JETS Have Issues But Also Have Resilience

The New York Jets have been surrounded with controversy since last February when the team signed a plethora of all-pro players to enhance their AFC Championship runner-up squad. Then came May and it was the hold-out of star corner back Darrelle Revis, who missed all off-season work outs and all of pre-season until he was finally signed a week before the first game against the rival Ravens. There was also all of the hype surrounding HBO's "Hard Knocks." And don't forget the f-bomb dropping head coach Rex Ryan. Who was criticized by everyone including his own mother for his dirty mouth on national television. I thought that was all blown way out of proportion but it was still an issue, none the less. Not to be out done, there is the sexual harassment case which is still pending with Ines Sainz. Sainz claims that she was "cat called" and made fun of when at Jets practice and in the locker room to interview quarterback Mark Sanchez.

The Jets finally got what the doctor ordered in week 2 when they got the big win they needed over Tom Brady and the all-mighty Patriots. This is what is so great about sports, no matter what is going on and all the things that can disrupt an organization. As long as you win, nothing else matters, the rest just simply takes care of itself and the slate is wiped clean. Or so you think...

Most NFL teams go to work on Monday, watch film, get treatment and grab a lift. Then they are given Tuesday as their day off. So Braylon Edwards apparently went out on Monday night and had a good time, so good that he was pulled over at 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday morning because the tint on his Range Rover was too dark. It was then that the police officer smelled alcohol. Edwards was given a breathalyzer and blew twice the legal limit, .16 to be exact, dude can drink! 5:15 a.m. and he was still wasted, pretty impressive. Just a day after having a touchdown catch and a 2-point conversion against the Pats, Edwards was locked up in an NYC jail for a DWI.

You gotta feel for General Manager Mike Tannenbaum and Head Coach Rex Ryan. The two have had issue after issue unfold right before them. They have lost two of their best defensive lineman for the season in DT Kris Jenkins and DE Ropati Pitoitua. Oh and did I mention, that Darrelle Revis guy that just got $32 million in guaranteed cash missed the second half with a tight hamstring and could miss up to 2 weeks?? Sweet.

The Jets looked good Sunday, they looked really good and played even better defensively in the second half without Revis. They are also hoping to get back their stud linebacker, Calvin Pace in the next 2 weeks, who has missed time with a broken right foot. Also wide receiver Santonio Holmes will be back in action after he is done serving a 4 game suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy for testing positive for marijuana.

I believe the Jets are still a Super Bowl front runner, without a doubt. With leadership coming from players like LaDainian Tomlinson, Nick Mangold, and Bart Scott. This team will not allow outside distractions to make them fold and coach Rex Ryan will make sure of it.

It will be interesting to see what they do with Braylon Edwards and what the league will do as well. The team can fine him and can even suspend him if they choose to do so. But under the collective bargaining agreement the NFL cannot do anything to Edwards unless he was already listed in the leagues substance abuse policy, which is confidential.

There is no doubt that Edwards is in the dog house but there is still good news. If the Jets can overcome this and get a win over the Dolphins on Sunday night all will be forgotten....this is sports remember? Winning is everything.