Sam Darnold Has Officially Won Me Over

A couple more weeks until the half way point of the season, but after a few ups and downs and a couple months feeling each other out, I am giving my heart to Samuel Richard Darnold. My body is ready. I had been burned in several other bad relationships…Sam was younger than what I was usually used to…I wasnt sure he was going to be any different than the last ones…and early on in the courting process we hit a few bumps in the road. But 6 weeks in, 3 wins later, I’m ready to be exclusive. Ready to be Facebook official. I’m ready for the only monogamous relationship in my life.

I’m going steady with Sam Darnold.

Now, I already Cunceled the Saeson. A man cannot go back on his Cuncel. So I’m not taking that back, nor should I. I feel like at the end of the season the Jets will be on the outside looking in, and losses like the one to the Cleveland Browns are going to be the reason why. But…BUT. The fact that I might end up being wrong…the fact that I need to ask this question and have this debate…is a great sign for the future of this franchise. Now the Sam Darnold Bandwagon is already very full. After his electric Week 1 everyone in this town was sold. And despite what t shirts I may have sold and what videos I may have made, I was still reserving judgment. As an eternal pessimistic and realistic Jets fan, one week wasnt enough for me to crown him. The weeks that followed after that Lions massacre were a lot more real. There was questionable decisions, flat performances, and a loss in a showdown with Baker that stuck out in my mind. I was by no means out on Sam Darnold…I was just saying I needed to see more. The last step in New York when it comes to the player-fan relationship is winning over unfair, idiotic assholes like me, and I just wanted some more proof.

3 weeks removed from that disaster in Cleveland, 2 weeks removed from that thumping in Jacksonville, the Jets bounced back and Sam Darnold is putting up almost 40 a game as the team climbed back to .500. Particularly yesterdays performance – 24/30 for 280 and 2 scores, putting up 42 in a game where the defense disappointed and let up 34 – got me excited. Crawling back to 3-3 and winning ugly are the differences makers to me. If the 2018 Jets had any of the QBs of Christmas Past under center, this team is probably 1-5 and on a 4 game losing streak. In years gone by, if you let Andrew Luck and the shitty Colts hang 34 on you, that game is over. This was a classic Jets Let Down Game that did not end in disappointment. And those are big steps forward for this goddam franchise. Going into every game from here on out not worrying about moving the ball? Big step forward. Watching a quarterback elevate the play of his mediocre weapons around him? Big. Step. Forward.

To start the season and after Week 3 I thought it was unnecessary to start Darnold. I figured right around now would be the time to unleash him. I figured the Jets would be the aforementioned 1-5, and Darnold can come in with the Spin Zone that he’s saving us from more embarrassment. I thought that was the best way to help ensure some long term success and launch his career the safest way possible. But now 6 weeks in, Mark Schlereth’s advise to Big Cat and Bears fans with Mitch Trubisky rings true. Stink Schlerth’s opinion was essentially “If hes gonna be your guy, he’ll be ok.” And that couldnt be more true right now for Darnold. The first 6 weeks have proved to be invaluable experience for him specifically because there’s been some adversity. Now I mean, would I love to be 5-1 with Darnold leading the league in TDs like the Chiefs and the Mahomes? Sure. But currently sitting at 3-3 with this team comprised the way they are, having overcome a few truly embarrassing moments, its almost more comforting. That doesnt make sense but in my shitty Jets mind, it does. I’d rather him have already gone through some Same Old Jets moments, rather than just be on Cloud 9 unsure of how he will handle the inevitable adversity. Because playing for this franchise, no matter how talented you are, you’re gonna go through some mortifying shit. And with some of the bad, bad turnovers hes had, and a couple demoralizing losses under his belt already, he’s already taken it on the chin, and already bounced back.

I’m not saying being 3-3 with wins over the Lions, Broncos and Colts means we found our Super Bowl savior. Sam Darnold still has almost everything to prove. But as a skeptic and a guy who wanted him to sit, I think he’s done more than enough to prove me wrong and show he’s the guy to build around. Again, I know a lot of you were sold on that idea after the season opener, but I don’t just give it up that easy. I’m not some slut. You gotta woo me. Gotta work for it. Gotta prove it. 6 dates in and I’m ready to give it up for Sammy D. The way his season should develop and progress, the Jets should finish as a top 10 offense, they’ll be floating around .500, maybe even battling for a Wild Card spot, without a lame duck QB that we know wont last. And thats the best relationship I’ve been in for a long, long time.