasonKeidel
