Once, and not so long ago, the phone rang in the office of Joe Douglas, general manager of the Jets, and a GM from another team could start a conversation that goes like this:
‘Hi Joe, congratulations on the news concert. … Uh, wondering if Sam Darnold might be available (nervously laughing). ‘
(Layer) Click.
Fast forward to now:
“Hey Joe, we’re in the QB market, can we talk about Sam?”
“Sure can! We have no untouchables in our team, not after a 2-14 season. We still love Sam, do not make mistakes about it, but go ahead, offer me your best offer, and we’ll see where it goes. ‘
Sam Darnold, the prospective savior of the Jets three short drafts ago, is nowadays turning in the wind, resigning and reducing to waiting for Douglas to make his franchise-changing decision on the quarterback decision.
Douglas Wednesday: “I will answer the call if it is made.”
That means Darnold is in a different boat than three of his 2018 quarterback classmates. The Bills will not answer the call if it is made by Josh Allen. The Browns will not answer the call if it is done at Baker Mayfield. The Ravens will not answer the call if it is done on Lamar Jackson. Darnold is in the boat with Josh Rosen.
“Our attitude about Sam has not changed,” Douglas said.
Nice try, Joe.
Yes it has.
“He’s an extremely talented player, he’s very smart, very tough. “We have no doubt that Sam will reach his outstanding potential,” Douglas said on Wednesday.
It is, of course, GM-speaking to inflate the value of its asset to prospective suitors. Because (wink, wink) that outstanding potential can be achieved in another uniform.
“We’re clearly trying to gather as much information as possible through free agency and the concept, but our position on Sam has not changed,” Douglas said.
Again, GM-speak is designed to keep the poor kid hopeful that he can relive his career with the franchise that set him up.
The NFL can be such a cruel business. That was just 11 months ago, before the 2020 draft, when Douglas said:
‘When I first met Sam’s parents in the first preseason game [August 2019]I promised them that I would do everything in my power to provide Sam with protection and playmakers. ”
Unfortunately, even with left-back Mekhi Becton, Sam needed more protection, and even with injured injured wide receivers Denzel Mims and Breshad Perriman, he needed more playmakers (and less Adam Gase), and here he is now :
Wonder if Douglas will use the second overall pick on Zach Wilson of BYU, or Justin Fields, of Ohio, and recover the quarterback’s financial clock, and trade Darnold.
Wondering if Douglas would enter the Deshaun Watson matches if the Texans entertained his borders and traded him?
I wonder if Douglas will trade the second pick and rebuild this year with his first two and six of the top 98 picks … not to mention a few firsts in 2022.
For Darnold, it should feel like a nerve-racking game of musical quarterbacks, knowing he won’t be left without a seat, but maybe not the seat he prefers.
It seems a lifetime ago that former GM Mike Maccagnan and his staff Darnold went to eat and leave for Morningown a week before the draft in 2018 because they were convinced the Browns would use the first choice on him.
It seems like a lifetime ago when coach Todd Bowles named Darnold the starter of the opening night in Detroit and euphoric Jets fans with their “JETS, Jets, Jets, Jets!” singing behind the bench of the Lions after the kid shook off a six-pointer on his first NFL pass and made a 48-17 win. And then embraces his proud parents outside the visiting dressing room.
Finally the lost answer to Broadway Joe Namath.
These headings:
Sam’s Club.
Samsasionaal.
Samazing.
Sam The Man.
Mononucleosis would not stop him.
Gase is going to be his quarterback whisperer.
No one thought he would see ghosts on national television against Bill Belichick.
No one thought he would retire in his third season (nine touchdowns, 11 interceptions, mind-boggling decision-making) and saw his TD-INT career ratio drop to 45-39, and his win-loss record fall to 13- 25.
Nothing gives fans more hope than a young franchise fullback.
Sam Darnold was the Golden Boy.
He has no idea if he is still.
Wilson’s Pro Day is March 26th. The Fields pro day is March 30th. The Jets are in power.
Douglas’ phone will ring. The GM will answer the call.
He must too.
If Douglas has the same conviction on Wilson of Fields as Maccagnan had on Darnold, he should set himself up.
Watson costs a fortune, but it’s worth it, and Douglas has enough draft capital and a $ 80 million cap.
March Madness for Sam Darnold. And maybe further.