I would just like to start with a half sarcastic/half serious question: What did New York Jets’ fans expect? We lost how many amazing players during the off-season? Damien Woody, Jason Taylor, Kris Jenkins, and Jerricho Cotchery to name a few. Yes, we signed some great new talent in an attempt to compensate for the losses, but as we learned this season, the new faces on our team, most notably Plaxico Burress and Aaron Maybin were very hot and cold. Plax had a game with three touchdowns and he also had games where he did not have a single reception. Maybin had some great games where he sacked the hell out of the quarterback and forced fumbles, but he also had games where he was nonexistent. Inconsistency seems to be the theme of this season.

But we did have high expectations. Why? Well because of Rex Ryan. This guy, this big mouth, know-it-all promised us a Super Bowl and we bought it. We bought his delusions because, well, we are a bit delusional. We want that Super Bowl so badly that I think that when some guy comes to New York and gives us hope in a hopeless time, that we just automatically bought it. It has taken three seasons, but we can see him for what he is: an excellent defensive coordinator who is maybe in a little over his head as head coach. I have definitely snapped out of my delusion because I now view him as a snake oil salesman and a faith healer that preyed on the down and desperate. Yes, those are some harsh words for a guy that coached us to two AFC Championship games in a row, but we need to realize that he promised us a Super Bowl multiple times and the  AFC title  is not the Super Bowl.

I know that it’s been only four days since our season officially ended and that really isn’t a long time to accurately reflect on the tragedy that was this season, but I saw this coming since Week 3 when we couldn’t beat the Oakland Raiders. I thought to myself that if we were that sloppy against the Raiders, there was no way that we could possibly beat a good team for the Super Bowl victory that we all crave so badly. So I think that I have a lot less anger and disappointment than my fellow Jet fans because, frankly, I expected this kind of implosion. It’s not being disloyal to the Jets or not being a ‘true Jet fan’, it’s being realistic and I’m sorry if that reality sucks. I agree, it does suck. I just happened to have accepted it a few months ago.

Angie Kozak is the New York Jets writer for The Penalty Flag. Angie was raised in New Jersey and has had NY Jets season ticket for 12 straight seasons and counting. She moved to Pennsylvania for college, and graduated from Penn State University in 2010 with a degree in Communications. Although a lifelong diehard Jet fan, Angie writes from a critic’s point of view. Follow her on Twitter @Angie_Kozak or email her at AKozak@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com.

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