GUEST POST: Nick Spano Talks Jets Plans for 2013

Dec 2, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum (left) and head coach Rex Ryan before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Metlife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Any of you that are active on Twitter know the name Nick Spano. He is the host of the show “Flight 5”, which I was privileged to guest co-host with them last week. It airs Friday nights at 7 PM, and you can check it out on www.flight5live.com.  Nick acts as the host, and does a great job, as does the rest of the crew.  You can also follow him on Twitter at @NickSpano, and the show at @5NLive.  Follow them both, they are great follows.

What you might not know about Nick is that he can also blog with the best of them.  Well, he has some thoughts on how the Jets should handle the upcoming off-season, and head into 2013, so I bring you the words of Nick Spano:

In Order To Figure Out This Jets Team, It Will Take Some Brains, but More Importantly Some Stones from Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum.

Before I go any further, I would like to thank Rex Ryan for the this teams record. No I am not being a wise ass, I am being completely serious. Take a look at this roster, the schedule, and tell me, with a straight face, what this team’s record should be. How the 2012 New York Jets have the possibility to get to .500 is a shock to me. Look at this offense after injuries and with Mark Sanchez, and tell me there isn’t five to ten colleges in the NCAA that wouldn’t give them a run for their money. If Rex Ryan is fired — WELCOME BACK “SAME OLD JETS.”

Okay, Rex OBVIOUSLY has to take blame, but to be fired is ridiculous. Had this team miraculously found a way to get to 9-7 and squeak into the playoffs, I’d say Rex Ryan deserves some coach of the year looks. Obviously that didn’t happen and this team is in a bit of disarray, but don’t tell me Rex should be fired. If this current quarterback outlasts our head coach, there is a BIG problem. Bigger than we can all imagine.

Now that leads me to my focal point of why I am writing this fun article. I am no writer. I am a Jet fan that hosts a fan show (Flight5Live.com on Friday night at 7PM EST, check it out LOL =)..yeah.) and an opinionated Italian-American kid. That’s all. But anyway back to my point. Mark Sanchez. My goodness, where do I begin? Not only has he handcuffed this team’s potential ON the field, but off the field as well. He is owed a guaranteed $8.25 million in 2013 and there is no off-set in that contract, meaning the Jets are on the hook for the entire salary regardless of how much he receives, IF another team has the misfortune of bringing him to their team.

Dec 17, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) calls the signals from the line against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at LP Field. Titans won 14-10. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

So what CAN the Jets do? Well they could designate him as a June 1 cut. That would spread the cap charge over two seasons — $12.35 million in 2013 and $4.8 million in 2014…… OR, how about this…. Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum grow a pair and go Mafioso on Mark? Let me explain my little plan.

Rex again, as he has all year, has messed up with the quarterback situation. If I were him, I would name Timothy Tebow the starter for the rest of the season, Greg McElroy the back up, and Mark gets to prepare for his next career, and model his very handsome self in his streets. Now before you say WTF?…give me a second.

I am not a Ra-Ra Timmy cult member, not even CLOSE. I am saying you mess with the already fragile Sanchez and play a little hardball. In the meantime, you mess with Tebow too. Let Tebow and Sanchez believe Tebow is this team’s starter. You TELL the media that. Know what that does? Makes Mark want out even more. And the last time I checked, there is no written rule that says once you NAME someone the starter, you have to stay with that guy for x amount of weeks. You start Tim now, you tell everyone he is your starter going into 2013 and you force Mark’s hand.

Now you have wiggle room. If Tim plays well in weeks 16 and 17, you seriously think about him in 2013. If he doesn’t, all you do is piss Mark off a little more. Let’s be honest, NO ONE is taking Mark Sanchez’s contract from us, so our best chance to be happy and for Mark to be happy, is to make Mark UNHAPPY right now. Confused?

Pretty much, all I am saying is you LIE here. Sorry. The best organizations do it, right Bill Belichick? You tell Mark he has NO SHOT WHAT SO EVER to start here and they are just going to bend over and have to take the contract, no matter how bad it hurts, but that doesn’t mean he’s getting even ONE rep. You tell him he doesn’t even come into camp next year with a shot to be the starter. As a matter of fact, Mark, you are going to be the third QB. We’re finding a starter and we’re keeping Greggy McElroy as the back up. Your move.

Dec 17, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (6) scrambles against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

Pretty much I am banking on something that has yet to be seen, Mark Sanchez having self-pride and manning up. I want the Jets to force Mark Sanchez to give us some cap relief and for him to have a shot to play elsewhere. Come to a mutual agreement. Rip up that contract, re-do something, swallow about say … $4 million, and Mark takes a vacation to a city of his choice (hello L.A.)

Then I turn my attention to the FA market. I look long and hard at Mike Vick. Yes, that Mike Vick. He has already said he would come to the Jets if he was guaranteed the starting job. I also look at Matt Moore, and even Alex Smith if he is cut. This team, and more importantly Rex Ryan, deserves a vet guy who isn’t going to make horrible mistakes. We are not that far from competing, regardless of what the clowns in the media say.

If we find a vet guy to come in, take about $4-5M for one-two years, and start right away, tell me a WR corp of Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, Jeremy Kerley and Stephen Hill isn’t attractive? Add that offensive line, who many UNDERRATE, and a young TE like Jeff Cumberland, and MAYBE if Dustin Keller finds his game that he left in Baltimore in 2010 when Ray-Ray violated him. Not too shabby for the passing game.

It isn’t going to take rocket science like many think, I am even willing to bite the bullet on Mike Tannenbaum and keep him here another year. I want Rex here, Rex deserves to be here and deserves an even half decent quarterback. I am willing to keep Tannenbaum if that means you keep Rex. You make some upper management moves. Bring in a talent guy… they’re everywhere. Bring in a new scouting team. Just give Rex that veteran quarterback who isn’t going to throw the game away. It won’t take an overhaul, it will take some stones. Grow some Rex. Grow some Mike. Grow some Woody.

I will be writing some more stuff as the offseason goes on. I will get into my offseason plans; the defense; the changes I’d make; and of course the NFL Draft. Keep kickin’ it back to @5NLive on twitter and Flight5Live.com on Friday nights at 7PM EST. Love ya all, Go Jets!