New York Jets - A New Legacy

[CakeWalker]

[At no point did I think I would get eight wins - let alone win AFC East, rest of the division should be embarrassed]

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Game Week Wildcard Round

- Robert Saleh’s first season as the Head Coach had resulted in the New York Jets winning AFC East Division for the first time since 2002. Strangely enough, it would also be the first time since 2002 that a team with less than ten wins won the division. On this basis Saleh would make the point ahead of the game that despite the fact that the Jets had beaten the Texans 52-28 earlier in the season, the Texans came into Wildcard Round with a record of 11-6 for the season and were very much the favorites coming into the tie despite the Jets having home field advantage.

- The Jets would start the game strong with Michael Carter slamming into the endzone from just one yard rushing TD, as well Wilson passing the ball to Herndon for a passing TD. At the start of the season, it is fair to say that no one would have expected either man to score a touchdown in the playoffs of their rookie season and the quarter would end 3-14 - with the Texans only managing to claim a field goal.

- With Todd Gurley and Michael Carter both offering varying options on the field, the more senior man would claiming his first TD for a good number of game to see the Jets surge ahead 3-21 following a powerful and low yardage running move, with the Jets defense holding strong once again and only allow the Texans to kick a field goal with the half ending 6-21 with the Jets looking on course to reach the Divisional Round.

- The third quarter would be an even exchange with both sides scoring a TD each, with Wilson throwing to Cole to take the score to 13-28 and a very nervous HC Robert Saleh watching from the sides knowing that the next quarter would make or break his team’s season.

- The Texans would start the fourth quarter strong and pull themselves close to the Jets with an early passing TD, but the Jets would push ahead again with Gostkowski converting a FG taking the scores to 20-31.

- Houston would show themselves as a very different team to that which had lost to the Jets earlier the season and Houston would score a rushing TD and be brave, but fail the two-point conversion to close the gap to 26-31 and make it just a one score game. The Texans would claim the lead, with Zach Wilson’s only interception thrown of the game that would result in a Pick Six and see the Texans take the lead for the first time in the contest 32-31.

- The Jets would do their best to push forward and give Stephen Gostkowski the distance to come onto the field to kick a field goal, but they simply didn’t have enough time to get in range and would find themselves eliminated from the playoffs and losing by just a solitary point 32-31.
​

TEAM​	1ST​	2ND​	3RD​	4TH​	FINAL​
TEXANS​	3​	3​	7​	19​	32​
JETS​	14​	7​	7​	3​	31​

WILDCARD ROUND
​

AFC: #1 Seed Titans (13-4) - 1st round Bye #2 Chiefs (13-4) 28-22 Jaguars #7 (9-8) #3 Browns (13-4) 31-38. Bengals #6 (9-8) #4 Jets (8-9) 31-32 Texans #5 (11-6)​

NFC: #1 Seed Buccs (14-3) - 1st Round Bye #2 Cowboys (10-7) 9-42 Saints #7 (10-7) #3 49ers (10-7) 21-24 Rams #6 (10-7) #4 Packers (10-7) 34-28 Panthers #5 (12-5)​

 

[Canadian Dragon]

Heartbreaking

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Postseason Update

DIVISION ROUND​

#1 Titans (13-4) 27-24 #6 Bengals (9-8) #2 Chiefs (13-4) 24-17 #5 Texans (11-6)​

#1 Buccs (14-3) 28-34 #7 Saints (10-7) #4 Packers (10-7) 10-28 #6 Rams (10-7)​

AFC/NFC CHAMPIONSHIP​

#1 Titans 35-21 #2 Chiefs​

#7 Saints 17-7 #6 Rams​

AFC 21 - 38 NFC

- Four of the New York Squad squad would be selected for the AFC in the Pro Bowl with all four selections playing in their very first Pro Bowls ( Bryce Hall [CB2], Michael Carter [HB2], Lamarcus Joyner [FS2] & Quinnen Williams [DT1].

Tennessee Titans 40-34 New Orleans Saints​

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Postseason Final Update

- Larry Fitzgerald and Stephen Gostkowski would both officially hang up their boots and end their careers - although Larry Fitzgerald as previously announced earlier in the season would remain on the Jets’ book as part of their Offensive Coaching Team.

- The Jets would part way with Defensive Coordinator Steven Meyer, with it being stated that it was felt that Meyer was unable to provide the direction this franchise needed especially in regards to the coaching of its defense. Instead, it would be announced that Patrick Bailey, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, had been brought into the team with the sole purpose of helping turn the Jets into a defensive powerhouse.

- In regards to end of season awards Patrick Mahomes [Kansas City Chiefs) would be recognized as the NFL MVP, whilst Matt Rhule [Carolina Panthers] would be recognized as the Coach of the Year. Robert Saleh would have been rated as the 6th best Coach of the Season, and despite his record of 8-9 - his ability to place the Jets into the playoffs in his first season was recognized as an impressive feat.

- Although no Jets player would be awarded an individual award, some members of the franchise would earn high placing. Quinnen Williams would be recognised as the 3rd best Defensive Player of the Year, Michael Carter would be marked as 2nd and Zach Wilson 5th in Offensive Rookie of the Year [awarded to Trevor Lawrence]. Whilst Jason Pinnock would be seen as the 5th best Defensive Rookie of the Year [awarded to Jeramiah Owosu-Koramoah].

- August Kross would make the point that from her position as the President of the New York Jets, Robert Saleh had already exceeded any first season expectations she had held and that winning the AFC East and qualifying for the playoffs had been objective she had hoped to be accomplished in three of four seasons time, but to have already done it in just one season meant that Robert Saleh was very much the best man to take this franchise to the very top. Kross would make it clear that she was hopeful that next season the Jets would be bigger and better.​

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Off-Season - Free Agency Signings #1​

​

Controversial Wide Receiver Antonio Brown [81] - would be revealed as the first person to be picked up by the New York Jets with the opening of the Free Agency pool. HC Saleh wouldn’t shy away from the Brown’s past, but focus on the fact that everything he did was done to benefit the New York Jets organization and he didn’t understand why anyone would pass up on the opportunity of having Brown join their rank and bolster the team’s attacking options. With Fitzgerald having hung up his boots, Brown is very much taking Larry’s spot on the depth chart - although the Jets do have a number of younger players with the potential to become starters in coming seasons.

Younghoe Koo [82] would be announced as the man who would fill the slot left by the now retired Stephen Gostkowski. Koo has proven himself as a reliable kicker for points, although it is expected that the Jets special teams are going to rely less on field goals this season. Koo would admit that he was looking forward to making New York his home and was hopeful that he could hold his role in what he saw as a real team for the future.

Last season the Jets were without an official Fullback, but Saleh had brought former Baltimore Ravens Paul Ricard [82] to fill the vacant position.

Shaquem Griffin [75] who was a free agent for all of last season - has been brought out of No Man’s Land and added to the Jets roster. Although, it has been made clear that Griffin will not take on a starter role - his versatility as Linebacker means that he is likely to be used as a backup or injury replacement throughout the season. Offensive Coordinator Zach Parker would comment that Griffin was massively underrated and capable of becoming a key member of the D-Line this season.

Robert Saleh would comment that he and his acquisition team were still in communication with a number of high profile free agents and that they were considering a number of trading options - but these would depend on how fruitful this year’s draft class was for the Jets. Saleh would make the point that out of last year’s draftees only Narsirildeen (S) & Brandin Echols (CB) who were both drafted in Round Six last year, were no longer on the Jets’ books.​

 

[Bobby Barrows]

Bringing in Antonio Brown, say goodbye to locker room morale

 

[CakeWalker]

Bringing in Antonio Brown, say goodbye to locker room morale

id hoped I would get another season of Fitzgerald - and my underlings would get more time to mature. but Wilson needs more safe hands.

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Off-Season - Free Agency Signings #2​

J.K. Scott [82] would be picked up by the Jets to become the team’s new punting option, with it being revealed that the Jets were currently in talks in a trade that would involve Braden Mann. It would become apparent that the Jets were looking for a more reliable option and on paper Scott was seen as the more skilled kicker with a bigger boot. Analysts would suggest that the changes might not really be noticeable, especially considering the fact that the Jets seemed to use their Punters in unique fashion.

After ten years with fellow AFC East Division Rivals - Dont’a Hightower [82] who was a two-time Pro Bowler as well as having won the Superbowl with the Pats in 2014, 2016 & 2018. Newly hired Defensive Coordinator Patrick Bailey would make the case that Hightower was a threat to any quarterback in the league - and so adding him to the D-Line had been an easy decision and it hadn’t taken much convincing when speaking to HC Saleh to pick him up before anyone else did and that New England would regret letting go of this highly skilled Linebacker. Bailey would also suggest that another massive name would also be joining the D-Line in the next few days if contractual talks went well.

It would be announced that the Jets had traded away one of their Round Two picks in this year’s draft with the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for Minnesota’s Round 2, Round 3 & Round 7 in the 2023 Draft next year. Saleh would confirm that he and his team of scouts had a number of positions they were looking to fill during the draft, but that he was forecasting that an increased number of picks might be more important next year - especially if the team were able to meet their targets.

Rob Gronkowski [83] would be confirmed to have joined the Jets, although Gronkowski would confirm that he had yet to decide how many more seasons he had under his belt and that it had taken a long conversation with Robert Saleh to stop him from hanging up his boots following the Buccaneers disappointing end to the season. Gronkowski would let it be known that he felt that Chris Herndon had shown himself as a talented player and that he wasn’t certain who would be starting in the position come the regular season - but that believed in the direction Saleh wanted to take this organization. ​

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Off-Season - Draft Class 2021 Rookie Stats​

Round 1: No. 2 – Zach Wilson, QB, BYU | STARTER
Passing Stats 248/382 [64% Completion Rate] | 21 TD | 20 INT | Sacked 39 Times

Round 1: No. 13 (from MIN) – Alijah Vera-Tucker, LG, USC | STARTER
Sacked Allowed: 11

Round 2: No. 34 – Elijah Moore, WR, Ole Miss
Receptions 9 | 125 yards | Average 13.9

Round 4: No. 107 – Michael Carter, RB, North Carolina | STARTER
ATT 306 | 1,567 yards | 5.1 Average | 11 TD

Round 5: No. 146 – Jamien Sherwood, S, Auburn
Solo Tackles 12 | 1 Pass Deflection

Round 5: No. 154 – Michael Carter II, CB, Duke
Solo Tackles 26 | Assists 4 = 30 Totals | 1 Pass Deflection

Round 5: No. 175 (from KC) – Jason Pinnock, CB, Pittsburgh
Solo Tackles 11 | Assist 3 = 14 | Interceptions 3 | Interception Return Yards 41 | 1 Pass Deflection

Round 6: No. 207 (from PIT through MIA and KC) – Jonathan Marshall, DT, Arkansas
Practice Squad​

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Off-Season - Free Agency Signings #3 ​

Von Miller [90] would be unveiled as the Jets marquee signing, with Miller having parted ways with the Broncos following a contractual dispute with the Denver outfit. Miller would confirm that he had shown attitude towards the Jets last season, but had grown to be impressed with what Robert Saleh had done with the Jets and felt that being part of the New York outfit was the best choice for him at this stage in his career and that the addition of Patrick Bailey as the Defensive Coordinator had helped convince him to relocate to New York.

It would be rumored that Joe Flacco’s place as the QB2 in New York was under the threat, and that the the veteran quarterbacks’ place in the team was under threat largely due to Flacco starting to shows more signs of wear and tear and at times whilst covering for Wilson last season had struggled to keep fitness when asked to play multiple games in a row and that Head Coach Saleh wanted to protect the team’s interest especially if key player like Zach Wilson were to get injured again and would make the point that every starter needed to have a backup that was able to cover for them to the best of their ability.

​

2022 NFL Draft Picks ​

Round One: Pick 6 - Aries Fowler LE [73] - South Carolina
Round One: Pick 19 - Jaray Purnell LT [70] - Southern Arkansas
Round One: Pick 29 - Heath Whitehead CB [74] - Texas A&M
Round Two: Pick 23 - Nick Rudolph RT [63] - W. Michigan
Round Four: Pick 23 - Kevin Draughn CB [66] - Colorado
Round Five: Pick 13 - Lance Flowers WR [69] - Oklahoma
Round Five: Pick 19 - Anthony McKinney WR [67] - Southern Arizona
Jets Trade Three Six Round Picks 2022 with Falcons for 2022 Round 7 & 2023 Round 5 Pick
Round Seven: Pick 16 - George Webb DT [60] - Ole Miss​

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Preseason Season Update ​

- The Jets would have three games scheduled in preseason against the Vikings, Buccaneers and Rams.

- Although the preseason games are nothing more than a way to warm up the teams and prepare them for the new season, the highlight of the game would be a 98 yard rushing touchdown scored by Michael Carter

- Robert Saleh would comment that he was impressed by the performance of the 2nd and 3rd string players and that there was going to be a real battle and pressure on places come the regular season.
​

GAME ONE​	1ST ​	2ND​	3RD​	4TH​	FINAL​
VIKINGS​	14​	3​	0​	21​	38​
JETS​	21​	3​	21​	14​	59​

- Both teams would approach the match with caution, and it was clear that neither team were willing to take risks and never really moved off second gear.
​

GAME TWO​	1ST ​	2ND​	3RD​	4TH​	FINAL​
JETS​	0​	7​	0​	3​	10​
BUCCS​	10​	3​	0​	6​	19​

- Robert Saleh would announce that he had been involved in a trade with Jacksonville Jaguars and that he had acquired the services of Greg Minshew II [71] to take on the role of the Jets backup QB - and that also with immediate effect Joe Flacco had been dropped by the Jets.

- In exchange, the Jags received Todd Gurley II (RB), George Fant (RT) & Round Two Draft Pick 2023. Saleh would clarify that Todd Gurley II had been traded away - on the basis that he had faith in Ty Johnson and had decided to promote him to RB2 for the 2022 season.

- The game would display the benefit of having both Gronkowski and Herndon in the Tight End role and both would receive touchdowns during the game. The game would also see Greg Minshew II put on his cleats for the first time as a member of the Jets and throw his first touchdown as member of the Franchise, in a tight game that the Rams would win by a field goal.
​

TEAM​	1ST ​	2ND​	3RD​	4TH​	FINAL​
JETS​	7​	7​	0​	7​	21​
RAMS​	3​	14​	0​	7​	24​

- Directly after the game it would be revealed that Braden Mann (P), Sheldon Rankin (DT) & Trevon Wesco (TE) had departed the Jets and had been traded in exchange for MLB Cliff Burke [72] who had been the Ram’s Round Two draft pick from Notre Dame.

- It would also be announced that out of the number of players cut ahead of the 2022 season, Joe Flacco had parted ways with the Jets and his second tenure with the franchise had come to an end.​

 

[CakeWalker]

Jet's 2022 SEASON PREDICTION

a) Final Prediction Record:
b) Divisional Rival Record:
c) Will Jets improve on last season record [8-9]: Yes/No
d) Will Jets win the Division: Yes/No
e) Will Jets make the Playoffs: Yes/No

WEEK	VISITING TEAM	HOME TEAM
1	Cincinnati Bengals	New York Jets
2	Chicago Bears	New York Jets
3	New York Jets	New England Patriots
4	New York Jets	Minnesota Vikings
5	Kansas City Chiefs	New York Jets
6	BYE WEEK
7	New York Jets	Cleveland Browns
8	New York Jets	Miami Dolphins
9	Baltimore Ravens	New York Jets
10	New York Jets	Buffalo Bills
11	Miami Dolphins	New York Jets
12	New York Jets	Detroit Lions
13	New England Patriots	New York Jets
14	New York Jets	Tennessee Titans
15	New York Jets	Pittsburgh Steelers
16	Buffalo Bills	New York Jets
17	Green Bay Packers	New York Jets
18	San Francisco 49ers	New York Jets

 

[CakeWalker]

Year One | Preseason Update ​

 

[Canadian Dragon]

Jet's 2022 SEASON PREDICTION

a) Final Prediction Record:13-4
b) Divisional Rival Record: idk how many games but use the record below
c) Will Jets improve on last season record [8-9]: Yes
d) Will Jets win the Division: Yes
e) Will Jets make the Playoffs: Yes

WEEK	VISITING TEAM	HOME TEAM
1	Cincinnati Bengals	New York Jets
2	Chicago Bears	New York Jets
3	New York Jets	New England Patriots
4	New York Jets	Minnesota Vikings
5	Kansas City Chiefs	New York Jets
6	BYE WEEK
7	New York Jets	Cleveland Browns
8	New York Jets	Miami Dolphins
9	Baltimore Ravens	New York Jets
10	New York Jets	Buffalo Bills
11	Miami Dolphins	New York Jets
12	New York Jets	Detroit Lions
13	New England Patriots	New York Jets
14	New York Jets	Tennessee Titans
15	New York Jets	Pittsburgh Steelers
16	Buffalo Bills	New York Jets
17	Green Bay Packers	New York Jets
18	San Francisco 49ers	New York Jets