Another New York summer brings another controversial training camp and preseason for the New York Jets. Even as their coach has grown a lot quieter than previous years, the Jets have found another way to make major headlines.
The Jets missed the postseason last year with a record of 8-8 by losing the last three games of the season. They were unsuccessful at capitalizing on a 2010 season where the team was 11-5 and lost in the AFC Championship game to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were also unable to follow through on the guarantee of their coach, Rex Ryan, of a Super Bowl victory.
But this is a new season and the Jets have made two major changes. First, former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was replaced by Tony Sparano, the former head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Second, is the most the popular football news story of the offseason, the acquisition of Denver Broncos superstar quarterback Tim Tebow. The Denver Broncos acquired Peyton Manning and were looking to unload Tebow quickly. The Broncos started the season 1-4 under quarterback Kyle Orton, Tebow took over after this and finished the season 7-4 as a starter. They surprised the entire league with a win over the Steelers in the AFC Wild Card game, but then lost terribly to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Game.
As soon as the trade for Tebow was announced, an immediate quarterback controversy began. Current quarterback Mark Sanchez, who received a contract extension in the offseason, has been guaranteed the starting job but still feels the heat from the media. Sanchez’s lack of productivity is also a reason for the rumblings of quarterback controversy. The offense has not played up to the standards set by many people inside the organization and also by the fans. One of the biggest critics of the offense has also been the top target in the receiving corps, Santonio Holmes. During the 2011 season he called out the offensive line on numerous occasions, causing a rift in the locker room. According to players, these problems have been addressed and solved.
Currently the team’s training camp held in the small town of Cortland, NY approximately 4 hours outside of New York City. The team started holding their training camps in Cortland in the summer of 2009 after leaving the Florham Park, NJ facility.
Starting on August 10 the team will begin their preseason schedule where they will head out to Cincinnati to play the Bengals. The team’s first home preseason game is on August 18 when they play the New York Giants in MetLife Stadium, the stadium that both teams share.
On September 9 the regular season will kick off for the Jets. The Buffalo Bills will come down to MetLife Stadium looking to start the season successfully. Other highly anticipated games are the September 16 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, a rematch of the AFC Championship game on September 30 against the San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium, and both matchups against the New England Patriots on October 21 and November 22.