I’m coming here fresh on the heels of a Twitter debate where some fellas seem to be getting pretty heated. What is it that could get someone so mad when discussing hypothetical scenarios with the NY Jets?
As I’ve stated numerous times before, I’ve been around a long time. Not only as a NY Jets fan, but in the sometimes dark world of message boards and forums as well. I’ve been dissecting thoughts and potentialities for over 20 years online. I’ve seen these conversations evolve and degrade into flat out fights. Name calling, derogatory statements and even requests to meet at the flag pole after school for a good old fashioned rumble.
When i was in my 20’s I will admit I was susceptible to the same emotional outbursts as anyone else. So I get it. I remember the Curtis Martin vs 2nd rd pick Lamont Jordan debate in particular. There were such hard feelings created over the idea of replacing an aging Martin with the young legs in the locker room. Round and round it went. And man, was I pissed off!
It’s not difficult to slide into our emotions when someone challenges what we see as the “right” way to do a thing. Hell, we see it all the time in other areas of our lives and if we’re not careful we can get sucked into an outlook that has us holding on to some pretty extreme views. That said, as much as we all care about the Jets, sadly we have very little influence on the final choices being made by our front office, coaching staff or owner ship. I wish we did. I still firmly believe that if a handful of us fans had control we’d have been much better off over the years. Maybe even a championship or two.
So what is it that we’re doing out here? We’re on Jetnation.com or Twitter and we’re talking about a football team that we have zero control over other than to complain about the decisions of the braintrust. What is the goal?
Let me offer a thought or two.
Reminding you that I am not new to this side of NFL Fandom, I think I’ve learned a few things over the years.
The first goal from my perspective is to find camaraderie. Fellowship. Find our people that care as much about the NY Jets as we do. That’s the first thing. Sharing in the excitement of a situation with others who will be just as excited as we are. That’s where the fun starts. And it CAN be fun.
The second piece for me is to get the quickest news and happenings as I can. I want to know. It’s really that simple. When a move is made, a guy gets arrested, etc. I want to hear about it as soon as I can. The internet is a great mechanism to appease that desire in the quickest way possible. I love it in that respect.
But after that, it can get a bit muddy. I’m confident this is where a lot of us will have different ideas, but for me, the next point is of potentially equal importance as the previous two points. It is that I want to learn. I want to become a more educated fan. I want to understand what is happening with my team in a deeper way. Whether it is player evaluations, the types of schemes a coach will run, or even what all these terms mean. What the hell is a 3 technique or 12 personnel? What is an H Back and how is that different from a sniffer? Why are running backs no longer valued like they used to be 15 years ago?
Why on God’s green earth is Adam Gase repeatedly running L Bell into the A Gap? What is an A Gap? What IS all of this madness????
Thats a huge motivator for me and why I enjoy sites such as QB School or Top Billin’ Sports. I enjoy listening to people who are more knowledgable than myself. There are even posters on JetNation who are literally scouts or who work as a player evaluators. I like to listen to those guys while trying to figure out why I’m feeling the way I am about a player or situation. I’m nothing like the fan I used to be but let me be honest here. I’m also nowhere near the fan I hope to become. I still have so much to learn. And that will bring me to my final point.
In order to learn, it is imperative that we listen to and consider ideas that are different than our own. That can be difficult but It’s really the only way. How do we do that? Do we immediately squash the new thought process as soon as we hear it? No. Do we gather up the troops of like minded folks and make the new idea out to be moronic or that the originator of the idea to be stupid or valueless? I don’t think so.
What it is important for a fan like me is to explore the different scenarios. Consider the seemingly ridiculous and follow that line of thinking to its end. Massage it. Dissect it. See where it leads; because if there is anything I’ve learned being a fan of the NFL and specifically the NY Jets for the past 38 years, it’s that anything can happen. ANYTHING can happen. I’ve scratched my head on numerous occasions while wondering how an NFL GM could possibly come up with the idea I just witnessed. But that’s where the fun hides for me. In my aging, white bearded head I try not to see another’s idea as a threat to my thinking. I consider it and sometimes the miraculous happens. A weird sound comes out of my mouth. “Hmmmmmmm” haha. Imagine that. What I thought was rock solid just moments ago is now lying on shaky ground because of the new information I was open to receiving. If I’m really open I might even hear these words come out of my mouth. “That’s interesting. I didn’t think of that!” CAN YOU IMAGINE??? It happens. Not too often of course, but it does happen. 😉😉😉
So, I’ll be here. Thinking and talking. Listening to all of you with your rigid or lofty ideas. I’ll explore it all until it’s no longer possible because a decision has been made. I sincerely hope you’ll join me. But if not, let those of us who want to learn have our fun, ya big poopy pants. 😂
