Send us your wounded. Send us your insane. Don't mind us. We'll just go contend for another Super Bowl.
That's what the New York Jets are thinking right now. A year ago, they traded for the embattled Cleveland Browns WR Braylon Edwards. All he did from Week 5 through the end of the season in green and white was bring in 35 receptions for 541 yards and four scores. Though those numbers are relatively pedestrian, he was certainly a big play threat for rookie QB Mark Sanchez, who needed all the help that he could get to go along with WR Jerricho Cotchery, who only caught three touchdown passes in 2010.
For lack of a better term, was this franchise out of its mind? After all, acquiring Edwards on offense seemed to do nothing but compliment a defense that was already considered a bit off its rocker. That 'D', headed up by Captain Crazy himself, HC Rex Ryan, was insistent on sending six, seven, or maybe even eight blitzers on the same play.
That "crazy" club not only made the playoffs, but after they got there, Ryan proclaimed that the Jets should be the favorites, not just to win their first round game against the Bengals, but to "win the whole darn thing."
Pardon my French, but damn was he almost right!
GM Mike Tannenbaum continued the offseason shenanigans by signing RB LaDainian Tomlinson, a man that was basically cast out of San Diego for his declining stats. Is there any doubt that LT is going to go off for a dozen touchdowns again just to spite the Chargers?
The pillaging of the Bolts continued when the Jets traded a conditional mid-round draft pick for CB Antonio Cromartie. The former first round draft pick fell out of favor in San Diego, but he is still one of the most talented defensive backs in the league. Pair him with the rising star, DB Darrelle Revis, and New York could have the most talented secondary that the NFL has seen in decades.
Now on Monday, the Jets finalized a deal that sent Pittsburgh Steelers WR Santonio Holmes to the Big Apple for a fifth round draft pick.
Holmes had a real bust out year in 2009 for the Steelers, catching 79 balls for 1,248 yards. Now, he packs his bags to New York, even though he'll have to sit out the first four games of the year after getting nailed for substance abuse.
The schedule is going to be significantly hard this year for New York than it was a year ago when it swiped the final playoff spot in the AFC. However, if you can find the right price on the Jets, they may be worth taking.
Don't let the fact that Holmes and Edwards will be suspended for the first four games of the season scare you. This is still a team that plays ridiculous defense, and DT Kris Jenkins should be back to even further nail down that defense that really became prominent in the postseason.
On top of that, it's pretty clear that Ryan isn't afraid of taking on anyone. Bring on Brady. Bring on Manning. Let's get it on with Rivers.
One thing is for certain. If Ryan can figure out how to keep his Jets just as insane as they were in 2009, with or without all of the distractions and off the field issues, there isn't going to be a team in the NFL that wants to match up with them in the 2010 NFL betting campaign.
The Jets can be found at +1500 to win the Super Bowl at Sportsbook.com.
