The Jets are 1-6. Their playoff hopes are darker than the lighting in the “Blair Witch Project.” And, not including the struggling 2-5 Cardinals, whom the Jets play Sunday at Giants Stadium, the combined record of their final eight opponents is 41-17.
Other than that, this 1999 season of such promise is moving along swimmingly.
In his first official move after a three-day bye-week hiatus for the players, Bill Parcells announced yesterday that Rick Mirer will be the starting quarterback du jour against the Cardinals.
Translation: Ray Lucas’ left ankle isn’t sufficiently healed enough for him to do what he’ll need to do to start and be successful against Arizona.
“I’m going to start Mirer,” Parcells said. “I watched practice last week and I don’t think Ray could have played [last] Sunday. Based on what I saw last week there won’t be any choice in the matter.”
Lucas, as badly as he wants to play, wasn’t arguing with Parcells’ decision. He was, in fact, rather frank about the way he performed last week.
“I was erratic last week,” Lucas said. “Basically every one of [my passes] could have went from killing worms to knocking down birds last week. I’m just trying to get in there and get my rhythm back and get this thing ready to go.
“It’s hard when you can’t turn and put your weight on your front foot. Being mobile is definitely part of my game. I think that’s why [Parcells] likes me in there, because I can get out of certain situations. You take away part of somebody’s game, it’s going to be less than what it was when you had everything to go to. Rick is the starter and that’s the way it is. I just do what I’m told. I have to support Rick.”
So, too, does Parcells, though his patience is wearing thin as the Jets continue to score just enough points to lose close games.
“We have to score more points or we’re not going to win any games,” Parcells said flatly. “That’s what it all comes down to. I don’t know that I can relate all that to Rick. But we do need to throw better and be more efficient passing the ball.”
Mirer, who’s started five games, has thrown just four TD passes and has nine INTs. Think about what a difference that is in the Jets’ offense from last year to now. Vinny Testaverde threw 29 TD passes in 13 starts last season.
Mirer’s efficiency rating of 55.4, which is right around his career number, is worse than three rookie quarterbacks playing on horrible teams – Cleveland’s Tim Couch (72.3), Cincinnati’s Akili Smith (55.6) and Chicago’s Cade McNown (63.1).
First-year starters such as Seattle’s Jon Kitna (94.8), Denver’s Brian Griese (81.0), St. Louis’ Kurt Warner (125.9), Chicago’s Shane Matthews (82.8), San Francisco’s Jeff Garcia (64.5) and Philadelphia’s Doug Pederson (60.3) are all rated higher than Mirer.
Asked if it might be time to roll the dice and take more chances with Mirer, Parcells said, “You can turn yourself from being competitive to not being competitive if you do that too frequently. You might go from having a chance to win the games to not having a chance.”
Parcells pointed out that Mirer has a full arsenal of players to throw to – essentially the same group Testaverde threw to a year ago.
“Two of these guys [Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet] were 1,000-yard receivers last year,” Parcells said. “I’ve got to think if we can be a little more efficient they’re going to produce at a pretty good level. It’s not like all of sudden they fell off a cliff. They’ve shown the ability to do that.” *As word got out about the death of Walter Payton, some Jets mourned his loss.
“I idolized him growing up,” said Jets’ LB Bryan Cox, who got to know Payton when he played with the Bears. “But I really got to respect him as a person off the field. He was playful. He would always joke around. He always had that signature smile. I never saw him mad or upset. He always had a word of encouragement for everyone. He had the personality to make people feel good.”
Parcells, who said he only coached against Payton a couple times, said, “I do appreciate guys like him.” *The Jets released CB project Derek Stingley, who was signed just last week. They re-signed FB Jermaine Wiggins to the practice squad to fill the spot. … It looks like FS Steve Atwater’s right hamstring injury is continuing to nag him. Parcells said he’ll probably list him as questionable for Sunday’s game. If Atwater can’t go for a third consecutive game, Omar Stoutmire would start in his place again.
Lucas laughed at and scoffed at a published report yesterday that said he was told he’d be the starter as soon as he was deemed healthy. “I don’t know who told you that, but if the man upstairs [Parcells] doesn’t say it it’s all bullcrap,” Lucas said. “I don’t believe anything anybody tells me unless he comes down himself and says, ‘Listen, this is what’s going on,’ which he hasn’t done. I know he’s just waiting to see how I do.”