Good news Jets fans: Those involved with the biggest mess in team history say the current version isn’t nearly as bad.
That’s right, the Jets are bad, but not Rich Kotite bad.
Seth Walder of the New York Daily News reached out to some former Jets who were on the 1996 team which went 1-15, and they agreed things were much worse then than they are now. Because while there’s still a good measure of respect for coach Rex Ryan, that didn’t exist under Kotite.
“The coaches on the field were piss poor,” ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in organized football.”
Likewise, defensive lineman Marvin Washington said there was a general lack of readiness after Kotite was hired.
“I felt unprepared,” Washington said. “We were unprepared from the coaching standpoint, [and also] from the preparation standpoint, which was on the players.”
Perhaps the most funny and/or sad part of the story was the Daily News’ attempt to reach Kotite, who hasn’t worked in the NFL since. A woman answering his number, upon hearing mention of the 1996 Jets, said “Don’t bother,” and hung up the phone.
Of course, the current Jets could top Kotite’s folly with a ninth straight loss this week. The 1996 team lost its first eight games before beating the Cardinals on the road in Week Nine.
“After a while we were so far in a hole there was just no way out,” Washington said. “Last third of the season, we were just ready for the end.”
“It’s tough when at 1-8 to think you’re going to turn it around,” Johnson said. “You can fool yourself.
“But the players, start to . . . disappear on you. Because that’s just the nature of it.”
We’ll see if the current players check out on Ryan soon. He’s already played his hole card — changing quarterbacks — and if that doesn’t help soon, he could join Kotite on the list of former Jets coaches.
