Just another collapse by a New York sports team

By now, I'm sure that all you sports fans out there know that the Jets blew their chance at a playoff spot. After 11 games, at 8-3 they had a two game lead in their division. But they went
1-4 down the stretch (and were extremely lucky to even win that one game!), Brett Favre turned into "Bad Brett", Eric Mangini forgot how to coach, the defense forgot how to stop anyone, and the Jets lost to bad teams like the 49'ers and the Seahawks. The front office brass quickly responded by firing Mangini yesterday. They still professed to support Favre as quarterback, but there is strong indication that Favre's shoulder is injured and he may be done for good. I can only hope so.

The foundation is there for a quality football team. And the team did go from four wins last year to nine this year. But nothing can excuse the pitiful and devestating collapse. Wait, didn't I write something to that effect a few months ago when it was the Mets turn to collapse? What is it with New York teams? Are the expectations too high? Is the media too tough? Or do these teams just suck, and if they were in Kansas City, no one would notice or care?

At least the Jets had plenty of company. The Tampa Bay Bucs owned a 9-3 record, and needed only to win one more game to secure their division. They lost their last four in a row. The Denver Broncos seemingly had their division sewn up (after they beat the Jets in the Meadowlands), but they lost their last three in a row and allowed the 8-8 Chargers, who won their last four in a row to go from 4-8 to 8-8, to win their division with a .500 record. And then there's America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys, who many pundits picked for the Super Bowl. They lost their last two games, getting blown out by the Eagles in the season finale, to finish out of the playoffs. And, oh yes, everybody's pick for the team of the decade, the Patriots, somehow managed to win 11 games and still not make the playoffs. Seems like chokers were all over the NFL this season.

But, for me, none stings more than the Jets. It's been 40 long years since Broadway Joe Namath launched himself into immortality and stirred the likes of fans like me. When will it ever end? And did we really have to see Chad Pennington win the division for Miami in the Jets' home stadium? When do pitchers and catchers report for spring training?