Why the Dysfunctional Jets Will Never Win

 

Rex Ryan

There are teams and players who create headlines for all the right reasons. Take Aaron Rodgers or Derrick Rose for example. The two are arguably the hottest athlete in their respective sports and they play at a high level while remaining humble and staying out of trouble. Rodgers is on his pursuit of a second straight Super Bowl victory and Rose is trying to lead his Bulls to their first NBA championship since the Jordan era. Both men are respected and that's because they win while keeping a low profile. In today's sports world everyone thinks that the loudest and the baddest win, but that is not the case. One must only look as far as the New York Jets to see why loud and out of control teams can't win.

Just when you think it can't get any worse in the Big Apple somebody else on the Jets steps up and says something dumber than the last guy. Rex Ryan is always good for a quote and he doesn't mind talking a little trash or speaking his mind. Sometimes that can be a good thing but Ryan repeatedly puts pressure on his players by voicing his honest opinions and predictions to the media. In their late season matchup against the Giants, Ryan talked a big game all week to the media before getting destroyed by their rivals 29-14. Afterwards, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs said what I think many opposing players around the league think when he told reporters that Ryan was a "big bellied loudmouth and disrespectful." Rex wants to win and he has shown that but his antics aren't working. The Jets lost in the AFC Championship game two years in a row but this year they finished 8-8 and ended the season on a three game losing streak. Rex keeps talking and his opponents feed off of his chatter more than his own players, or so it seems. Looking ahead to next season, Rex Ryan has to tone it down with his bold statements and predictions or the Jets will be doomed once again.

An even larger problem than Ryan's mouth is the locker room and the players' relationship with the media. The atmosphere that Rex has created is a terrible one for a sports franchise. What he has done is made it acceptable to say what you want, when you want and to who you want. Sure, that works fine when you are a good team but when the losses start to pile up the talk quickly turns negative and, as we see with the Jets, the team is in disarray. When a guy like Greg McElroy is going to the media and calling out several teammates and accusing them of being selfish there is a major problem. McElroy is so far down on the depth chart he isn't even sniffing the field and he is no place of leadership. Why would he go to some radio station and voice his opinions like that? Everything he said might be true but there is a code that what happens in the locker room stays there and he violated that. If the Jets are smart they put McElroy on the first plane out of LaGuardia and tell him go find another team.

McElroy's comments were uncalled for and have caused
a problem in the locker room

However, at least McElroy spoke his mind and put his name to it. In the latest developments, Jets players have anonymously called out quarterback Mark Sanchez saying he is lazy and content because he knows he won't lose his spot as the starter. If you think that then that is fine but there are two things wrong with these players' actions. First, why would they go say that to the press??? That is something that should stay in the locker room and be dealt with as a team. Second, if you are going to tell the media then be man enough to put your name to it. That's one of the most cowardly acts. The media is never the place to voice opinions about the locker room and the Jets' players must realize this. It starts with Rex Ryan.

Until Rex puts his foot down and stops this, the Jets will not win a Super Bowl. He has not created an atmosphere that is healthy and it is one that breeds anger and arguing. Ryan has to shut his mouth and get his players to shut up as well. The bold, loud talk worked for awhile but no one is intimidated by Ryan anymore. Other coaches let him talk and then go kick his tail on Sunday. The New York Jets are the laughing stock of the NFL right now and it's because Rex Ryan and his players are out of control. It's like they are having a contest to see who can say the stupidest thing to the press. They can keep on talking too, because that 8-8 record isn't going to change and next year won't be much better.