Jets fans should be irate after this bizarre Cade Klubnik insult

Even the most dedicated — and sometimes far too optimistic — New York Jets fans would agree that their punching-bag status is often warranted.

But if you’re going to insult the Jets, at least back it up with some level of accuracy.

Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano ranked the league’s best backup quarterbacks, with the Jets landing at No. 32. Bailey Zappe might not be Mac Jones just yet, but is he truly the NFL’s worst second-string quarterback?

That’s where the issue begins, because Manzano didn’t choose Zappe. He instead opted for fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik.

“Most teams would rather not have a rookie fourth-rounder as the backup QB,” Manzano wrote, “but the Jets likely wouldn’t mind seeing what they have in Klubnik before next year’s loaded QB draft class.”

There’s only one problem: Zappe is currently the No. 2 quarterback, and, barring injury, Klubnik is likely to be the third-stringer when Week 1 arrives.

Cade Klubnik and the Jets are catching stray insults for no reason

When Aaron Glenn recently declared that Zappe is the Jets’ backup, he also made it clear that there is an “open competition” for the spot behind Geno Smith.

Although Manzano referenced Glenn’s comments, he omitted Brady Cook, who remains on the roster and figures to challenge Zappe.

The external expectation, at least among fans, has seemingly always been that Zappe and Cook will battle it out for the backup job, with Klubnik almost guaranteed to hold the No. 3 role.

Russell Wilson’s retirement, coupled with the lack of credible rumors regarding the Jets adding another veteran, only increases the odds of Smith’s backup being either Cook or Zappe.

Are there better backup quarterbacks than Zappe? Absolutely. But even listing him No. 32 feels harsh.

Former Giants cult hero Tommy DeVito placed 28th. Take away the fact that DeVito is more memorable, and there isn’t much of a difference between him and Zappe.

But, again, Manzano didn’t pick Zappe. He chose Klubnik without including a disclaimer that rookies should rank lower because they haven’t played yet.

Ty Simpson finished 23rd on Manzano’s list, ahead of the likes of Mason Rudolph (No. 27, Steelers), Jake Browning (No. 26, Buccaneers), and Nick Mullens (No. 25, Jaguars).

How could Simpson rank 10 spots higher than Klubnik if both are rookies? Fernando Mendoza earned the No. 5 spot, which is perhaps the most egregious because he hasn’t even taken a snap!

The dog days of the NFL offseason lead to strange content, and this one is right near the top.

Again, we’re not sure why Klubnik caught a stray, but Shedeur Sanders placed No. 12. Based on all that we’ve seen from Sanders on and off the field, give us Zappe, Cook, or Klubnik in a heartbeat.

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