This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Charles Curtis is filling in for Andy Nesbitt.
I know there isn’t much I can say to cheer up New York Jets fans after watching Thursday’s awful, awful 19-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But let me try: At least there is absolute 100000% certainty that the Zach Wilson Era should be over.
Let me explain further: When an NFL team invests a top pick — especially when it’s, gulp, the No. 2 overall selection — in a quarterback at the NFL Draft, there needs to be serious patience around the organization. It could take years before the lightbulb goes off for the QB, endless reps and film study and coaching and game experience and so much more that suddenly pays off.
That means franchises won’t draft another QB prospect or sign/trade for a big name veteran. And if that top prospect is a massive bust, it sets back the whole rebuild plan for years.
The bad news? The Jets absolutely whiffed on Wilson in 2021, the BYU quarterback that came out of college with plenty of buzz. Wasting a No. 2 overall pick is really, really, REALLY awful. They could have had Ja’Marr Chase or Jaylen Waddle catching passes, or Micah Parsons rushing opposing passers.
But that’s in the past. Here’s the good news: The Jets have a really good defense. Garrett Wilson is a talented young receiver. When RB Breece Hall returns from injury next year, he could be explosive again.
The plan should be: Sign or trade for a veteran quarterback to compete for a playoff spot next year. Or, I don’t know, maybe Mike White is good enough to start!
At least the Jets know that Wilson isn’t the answer, even in Year 2.
Quick hits: Sports reporter does NOT love covering a blizzard … A Christmas Story outfit … and more!
— This poor sports reporter had to cover a blizzard in Iowa and looked miserable doing it.
— I loved this A Christmas Story fit for C.J. Uzomah.
— Ja Morant boldly isn’t worried about getting through the Western Confernce.
