Get Glasses Alice

The title today was/is a favorite saying of my dad. I recall hearing it countless times during Jet games growing up. When I saw the end of the game yesterday, no surprise that it was the first thing to pop into my head. For as long as I can remember, when a guy made a catch inbounds while in the air, and was forced out by an opposing player, it was a catch. I don't know what rulebook the ref's and field judges were looking at yesterday, or what play, but that was a catch, pure and simple.

The phrase actually fits for the Jets as a whole this season. Looking at a 4-3 team before yesterday, you would think they were pretty good. But donning the glasses would allow you to uncover the issues. While this team is better than last year (not really hard to do when you compare Chad to Brooks Bollinger and Vinny), it has a long way to go to be a contender. The defense has holes. They cannot stop the run, a problem for a few years now. They get soft at the end of close games (yesterday they actually toughened up at the end, but that was an anomoly.) They cannot pressure the QB. Problems all around.

On the other side of the ball, Leon Washington had a couple of good games, but was missing yesterday. Chad has not thrown for a lot of yards since week 2, and had an absolute stinker yesterday. For all that has been written about the no-huddle offense of Brian Schottenheimer, they still struggle to put points on the board. This bye week comes at a good time. They need to work on the defense, and give Chad a little rest. Perhaps he is a tad tired coming off the surgery.

But I'm not going to put the blame on the offense or defense of the officials for yesterday. I blame the Browns. Not for playing better, but for throwing the Jets past in their faces. For yesterday, they inducted former Browns linebacker and Jet coach Walt Michaels into the Cleveland Browns Legends. So of course, the Jets reverted to poor offense and defense. The aura of the past infused them, and they reverted. Now, I know Michaels was an assistant in SB III, and head coach when they returned to the AFC Title game in 1982. But if you remember, they lost to AJ Duhe that day, behind a poor offense. Shortly after, he resigned, and left us the present of Joe Walton. So I blame Walt Michaels for yesterday.

Also needing glasses is Murray Chass of the NY Times. Murray had a story on free agnecy yesterday, listing a few guys. Jermaine Dye was one. Now, Murray should realize that the White Sox have an option on Dye, and wouold be monumentally stupid to not exercise it on the heels of an MVP caliber season. Murray also said Torii Hunter is a free agent, despite the Twins having picked up his option a few weeks ago. Go to LensCrafters Murray. They are waiting.