'CULTURE' SHOCK

Jets failed Darnold, not the other way around

THERE are the wise and there are the otherwise. In the age of exit velocities, what is the speed of fickle? That didn’t take long. In 2018, Sam Darnold, drafted third overall, arrived here ready to change the Jets’ “culture,” whatever that means. And why not? He was a terrific QB at USC in a conference that produces top NFL QBs. At first, it looked promising for the Jets under Darnold. But now the same media that celebrated his arrival and early days want him out, traded or sold for a small sack of corn in order to prep for the next Darnold, Young Sir Trevor Lawrence of Clemson. So how did it go so bad so fast for Darnold? How did he so suddenly become a bum? How did the same media that heralded his skills discover he’s a bust at 23?

That’s what most media miss or dismiss in football — nothing happens by itself. Or, as Ben Roethlisberger said, “It’s not tennis.”

Darnold received so much help from the Jets’ “culture” that succeeding was not an option. Injuries, including his own, changing coaches, unreliable running backs — big ticket Le’Veon Bell seemed indifferent almost from the moment he arrived — operating behind transient or overrated offensive linemen, a weekly fishing guide to “Catch As Catch Can” wide receivers and a list of tight ends that begins and ends with Chris Herndon, who played in just one game last season.

Pass blocking for Darnold? On thirdand-15 most defenses appear rapid and rabid.

Since Darnold arrived, the Jets annually have been near the top of penalties committed and have been on the wrong side of turnover totals.

Yet, the media tell us it all comes down to Darnold, thus it is tennis. And it’s all his double fault.