On behalf of Gang Green fans, this is an open letter to Jeff Ulbrich, Aaron Rodgers, Quinnen Williams, CJ Mosely and the leaders of the New York Jets.
With apologies to Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise, we can handle the truth. We’ve been down this road for 14 consecutive years. We’re prepared to get on with our lives. We’ll still watch the games, maybe not live if there’s something better to do, but we’ll be there in spirit. It’ll still hurt when you lose, and we’ll still smile when you win. What we can’t handle is this roller coaster of not knowing if you are as “all-in” as you proclaim to be, and we most certainly are.
No one is saying you don’t care. It’s your career, your life, your reputation. You worked hard to get where you are, and you want the recognition and satisfaction that comes with winning a ring. NFL scouts, scribes and insiders have told us that your team is talented at all levels on both sides of the ball. That’s what makes the Aaron Rodgers era so frustrating. It’s one thing to succumb to bad luck, even poor decisions and poor execution. That’s all part of the game. As Jets fans, we can deal with that. What we can’t deal with it, is trying to figure out if you are as mentally engaged as you need to be.
When you lose games due to pre-snap penalties, miscommunication on routes, arm tackles, dropping passes and missing easy kicks, we start to wonder if your head is in the right place. Every championship team talks about how they were mentally tough enough to overcome adversity. Are you capable of that? You were that one Thursday night against New England when Rodgers was dancing like a 28-year-old, and it all came together. You were 2-1 seemingly on your way, when Rodgers said, “let’s see if we can handle success”. Two weeks later you had your answer, and a new head coach. Over the next three weeks you added two former all-pros and three more losses.
As I said at the top, we can handle the truth. We were ready for the season to be declared over against Houston, ironically on Halloween Night. In the first half we witnessed more self-inflicted wounds including literally giving away a touchdown. You gave us no reason to believe you were going to end the 5-game losing streak, and plenty of reasons to start planning future weekend excursions. Is it too early to get a Christmas tree? Too late to go apple picking? Do people still go to the mall?
Then it happened… for the first time since #8 arrived, you guys came out of the tunnel in the second half and imposed your will on another NFL team. You showed heart, desire and resolve to not let the season end in week 9. Defensively, you shored up the tackling, tightened the coverage and we (finally) were able to see Haason Redick pressure the quarterback. Offensively, it was the magic show that we’ve been dreaming about. Rodgers to Wilson touchdown, we are back in it! Rodgers to Wilson touchdown, did you see that catch? Rodgers to Adams touchdown, I told you that was a great trade!
With apologies to Al Pacino, we were ready to get out, but that effort pulled us back in. Now, you have us looking at the schedule and trying to determine if you need to win 7 of your last 8 games, or if 6 more wins will squeak you (us) into the playoffs. Later today, at 4:25p, you will play the Arizona Cardinals in the dessert. We are mentally and physically ready to go on a roll, are you?
