Sam lucky to have Josh
SAM Darnold is the luckiest rookie quarterback for reasons that have nothing to do with scheme, playing time or immediate impact to his new team. He’ll have the good fortune of playing in a drama-free environment with quite possibly the most selfless player in the NFL.
Which of the other first-year signal callers can say that? Spoiler: None. Consider the burgeoning frostiness in Pittsburgh, where Ben Roethlisberger has already taken public swipes at the Steelers’ decision to draft Mason Rudolph in the third round. Look at former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco’s apparent aversion to communicate with Ravens first-rounder Lamar Jackson.
Football is family… until you think your job is at stake. Then, it’s dog-eat-dog, passive-aggressive warfare between veterans and rookies. Strap on your big-boy pants, because it’s every man for himself.
The Jets will avoid any awkward and uncomfortable moments in their QB room this year thanks to Josh McCown, who will be an invaluable resource for Darnold.
“Obviously, he’s a great guy,” Darnold said. “I am just going to try and learn as much as I can from him. He’s seen a lot of football, been in a lot of locker rooms, which helps him out in terms of understanding what you need to do and what not to do.… So, just learn from him, (and) gain all the knowledge that I can from him.”
McCown’s importance to Darnold’s development shouldn’t be marginalized. He will be a pivotal component to the rookie’s transition to the next level. It’ll also be an advantage that the former USC star has over the rest of the rookies. Think about it. Josh Allen will have no Yoda in Buffalo. How much can A.J. McCarron, who has four career starts in four seasons, teach the Bills’ top pick?
Tyrod Taylor will be a quality teammate for Baker Mayfield in Cleveland, but if you don’t think that the 28-year-old former Bills starter has designs on reigniting his career with the Browns, I have some swampland in Florida you might be interested in purchasing.
Sam Bradford promised Josh Rosen that he’d be “an open book” in Arizona, but remember this is the same guy who pouted after the Eagles drafted Carson Wentz in 2016.
Then, there’s Roethlisberger, who didn’t hold back his feelings on his team adding Rudolph: “I was surprised when they took a quarterback because I thought that maybe in the third round, you know, you can get some really good football players that can help this team now. Nothing against Mason… I’m sure he’s a great kid. I just don’t know how backing up or being a third (string)… helps us win now.” Ouch. McCown resides on the other end of the spectrum.
“The best thing I can do is look back in five years and Sam Darnold is in the Pro Bowl,” McCown told me after the Jets took Darnold with the No. 3 overall pick. “That would be the most satisfying thing. We’ll see. It’ll be fun.” ooking for a quarterback controversy? Move along. There’s nothing to see here on One Jets Drive.
“The best thing I can do for Sam (is) to give everything I got to the Jets as a player and show him the things that I’ve done that I believe helped me be successful and the things I believe can help him to be ready to go,” said McCown, who will turn 39 this summer. “Coaches will make those decisions on when he’s ready to play and when the time is right. And I’ll support him wholeheartedly. To me, that’s what it’s about.”
I hope Darnold truly realizes how lucky he has it.
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