A House Divided: The 2013 Jets

The Jets need to get on the same page, or that page will be out of a history book.

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

So, a Quarterback, a head coach and a general manager walk into a stadium.

Even if you don't think you've heard it, you probably have. It's one of the biggest jokes in the NFL.

Mark Sanchez is a Quarterback seemingly on the downside of what had the potential to be a decent career. Since taking the Jets to two AFC Championship Games in his first two seasons, he has fallen short, posting an 8-8 record followed up by a 6-10 debacle of a year. Only two years removed from those playoff runs, he is faced with the possibility of losing his starting job and his chance for redemption.

Sanchez was drafted in 2009 by first-time head coach Rex Ryan. Rex, the son of famed Eagles head coach, Buddy, had his roots in defense before coming to the Jets. He had worked with the defensive lineman and linebackers with the Cardinals and all over the defense with the Ravens. In his first draft he took Sanchez at fifth overall. He's been trying to workout an offense ever since. He is also faced with the possibility of unemployment.

Rex and Sanchez were joined early this year by new GM John Idzik. Idzik had spent the past 6 seasons as a front office exec for the Seahawks. In some of his first acts as GM, he wrestled personnel control from Rex Ryan and drafted the QB that stands poised to take on the job should Sanchez fall flat for a third year in a row. His job is probably more secure than anyone in New York.   

3 Men. 2 different goals. 1 NFL team headed full speed off the tracks.

Mark Sanchez represents Rex Ryan's tenure with the Jets. The Head Coach and Quarterback always get the praise and blame depending on the outcome. When they were winning playoff games, they were both revered. But now that they are in a dramatic tail spin, they are both closer to the hot seat then they have ever been. 

So if rookie QB Geno Smith gets in the game and wins that's good for Geno and Rex right?

Wrong.

Sanchez is Rex's guy. He has defended him tooth and nail through the rough times of his career. Which he should. Mark was running Rex's less than stellar offense. A ground and pound offense that never was, due to poor blocking and decision making.

Win with Sanchez, Rex gets the credit. Win with Geno? Rex gets the can.

Geno was not Rex's choice. Geno was the choice of  Idzik. He wants to win by any means necessary. And he thinks Geno is his best bet. 

But he is also ready to put the team into rebuilding mode. He let many players walk in this off season who could have helped (at least somewhat) this team win. He's looking toward the future.

And why not? In his mind he has a young franchise QB, a moderate run game, up and coming receivers and a defense who would greatly benefit from the number one pick of the 2014 draft (See J. Clowney). 

This future that Idzik is planning also seems to be missing one big piece of the Jets' current make up: Rex Ryan. With all the rebuilding and turnover, I feel he is ready to rebuild from the ground up, starting with the Head Coach.

So clearly this causes a dilemma. The goals of the men in charge are miles apart. Rex wants to NEEDS to win now. And he can only do it with Sanchez. At least that will be the only way his job is safe. Sanchez needs to not only start, but also win. And win big. A fairly unrealistic goal no matter what the circumstances.

Idzik, on the other hand, can stand to see a losing season during his first year as GM. He could also stand to see a winning season. Whether it's behind Sanchez, Smith or Broadway Joe, win or lose, he will be around next year. Sounds like a win-win.

But I don't see that winning season happening. I am of the opinion that the Jets will be wildly unsuccessful this year. I'm talking Jadeveon Clowney unsuccessful.

Is it because they're a bad team? That's a huge part of it. But it's a more classic reason then that. Really classic. I'm talking Biblically classic.

Mark 3:24 "A house divided against itself, cannot stand."

The whole organization seems to be taking sides in the matter. People are Team Geno or Team Sanchez. Team Rex or Team New-Guy. Last ditch effort or rebuild.

Rebuild is probably the more realistic. The players that are left on the team are either injured or not very good. The whole organization could do with a shake up. 1-0 Idzik.

But Rex has the "benefit" of being in the high pressure New York area. Fans and the media can't stomach a rebuilding, especially when some halfway decent pieces are still around. Rex ties it up at 1-1.

And Geno gets injured. And has "brutal" days of practice. These are serious detriments to the rebuild camp. Is the brutality of practice somewhat manufactured by Rex? Yup. 2-1 Rex.

But from mishandling Tebow to not knowing how to conduct a solid playoff offense, Rex is falling behind in the eyes of the New York and National Media. Not to mention the tiring antics of the coach and the California snide manner of Sanchez.

But Idzik is the new guy in town and really pushing this whole rebuild down everyone's throats. Revolutionizing the offense over night will take a lot and looking to undermine the coach can't sit well with the NFL as a whole.

Past success vs. current failures. Hard work and grit vs. sly moves. Organizational upheaval vs. the butt fumble.

I lost count, what's the score?

Whatever happens, if these two sides can't align their goals, it will be disastrous. Whoever wins, the Jets lose.

Three men walk into a stadium. Can't wait to see what the punchline is.