If the Jets win today proved anything, it’s that “tanking” might not be as big of an issue in the NFL as we all thought. Every year, as we approach the end of the season and the worst teams continue you pile up losses, the whispers grow louder that teams are tanking for a better draft pick. I mean, how else can you explain the Browns and the Lions going 0-16. There were times in those seasons were you thought they were starting kids off local JV Football teams.
Looking back on it, it’s hard to argue that these teams weren’t tanking. These are supposed to be professional athletes, how could they not win a single game. What player wants to be on a winless team and be part of that legacy? What coach wants to be known as the guy who couldn’t win one game? Not exactly something you want to put on your resume. But the whispers were always there, especially as the top players in college football start to separate themselves, It also didn’t help that there was a parade when the Browns finished off the winless season.
But then, here come the Jets who apparently aren’t trying to lose, they are just THAT BAD. With a chance to tighten their grip on the number 1 pick and potentially draft Trevor Lawrence, they go out an beat the LA Rams. And what’s worse, the media that has been constantly criticizing them for losing, is now upset that they actually won a game.
Normally, as a Patriots fan, I highly dislike the Jets and all who associate themselves with that franchise. But in this case, I actually feel bad for the fan base. The team has had an historically bad season, and the only hope at the end of the tunnel was Trevor Lawrence. Now that is potentially in jeopardy too because they team tried hard an accidently won a game.
I’m glad they won a game, and not because it brings an extra level of disappointment to their fans, but because it’s that they proved they aren’t tanking, and that regardless of how bad things look, you shouldn’t give up. If the story didn’t potentially end with them not getting Trevor Lawrence, then it would be a powerful story to tell kids.
So here’s my takeaway from the Jets winning today. If they still get Trevor Lawrence, the moral of story is to never give up. If they don’t get Trevor Lawrence, the moral of the story is….the Jets tried to tank and couldn’t even do that right.
