NFL Odds: New York Jets

There's a new Mile High Messiah in Denver and the old one has been exiled to New York.  Let's take a look at how Tebow's arrival affects the Jets as we peer through the looking glass on what is surely a definitive year in New York.

 

 

Questions remain unanswered concerning the quarterback situation in New York. Officially, the Jets are steadfastly behind their man Mark Sanchez and they even backed up that position with a three year extension for the beleaguered signal caller. But, immediately thereafter they traded for Tim Tebow, and we are still not sure what Rex Ryan has up his sleeve. Will he use Tebow only in certain situations where his ability to chew up yardage on the ground may keep the opposition off kilter or will he platoon with Sanchez on a case by case or even game by game basis?

Whatever the case may be, it cannot be helping Sanchez's somewhat fragile ego. Perhaps the Jets feel stiff competition will exact the full potential the team sees in him and ignite more passion than he has demonstrated so far. One thing is for sure, if Sanchez falters even a bit, the media circus in the Big Apple will be delighted to splatter the mess all across their front pages.  As training camp approaches, many questions will be answered...or will they?

 

 

On September 9, the opening day of the NFL season, the Jets will begin the process of proving that their signing of Tim Tebow will be a boon to the franchise, not just the latest sideshow in the Rex Ryan carnival. They will be taking on, by all accounts, a vastly improved Buffalo Bills team. If they are to make a mark defeating AFC East opponents, they better replicate what they did when they faced Buffalo last season. 

The Jets defeated the Bills 27-11 at home and then 28-24 at home later on in the season. They get the Bills at home in Game 1 but they shouldn’t expect Buffalo to lie down this season as they made a big splash in the offseason signing Mario Williams among others, and if Sanchez gets rattled early, the boo birds will be chanting Tebow’s name very quickly. 

The Jets opened as 4 ½ point NFL odds favorites but that number has faded from most shops. 

We will use the current average of the major offshore sports books and bet that the Bills +4 will be a sound play.

 

 

Former Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne was signed less than an hour after the draft ended. He was to compete for the number three quarterback spot behind Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, but all that ended last week when the Jets signed University of Tennessee product Matt Simms, son of former Giants quarterback Phil Simms. Simms appeared to get the leg up on Kinne during mini-camp and is now jockeying for the third spot in competition with Greg McElroy, who held the clipboard last season for the Jets.

Demario Davis turned heads during mini-camp, which is exactly why Rex Ryan wanted him in the third round. While many believed the former Arkansas State linebacker was a reach and could have been had a round or two later, Ryan knew what he saw when he interviewed Davis and wanted that determined personality on his roster. 

Ryan offered the following on Davis, “I have not been disappointed one bit. This is what you get. He’s the first guy on the practice field, the last guy to leave. He’s bright-eyed, he can’t wait, can’t wait to get in the classroom, can’t wait to get on the field, be with his teammates. I think that’s why you’re going to see this young man have a long career. There’s no doubt.” 

 

 

The Jets 1^st round pick last season, Muhammad Wilkerson was lucky to escape a car accident with only minor injuries early Saturday. Wilkerson attempted to change lanes and clipped another vehicle which caused his 2011 Dodge Challenger to flip and ultimately come to rest on its roof. Wilkerson received stitches in his forearm as a result of the crash but will be ready to meet his teammates at training camp on July 26^th.

Rex Ryan was impressed by what he saw from Wilkerson in his rookie season and is eager to see an even more improved player now that he has a new mate on the defensive line, recently drafted 1^st rounder Quinton Coples. The Jets should be deep on the D-line this season and Ryan loved what he saw from Wilkerson during minicamp.

"He's going to be hard to ignore, that's for sure," Ryan said of Wilkerson. "The thing that you always look for in a young man, a rookie coming into the league, a lot of times he'll hit that wall and they'll do just the opposite. He actually got better as the season went on. He was playing at a super high level by the end of the season and he's actually gotten better."

 

 

LaDainian Tomlinson will not be roaming the Jets’ backfield this season as the surefire first ballot Hall of Famer has decided to exit the game on his terms, signing a one day contract with the San Diego Chargers and retiring as a member of the Bolts. In his two short years with the Jets and in the twilight of his career, he nevertheless made an impact. 

Head coach Rex Ryan had this to say about Tomlinson, “I think right from when LaDainian burst on the scene as a rookie, he had a major impact. Clearly, he’s one of the all-time great, first-ballot Hall-of-Fame backs. This guy was so consistent throughout his career right up until the end. He was a dominant performer. He could play all three downs. He could do it all — a great receiver out of the backfield, obviously a great runner inside, great runner outside and could pass block. We were fortunate to get him at the end of his career, but he was still outstanding. He still had that great wiggle. (He) almost gained 1,000 yards the first year he came here and he would have had we played him in that last game. However, to his credit, he was like, ‘No, I would like to be rested for the playoffs.’ Then he turned in a great performance in that first playoff game in particular. He was a great guy to have, a tremendous leader, and I feel very fortunate and blessed to have coached him.”

 

 

Tony Sparano, formerly head coach of the Miami Dolphins, is the Jets' new offensive coordinator and he insists Gang Green will feature a ground attack despite all the attention being paid to the two men who are in charge of throwing the ball. Though Sparano has integrated a running back by committee approach in the past, this season will rely heavily on one man, Shonn Greene.

Greene broke the thousand yard barrier last season and is looking for an opportunity to break it all over again. But the Jets will have to keep their fingers crossed that Greene stays healthy. They are not deep at the position and the running attack could be grounded before it gets started if Greene were to go down. LaDainian Tomlinson has one foot out the door as retirement looms and Joe McKnight would ostensibly be the backup to start the season. Terrance Ganaway is a 6^th round pick out of Baylor who may be an option if he can make the next step or perhaps last year’s 4^th round pick Bilal Powell, formerly of Louisville, will be the Jets Plan B.

 

 

In the “we’re all just one big happy family” department, Mark Sanchez has extended an invitation to Tim Tebow to participate in his informal passing camp located in southern California. Sanchez began running the informal workout a few years ago for skill position players and the attendance has grown each year. 

Third string quarterback Greg McElroy had this to say about the Sanchez sponsored get-together, “It’s just so important to spend time together as much as possible. It’s a good opportunity for us to get out of our element and do something social as a group with the benefit of working and great weather. It’s really a good time for us. It’s a lot of football and a lot of fun.”

Quite right Greg so it’s even more curious that rookie running back Terrance Ganaway, a late 6^th round pick, is skipping the voluntary workout to spend time with his wife. Really Terrance?

 

 

The New York Jets front office brass is taking the Sergeant Shultz approach regarding the inevitable quarterback controversy that will erupt once Mark Sanchez throws his first interception or records his first fumble, “I see nothing.” According to the party line, Sanchez is their man and will continue to be while Tebow will be integrated on an as needed basis. He will get the nod to take the field when option plays are called or used as a decoy to toss a short pass to a slot receiver. 

But what will happen when the New York masses begin to chant “Te-bow, Te-bow, Te-bow?” Sanchez has not demonstrated the gritty resolve to rise above the negativity and produce in spite of the loyal legions calling for his head. As of this moment, Mark and Timmy are playing in the sand box nicely and each knows their roles. But say what you want about Tebow, he is undeniably a competitor and will not be content to play second fiddle to Sanchez forever. Whatever the result, this Big Apple train wreck will be coming to a stadium near you. Stay tuned.

 

 

Jets head coach Rex Ryan rolled the dice in the 1st round and chose a supremely talented defensive end in Quinton Coples out of North Carolina who had an underwhelming senior campaign. Coples was slated in many mock drafts as a top five candidate heading into his senior year but looked almost disinterested at times, which caused his stock to plummet right onto Rex’s lap as the 16th pick in the draft.

In round two, the Jets selected a raw but highly skilled wide receiver in Stephen Hill. The Georgia Tech product was used in an option offense, and the Jets new toy, Tim Tebow, just happens to be an option quarterback. Coincidence? You decide. Nevertheless, Hill can stretch the field vertically and that is a weapon any quarterback can use, even the beleaguered Mark Sanchez.

Demario Davis of Arkansas State may be from a small school but he is big on talent. He’s a versatile player than can play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 and that give the Jets the flexibility they need. Time will tell, but Davis could be a gem in the 3rd round. The Jets then tabbed Josh Bush, safety from Wake Forest, running back Terrance Ganaway of Baylor and offensive guard Robert T. Griffin also of Baylor in the 6th round. Strong safety Antonio Allen of South Carolina and Jordan White, wide receiver of Western Michigan, round out the draft class.

 

 

Quarterback Controversy?

It seems everybody hates Mark Sanchez except head coach Rex Ryan. In order to assuage his starting quarterback's fragile ego, Rex talked management into signing the controversial QB to a contract extension to the tune of about $40 million with roughly half of it guaranteed. This was Stuart Smalley (the old Saturday Night Live character) money, which was essentially the Jets way of saying to Sanchez, "you're good enough, you're smart enough and gosh darn it, people like you." Imagine what they would have given him if the Jets had actually made the playoffs last season?!

So now the Jets have Mark Sanchez in a New York state of mind and all is well. His ego is placated, he's been assured the team's lack of success has nothing to do with him *cough cough*and most of all he's their guy. I guess if Rex is going to be the coach for the foreseeable future then you've got to sign the guy he has faith in, so they did. It was all lollipops and sunshine for Sanchez because he was now certain that he was appreciated, respected and valued if not by the fans then certainly by ownership. 

But a funny thing happened on the way to the love-in. Once it became clear that Peyton Manning was going to the Broncos, Tim Tebow became expendable. And wonder of all wonders, the J-E-T-S came knocking on John Elway's door with a 4^th round and 6^th round pick in hand. It took some financial wrangling but the ink is just about dry and now Timmy The Good is on his way to the Big Apple to bring some touchdown Jesus to the great unwashed masses of New York.

So I ask you Woody Johnson, Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan...what the hell are you doing? That forty million dollar ego massage just went right out the window. Sanchez is already on the couch talking about his feelings to a guy with a notebook in his hand and a pipe in his mouth. Sure green and white Tebow jerseys are selling out and merchandising is through the roof but was this really worth it long term? 

We realize Sanchez is the starter but let's make one thing perfectly clear, once Sanchez throws that first pick the controversy begins. Here's the deal. The backup quarterback has the best job in sports because he never makes a mistake. He carries a clipboard, usually walks around with a hat on backwards and sends signals from the sidelines. He's as cool as the other side of the pillow. No matter who your starter is, if he's having a bad game, the fans always want to see what the other guy can do. It's the nature of the beast. But when you have a lightning rod like Tim Tebow roaming the sidelines you can multiply that call to action tenfold.

Tim Tebow needs an offense designed around his running game if he is to have any shot of long term success in this league. The moment they pull Sanchez in favor of Tebow, the Jets have sealed their fate. Sanchez is not a bounce back kind of guy and Tebow will have to recreate the magic he had in Denver, even if he did have only a 45% completion ratio. There will be more drama at the Meadowlands than in any theater on Broadway this season. Good luck Jets, you'll need it!

The Odds

Unlike the swift market upturn that the Broncos experienced when Manning arrived there was no such movement in regards to the Jets prospects with Timmy T. New York rests at a solid 25-1 in most shops to win the Super Bowl and their total wins hasn't moved either with most books dealing 9 to 9.5 on their NFL odds board. We will monitor the Jets progress throughout the offseason and into the regular season. 

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