AFC East: How To Destroy A Locker Room 101

The New York Jets continue to make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

By Michael Quagliana

(AP Photo)

On Wednesday the New York Daily News reported criticism of Jets backup quarterback Tebow, stemming directly from his own team. Over a dozen members of the Jets, from players to staff, knocked the ability of Tebow at the quarterback position. Anonymous sources labeled his play as “terrible” and that the team would be “depending on a miracle” if he was under center.  Another unnamed source was even more blunt about Tebow taking snaps, explaining, “We can’t win running that s---.”

It didn’t stop at Tebow, however. A Jets official attempted to defend Mark Sanchez, the team’s current starting quarterback, from the criticism of his poor performance thus far. “Look at some of the players he’s throwing to,” he said. “It’s garbage. I’ve seen better receiving corps in college.”

        

Rex Ryan used the word “cowardly” to describe the players who had spoken up anonymously, and he couldn’t have been more accurate.

        

It is not unheard of for teammates to take shots at each other in the NFL. What is unheard of, are players giving out criticism without owning up to it. Usually, if the players do have criticism to through out, they are man enough to say it on camera and allow their names to run through the papers. The Jets lack character, a sense of sportsmanship, and maturity. They are on track to become the NFL’s laughing stock, and rightfully so. The athletes and staff that are considered professionals just happen to be displaying traits that are characteristic of middle school gossip girls.

The reason the Jets were blown out last Sunday against the Seahawks, and why they have a 3-6 is a direct result of their lack of dignity and heart. Ryan hasn’t been able to gain control of his locker room since he arrived in New York in 2009, and he holds a lot of the blame. Sadly enough, despite the team’s continuous offseason claims that they would leave the drama behind, the Jets continue on a downward spiral.

          

So what happens if Sanchez gets knocked out of the game in the first quarter against the St. Louis Rams this upcoming Sunday? Are those anonymous sources going to rollover and refuse to accompany “terrible” Tebow on the field? No, they are going to go out there a try to win the game with whoever is behind center. Lucky for the Jets, Tebow is one of the few leaders on the team that knows how to handle criticism and turn it into motivation.

Lost in the Big Apple is a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Lost is the idea of coming together as a whole in effort to defeat the opposition. It’s such a simple philosophy, and it tends to work more often than not; it’s what sports was built on. It’s a shame the Jets still can’t seem to grasp the concept.