Bart Scott: New York Jets Need More Good Players
By Mike Dyce
Nov. 22, 2012; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets inside linebacker Bart Scott (57) reacts after a tackle against the New England Patriots during the first half on Thanksgiving at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports
No one quite expected the New York Jets to have a unsuccessful season in 2012. Especially since Mark Sanchez had led the Jets to two AFC Championship games in his young career and Rex Ryan’s emphasis on their Superbowl championship odds in the offseason. But that nevertheless is what happened to the Jets following the arrival of Tebowmania, a 6-10 season.
Jets linebacker, Bart Scott, who is famous for his “can’t wait” saying, couldn’t wait to throw his teammates under the bus as he tries to explain their dismal season.
“You know what the problem was with the New York Jets this year? We didn’t have enough quality players to win. Simple as that,” Scott said on Showtime’s Inside the NFL, via Conor Orr of the Star-Ledger.
At the surface you’d have to think that Scott’s assessment is correct considering the Jets let general manager Mike Tannenbaum go. One of the glaring personnel mistakes in Mike Tannenbaum’s tenure was the acquistion of quarterback and punt protector Tim Tebow and the ensuing circus.
But a cursory glance at the Jet’s roster would refute Scott’s claim. Sanchez prior to this season was a dependable quarterback that brought them to two AFC Championship games. There is arguably the best corner in the league in Darrelle Revis in New York. Not to mention a quality running back in Shonn Greene, wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes.
Not to mention we all see how a stable of talent has served underachieving teams like the Dallas Cowboys.
Scott has been no stranger to attacking the media either, who he believes wore down the team with such stories as the Tebow/Sanchez quarterback controversy and following Rex Ryan on vacation and taking a picture of a tattoo.
“I didn’t like the personal attacks,” Scott said. “A quick example now is the media following Rex down to the Bahamas. I mean, who does that? . . . I can’t imagine them going out and catching Tom Coughlin laid out. . . . We are in the same town but we are covered differently.”
But despite all the media pressure he maintains that the cause of the lackluster season wasn’t division in the locker room but simply a lack of talent.
“You can ask Tim Tebow. You can ask anybody in there. We were together,” Scott said. “There was never any complaining… guys worked hard. You know what the problem was with the New York Jets this year? We didn’t have enough quality players to win. Simple as that.”
Do you agree with Bart Scott’s assessment? Leave us a comment below and let us know!