How things have changed over the last few years here on TJB. When the site first gained popularity, my role here was mostly to inject humor, keep things fun and lighten the mood when things got rough. Over time, we gained more credibility and a bigger following and could never have got there without the support of beat writers like Jane McManus, Rod Boone and others, while we always tried to remain respectful of the fact that we were encroaching on their territory and mostly kept our distance as we observed from afar.
As time went on, the lines became blurred between blogging and traditional media. This wasn’t so much through us going deeper into traditional media, but came from the advent of traditional media members becoming more involved in what we would recognize as blogging and opinion journalism … OUR domain. Initially, we welcomed this development and it has certainly led to more dialogue between the media and their readership.
However, at the same time, the site evolved to include more serious analysis and challenging certain media-fuelled perceptions with regard to finances and on-field performance. Personally, my role continued to be a columnist and just a columnist, albeit with increased administrative powers, but the content of my work moved away from the light-hearted articles I was producing as the site started to take off.
I’ll never be a professional journalist though. You think I can write an article like Rich Cimini’s piece on Karl Dunbar or Jenny Vrentas’ piece on Rex’s secret sensei? Never in a million years. That’s what these guys do best though and we’d love it if they collectively went down that route more often instead of dedicating so much time to breaking stories and sharing their opinions.
In recent times, any attempt at humor on this site has been met with scorn by some of our readers, who tell us to stick to the analysis side of things. That’s one of the main things that has influenced the shift in the content I provide.
Still, every now and then, although I know it will be met by scorn, I can sense the mood needs lifting. People are complaining about too much negativity, so maybe it’s time to start looking at things from a more warped perspective.
Ironically, the vessel I choose to make this point is the one thing that people complain about more than the negativity…a Tim Tebow article. However, you should appreciate that it is the FIRST (and more importantly LAST) article I’ll have written on the subject.
With the news yesterday that Rex Ryan enjoys a nice “ice cream social” each week with some of his offensive players to get better acquainted, we did some serious investigative journalism*. In talking with the kitchen staff at Florham Park, we’ve learned everyone’s favorite flavors. The results will SHOCK you.
Mark Sanchez – Sanchez might have GQ looks, a love of Broadway and an air of sophistication that surpasses his tender age, but deep down he’s a man of the people. Growing up in a typical family with a firefighter father in Southern California, his love for good cheap food is well documented … In-N-Out Burger is one of his great passions. For all those reasons it makes sense that Sanchez would like something a smooth but with a good chunk, something special, but not too exorbitant. An ice cream like COOKIES AND CREME.
Santonio Holmes – Over the course of his career, Holmes hasn’t had the easiest relationship with his teams. Holmes was cast out of Pittsburgh two years ago after some off the field issues. Since arriving in New York, he’s had some delicious moments, but this year has proven that it’s not been the smoothest of sailing. From his early season backbiting to his boneheaded display Sunday, it makes perfect sense that Holmes prefers to eat ROCKY ROAD.
We are excited that you have turned to the New York Jets as you watch this 2009-2010 Playoff edition brought to you by Roger Goodell. It is understandable you need to find a team to root for as you hadn’t expected your team to be sitting at home (or perhaps you had) and although you have probably either despised, ridiculed or shunned the Jets at one point in your life, we forgive you. Besides after looking at the list of some more famous bandwagoners, we don’t blame you for visiting our humble nation [I mean can you really top Jay-Z? The man wrote a song about the Empire State].
If your heart is truly set on becoming a [short term] member of the Gang Green Nation, there are a few things you MUST know about the team that our buddy Paul Needell wrote in his spare time. Did I also mention Kissing Suzy Kolber has reserved a special spot in their hearts for us? Might want to venture over there and brush up on your Jets humor.
By becoming a [bandwagon] fan of the Jets, you have hereby forfeited the right to root for your own team until the start of the 2010-2011 season whether the Jets win or lose. Additionally, our community reserves the right to do to you what you have often done to us if the Jets win or lose [i.e. mock, ridicule, etc.] without any rebuttle or consequence. Should you violate any of these terms, you shall be removed from the community immediately with the possibility of a fine.
As the Jets impending matchup against the San Diego Chargers nears, Kissing Suzy Kolber is again utilizing their colorful versions of Rex Ryan and the New York Jets (and a couple of special guests) to draw out some laughs. And they don’t fail to please.
Sanchez: Where’s Coach Ryan?
Jones: I dunno, but my water glass is shakin’, so he can’t be far.
I don’t know about Philip Rivers but I would be scared when I see my helmet shaking on Sunday. Enjoy!
Although we’ll never be able to compete with the likes of KSK, since it’s Christmas, we thought we’d try our best to bring you some festive cheer for those of you that enjoy that kind of thing. We’ll be back with more in-depth analysis tomorrow, but for now we recap the 2009 Jets season with our own brand of juvenile, epic and bizarre wackiness. If that sounds like something you might be interested in, click here to check it out after the jump. To read more of this story, click here
According to Dave Hutchinson, Rex Ryan has pledged his vote of confidence to offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer despite the passing game’s continuous woes. Below I will anaylze Ryan’s statement after the jump.
“I definitely think we’re on the same page,” Ryan said [of Schottenheimer]. “We’re leading the lead in rushing (164.1 yards per game). That’s something any head coach would be proud of. When you combine it with the fact that we lost Leon Washington for a bulk of the season, that’s impressive to me.
KSK Translation: I think its great we have the best ******* runners in the league but Nacho can’t keep a lid on the INT’s and Schottenheimer has yet to show me a plan that will help us KIIIILLLL in the passing game.
“We have a young quarterback. We know there’s going to be growing pains. We are absolutely on the same page. Our third-down conversions have gone down a little bit, but Leon was such as weapon that it really hurt when he went down (in Week 7).”
KSK Translation: Why the **** did Schottenheimer put Leon in a situation where he was going to get hurt. I need a Subway right now!
Ryan said he still goes to offensive meetings and is starting “to know a little bit where I can be dangerous.’’
KSK Translation: With luck that little **** Schottenheimer will be gone by the start of camp next year.
Roger Goodell should consider encouraging players to use Twitter more often because these days it just adds to the already drama-filled NFL. After Shutdown Tweeted about the high energy and focus in the locker room your favorite player and mine, Chad Ochocino, responded to Darrelle’s Tweet going on about how he can’t even be covered and how he would take over the Big Apple for three hours [check out full conversation here].
