The Jets continued their offseason "teardown" yesterday by releasing LB David Harris and informing WR Eric Decker he will either be traded or released in the coming days, transactions that "reeked of pinching pennies" by Owner Woody Johnson, according to Brian Costello of the N.Y. POST. These moves "added onto the purge" this offseason of CB Darrelle Revis, WR Brandon Marshall and C Nick Mangold, which has "left the Jets roster almost unrecognizable." The '17 season now feels "like a march toward" the No. 1 overall pick in '18. Jets GM Mike Maccagnan, on if the team is tanking the '17 season, said, "That’s not something we’re focused on. We’re focused on making decisions to help this team going forward." Johnson last month said that he "supports a youth movement and he may have been behind" yesterday's "cost-cutting moves." Costello notes the team has "just four players remaining over 30 years old" (N.Y. POST, 6/7). In Newark, Connor Hughes writes the Jets' QB situation is a "league-wide joke," while the offensive line is "unproven." The defense has "potential," but is "far too young to be counted on as any form of certainty." Hughes: "This Jets roster is bad." The question now focuses on "how much abuse" Jets fans "can take." The Jets have "missed the playoffs 11 times in the last 17 years" and are "in the midst of a six-year playoff drought." Fans "like the idea of a rebuild," but this "isn't a rebuild." Hughes: "This is tossing a team out there with virtually no shot of winning games" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 6/7).
ALL ABOARD: In N.Y., Gary Myers writes the reality is the Jets are "tanking as they develop their young players and then slide into position" to draft whoever is "considered the best quarterback following next season and then the grueling draft evaluation process." Tanking is "not a terrible strategy if it finally gets the Jets a franchise quarterback for the first time in 50 years." But Myers writes, "If you are going to stink, you might as well really stink so the place has to be fumigated." Maccagnan "should have torn things apart two years ago" when he was hired to replace former GM John Idzik, whose "parting gift was more cap room that Maccagnan could spend" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/7). ESPN.com's Rich Cimini wrote the Jets are "more concerned" about '18 than anything else. Cimini: "You had a feeling they were moving in this direction based on the March roster purge, but this latest action confirms it." The situation "reeks" of Johnson "trying to save money" (ESPN.com, 6/6). THE RINGER's Ryan O'Hanlon wrote under the header, "The Jets Are Officially Tanking The 2017 Season" (THERINGER.com, 6/6).
TWITTER REAX: NFL.com's Marc Sessler tweeted, "The Jets are kind of amazing right now. Totally unhinged. Pointing the nose of the plane toward planet earth at 500 mph." MSG Network's Alan Hahn: "New slogan for #Jets season: 'Tailspin 2017'. Try to top that." NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah: "From an NFL exec- 'I think the Jets might have the worst roster I've seen in a decade.'" Newsday Jets beat reporter Kimberley Martin asked fans for their take on the '17 season using GIFs only.
