All I could think watching Thursday night’s Jets game was, if only Rex Ryan & Co. had tried utilizing Tim Tebow like Todd Bowles and his crew employed Josh Johnson last night, Tebow could’ve been a real contributor in New York instead of a circus show that exacerbated an already-bad QB situation that eventually led former GM Mike Tannenbaum and Ryan out the door.
I’ll fully admit that I’ve got no idea how practice squad rules work, and even if I did, I’m sure that Roger Goodell could always just change them at his whim only to have a judge tell him to get lost. But it looks as though Johnson won’t make Gang Green’s 53-man squad when final cuts are made this weekend and that’s a true shame given the added dimension he brings to the field.
Johnson hasn’t done much in his seven pro seasons, throwing a grand total of five TD passes and 10 interceptions. But he starred in the 24-18 win over the Eagles, completing seven of 12 passes but more importantly keeping the opposing D back on its heels with his masterful running.
Johnson was the Jets’ biggest ground-gainer on Thursday night, racking up 76 yards on just seven attempts. Unfortunately for Johnson, Matt Flynn, who was also a late-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, was similarly effective in the Jets’ final preseason game.
Flynn threw for 136 yards and two TDs on just 14 pass attempts, giving evidence that, if healthy, he may be one of the best second string QBs in the league this season. With Flynn all but locking up that slot and rookie Bryce Petty essentially assured of the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, Johnson appears to be the odd man out -- to which I’d say to GM Mike Maccagnan, find a spot for this guy somewhere, somehow. You won’t regret it. While the Jets came away with the victory, neither Flynn nor Johnson was the game’s best QB. Former Jet Tebow was.
He may still throw an ugly ball, but the former phenom -- hey, I’m talking college here -- managed to complete more than 60 percent of this throws Thursday night while also doing damage as a runner. Tebow may also soon find himself out of a job in Philly, if Chip Kelly decides to go with the more conventional Matt Barkley as his third quarterback.
Say what you will about Kelly, but the man follows his convictions and, unlike so many in the ultra-corporate NFL, is willing to think outside the box. I think he’ll hold on to Tebow, because the 28-year-old is a competitor, a winner and a very good football player.
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He’s probably too inaccurate to be a successful starter, but he can undoubtedly be an asset to a resourceful coach, just as Johnson can be. For all of Rex’s bluster, if he’d shown more boldness with Tebow during the QB’s brief time in New York, maybe the coach’s success with the Jets wouldn’t have been so short-lived.
