Former Jets quarterback Joe Namath has taken to tweeting about the team on Sundays, which has been followed by Namath walking back some of what he posts the last two weeks.
Namath apologized for suggesting Geno Smith wasn’t seriously injured against the Ravens in Week Seven after it became known that Smith suffered a season-ending ACL tear. In Week Eight, Smith’s successor as starting quarterback was Namath’s target.
After Ryan Fitzpatrick’s brutal first half against the Browns helped put the Jets into a 20-7 hole, Namath tweeted about whether it was time to turn to Bryce Petty because the Jets aren’t going anywhere with Fitzpatrick. The Jets rallied for a 31-28 win and Namath showed remorse for his post during a Tuesday appearance on ESPN Radio in New York.
“I do regret sending that out but that was the way I felt at that time,” Namath said, via the New York Daily News. “I do feel ashamed for doing it. It breaks kind of the team-player code and no good can come of it. ... [I’ve] gotta remind myself: I haven’t even seen Petty play he’s played so little. I don’t know where the rookie is. Fitz is the best we have to get out there and win. And so again, I lost trust, I forgot that fact.”
It’s rather light in comparison to questioning whether a player is being overly dramatic about an injury and Namath had plenty of company in suggesting that it was time for the Jets to move on from Fitzpatrick. The Jets have won both games during Namath’s tweet-and-repent streak, so they may be hoping for another jump to conclusion against the Dolphins this weekend.
