Jets No Strangers to Quarterback Controversy

Jets No Strangers to Quarterback Controversy

With the Jets limping out to a disappointing 1-6 record, the cries have been rising for Eric Mangini to replace Chad Pennington at Quarterback. The possibility of starting Kellen Clemens has given rise to the dreaded “quarterback controversy.” However there is more than one kind of quarterback controversy, as the Jets have proven in the past.  

Joe Namath was the pioneer of Jets quarterback controversy when he guaranteed victory in the 1969 Super Bowl. Fortunately he made good on his promise, but whether it was his swinging bar Bachelors III, his penchant for celebrity night life or his panty hose commercial, “Broadway Joe” remained a lightning rod for controversy throughout his career.   

Richard Todd was chosen to fill Namath’s white shoes, and while he couldn’t put up Namath-type numbers on the field, he managed to participate in a little New York controversy of his own. Todd gained his share of infamy when he stuffed Steve Serby, a reporter for the New York Post, into a locker during an argument in the New York Jets locker room in 1981.   

In 1983, Ken O’Brien was drafted to take over the position. Here the quarterback controversy was with a quarterback on another team. O’Brien was drafted by the Jets in the first round, a pretty good get considering the Jets were stuck with the 24th out of 28 picks. While O’Brien went on to post some impressive numbers in his career, the apparent wisdom of this choice begins to seem dubious when one looks further down the draft chart to note the Miami Dolphins pick at number 27, all-time passing legend Dan Marino.  

In the ‘90s, the Jets starting QB slot was adopted by a succession of quarterbacks who by most accounts were past their prime, mixed in with a few whose prime would never come; Browning Nagle, Boomer Esaiason, Neil O’Donnell, Glenn Foley, Vinny Testaverde, Rick Mirer, Ray Lucas.  

Finally in 2002, one of the more recent quarterback controversies reached fruition when Chad Pennington, a first round draft pick in 2000, was chosen to take over for Testaverde after Jets posted a 1-4 record in their first five games. The move proved to be the correct one, as Pennington led the Jets to a 9-7 record and a spot in the playoffs.  

Today, with the Jets struggling, controversy has reared its ugly head again. Although Mangini would like to stick with Pennington, the call for blood may be too strong if the season continues the way it has started. Before replacing Pennington though, the Jets front office should think very long about just how hard dependable, non-controversial quarterbacks are to come by. 

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