“ PSLs are a great investment “, words by Commissioner Roger Goodell. “ PSLs are nothing but a legal Ponzi Scheme” words by ex- season ticket holder, Bobber
Was a season ticket holder for 37 years. When I received my great investment opportunity not only was “my great investment $4,000 a seat but the ticket price went up from $85 to $105. After much consideration ( approximately 37 seconds, I said go f**k yourself.
The day that both tenants announced their legal heist of their fans, Giant swindler, John Mara went on NY sports talk radio saying that the PSLs were necessary for the Giants to compete. He gave his reasons player’s salaries, upgraded practice facilities, the whole ball of wax. Kimberly Jones filling in for the Fat Man asked Mara how about the naming rights. Mara said I’m not here to talk about those.
Rumor was that the naming rights for the four gates that let you in the stadium were sold for what was a ten year deal equaling 400 million and that’s not counting naming rights for the stadium.
When Giants Stadium was originally built, Bergen County tax dollars paid for the parking lot. To lure the Giants back then, it was agreed that the Giants would get $1.00 a car for every event that was held at Giant Stadium, soccer games, concerts, Rutgers football then eventually parking for Jet games. So when I paid $5 to park for Jet games when the Jets first moved there,$1 went to the Maras. Maybe that was used for acting lessons for the Maras daughters.
with the PSL bill also came the parking charge $35 a game.
So my county taxes paid for the parking lot and now my reward for 37 years of loyalty was to pay $35 a game.
Also, you were assigned parking lots to park your car, the most expensive PSLs parked in the closer lots.
One more advantage that was advertised in the original PSL Sting was that PSL owners would get first crack on any other event being held in that disaster called a stadium, including concerts. My first thought was, wow, first crack on Springsteen tickets but wait a minute, what happens when the Giant PSL owner of my seat gets his opportunity to buy the same exact seat at the same concert, same day.It took me 20 seconds to figure it out. We sit on each others laps.
The worst part of the PSL rip off, the Jets lost home field advantage. Visiting teams fans bought from season ticket holders, secondary sources and the Jets themselves game tickets. Many Jet games seemed like away games by the crowd noise.
They say Karma is a bitch, the Jets haven’t been in the playoffs since they pushed the GREAT INVESTMENT.
Lastly I want to thank Goodell, Woodhead and Clueless Chris,I stay home to watch the Jets even though I live 15 minutes from the stadium.
My bathroom is about 15 feet from my sofa, no lines. Refrigerator same distance, different direction. Temperature always 68-70, no rain, snow or wind. I don’t have to get up 30 times for the beer drinkers in my row because there is no row. Lastly, car outside parked for free.
for whatever reason i still like going and my parking cots $45. a game and i;m going to all 10 this year and the HOF one to. ALL your points are ride on
Not big, I think 50. I don’t need anything big, no one standing up in front of me, I sit in my corner and enjoy. I miss our tailgater crew and the people who sat around me but I don’t miss them enough to fork over $8,000 to pay for the right to buy a ticket.
I was pretty lucky over the years. When the Titans were in the Polo Grounds, my dad got us in because he worked with the retired cop who ran the show there. There were always seats because it was the beginning of the AFL and the Polo Grounds were a dump. When they became the Jets and moved to Shea Stadium, I was able to get good seats at a decent price because my cousin Tony was the head usher. I also got into a lot of other events gratis and had good seats for the Mets. When they moved to the Meadowlands I was able to go frequently because my nephew had bought season tickets and he saved a seat for me. When the entire MetLife/PSL garbage started he was like " This is a bullshit Ponzi scheme and I'm not going to do it !" He works in the financial industry and is very big in mergers & acquisitions and is the smartest person I have ever met, so I didn't doubt him at all. After that, he went to important games by getting tickets through one of his college classmates. Presently, he's the CFO of a financial operation and they had bought a block of tickets through the PSL nonsense and he goes regularly and I get to about half the home games. It's a long way from the Polo Grounds to MetLife, but the PSL garbage has cheapened the atmosphere, not to mention tickets that get sold to fans of our opponents.
David, I'm honored you chose my question to answer and appreciate your response. I think Woody Johnson wants to own the NFL's most glamorous franchise. The only two elements missing have been on field success and a NYC address. One can feed into the other, at least in my dream scenario where Rodgers makes the NYJ a premire franchise which leads Johnson to seek an appropriate home. My choice would be Aqueduct racetrack which will soon be available. It's a larger site than MetLife and is already connected to public transportation, with a casino on site. There's also land adjacent to Citi Field that would also work nicely. MetLife is ugly, too big and lacks character. And it's not ours. NFL stadiums can be properly scaled to enhance the fan experience and the Jets can lead the way. If Woody gave us a proper stadium he would become beloved.
I agree with your last statement that if "Woody gave us a proper stadium he would become beloved." but I don't believe that wlil ever happen. He had his shot at that and failed miserably. I don't see him leaving the Meadowland and probably having to pay a fortune to leave, and then building the stadium himself. I don't think NY State or NYC would give him a dime, even if they could afford to, and they can't. Lastly, imo adjacent to Citi Field is the worst possible place that they could build the stadium. Not only would it probably be more expensive than anywhere else in the outer boroughs, but unless it has improved markedly since I left NYC in early 2002, the 7 train is a piece of crap and the traffic on the roadways around there is always horrible, particularly on Sundays. There are tons of fans from NJ and CT who probably wouldn't even think about trying to drive to games.
chippin' in late on this one (Bobber, if ever there were a statement as to why not PSL's, yours is def in the top 5) - on the dream of a potential new stadium in NY in the areas mentioned above, I've always thought that the Seattle Seahawks stadium is just an outstanding design.
And the reason they have the (in)famous "12th Man" and are known for being the loudest venue in the game? Those eaves, besides being a beautiful architectural design, also bounce back the crowd crescendo back onto the field.
I mean, just imagine how cool that would be for the players, to feel that roaring juice of fan support just wash over them like a douse in a waterfall?? Then, all we'd need is for our homerun hitter Breece to rip long TDs out like BeastMo did back in the Hawks/Saints playoff game some years back (best damned run I've ever seen, and the crowd going wild while Lynch was galloping around and over Saints players... just da Best!)
Good afternoon guys! Yes once again I’m the last one to the party! 😂Turning 71 Saturday and the never ending doctor visits that accompany this are taking up more time than my golf ⛳️games and pub🍺visits😂 I want to thank David and everyone who commented here today for echoing my exact sentiments on this topic. Like Bobber I told them where to stick their PSL’s and never looked back! They wanted $10,000 per for my 2 seats in section 114 in the old stadium! You had two of the leagues wealthiest owner’s who had more than enough to write a 1.5 billion check for that stainless steel mausoleum!
What is included in this profit/loss calculation - seat revenue only or any other revenues. I doubt that the Jets loss money on game day when you add parking, concessions and merchandise into the equation. End of the day, Woody has enough coin and even if they were losing money on game day I’m sure he (and TV revenue) can cover it.
Here is my tale of woe on PSLs. I stood at Shea stadium paying $5.00 to watch Jow Namth play. I met someone at work that had season tickets since the inception. My name was on the list to get seasons. When we moved to Giants Stadiumm - the person didnt want to drive over the river to go any longer. She signed them over to me. Now being a season ticket hoder since 1984 i was 'rewarded' with PSL charges in the new stadium - depending where you sit was the cost. At that time in jet history Rex had us going to the Superbowl. I for one didnt not want to give up my season tickets thinking we are on our way. So I paid $4000 a seat for the dumb 'investment' to sit in the corner end zone. People siting right across the aisle were paying $7500. Also was a whole different atmosphere as the clientel changed.
My section was one they chose not have PSLs any longer but we get extra perks (minor in nature like training camp tickets). I have since upgraded my seats. I used what i invested in the PSLs to move closer to the 50. Do I like the charges NO, Do i think its right NO. However from standing at Shea i didnt want to give up going to 'live' football games that i enjoy going to - even though we have to sit with 1000's of Bills fans for example. Bottom line if anyone in todays NFL wants to attend a game it is expensive and they have you right by the, pardon my french, the nuts in a males case.
Rich, absolutely! It marked the end of my 30 plus years as a season ticket holder! Never looked back. As a member of Old Time Jets Guys you know how passionate I am about our Jets! For me to walk away was no small thing!
I just don't understand how teams get away with it. As I outlined with the prices for season tickets in this country, it's night and day. Sport is supposed to be accessible
One more fact about the new stadium row 8 in the upper deck is the same height as the last row in Giant Stadium. Those luxury suites take up a lot of space
It’s the same way people are ok paying the exorbitant ticket prices, insane parking fees, $14 beers, $8 hotdogs and in and in. I guess people are making so much money these days they simple Don care. Hey, I had a nice career teaching high school social studies, coaching football, basketball and baseball. Retired with a 6 figure income and then worked in sales and finance which also paid well. I worked hard for what I have and I just can’t justify spending stupid money on extravagant value less things like PSL’s! I’m 100% with Bobber on this topic. I respect everyone’s opinion and willingness to go along with these things so I hope I’m not coming off as critical. That’s not my intention.
My dad and I first got season tickets in 1995 up in the nosebleed 300-level seats, so we were almost last in the priority list for choosing seats at the new stadium. Of course by then all the non-PSL seats were swept up, even the equivalent of our original seats. We wanted to keep going to games together, so we bought the least expensive PSL still available.
I wish we didn't have to make that choice, but I also have a ton of memories going to games with my dad that I wouldn't give up for anything. I get people being annoyed that anyone bought into the PSLs at all (and I remember some of that nastiness in particular from the early games at MetLife), but hell: we were annoyed at the lifers too who took up all the non-PSL seats in the first place. It's all dumb, and I can't wait for this all to repeat itself in X number of years.
Regarding PFF's list of the tope Edges and JFM being the only Jet Edge ranked in the top 32, imo that's hardly surprising, and doesn't bother me. To begin with, I view any and all of PFF's evaluations and grades with extreme skepticism, and I don't value them at all. Secondly, with the Jets' rotation of DL, it could be difficult for any of the Edges to make it, as it's hard to get into the flow of the action when you're only the field for a snap here and there. I also don't know if the Edges had to play a minimum number of snaps to qualify, and that would omit players like Huff. Third, with Lawson coming off his torn achilles injury last season, it's not surprising that he didn't make the list.
Ranking Schmitz two spots ahead of Tippman is typical of PFF's flawed analysis. Tippman was the consensus best Center in college football last season, or at least the best in the draft. So in what world would it make sense to rate Schmitz over Tippman? That's PFF's bizarro-world, screwy way of looking at things.
I love that we're changing (hopefully) from all the motion that the LaFleurs use. I understand how it can help, but I think it also hurts in that it adds another thing to think about, another layer off complexity for the QB, and will slow down his decision making. It may help the QB make better decisions, but not quicker ones imo. Maybe I'm ignorant on this point, but it seems like unless a QB grossly misreads the D, that proper execution would still enable the play to succeed. I remember the great GB Packer teams of Lombardi. Everyone on the D knew what was coming, yet the Packers succeeded most of the time and won. They out executed the other team. I don't think they had a huge playbook. If they did, they didn't use it very often. It was sweep left or sweep right, Taylor up the gut, occasional passes to the WRs, and less frequently to the TEs and RBs, although I don't remember a lot of passes from Starr to Hornung or Taylor. If Rodgers doesn't like all the motion, that's good enough for me, but I think perhaps that is one of the things that confused and slowed down Zach in reading Ds, and I think it's quite possible that taking that away will benefit him, perhaps a lot.
Great information on PSLs. I never knew how/when they started, and was surprised to learn (but perhaps I knew and just forgot because I'm not an NBA fan) that it started with the Charlotte Hornets. What a joke on those poor fans who shelled out all that cash. The Hornets were awful, I think the worst team in the league or one of the worst 2-3 teams, and were in the draft lottery every year, and got screwed every year, never once getting the top pick. Then they packed up and moved to New Orleans just as they were starting to get good and added a great player.
I never understood season ticket holders and fans accepting PSLs. On the Jets fan sites where I read and posted, I recall many fans being very unhappy with the PSLs. Many had had season tickets since the team was founded, and they were forced to give them up because they either couldn't afford the PSLs or refused to pay the exorbitant costs. Many of the "blue collar" type fans felt like they were being forced out for corporate (white collar) types, and were very resentful. I think that's perhaps where a lot of the negativity and cynicism has arisen among Jets fans. It's bad enough that they have sucked for most of their history and been an embarrassment, but to then have to shells out thousands of dollars for the privilege of owning season tickets to watch the wretched play on the field is beyond the pale. Then to add insult to injury, season ticket and ticket prices have gotten absurd as well as parking and concessions.
The very idea that PSLs would be a reward to fans is laughable. I don't buy for one minute that Muleman thought that was a way of thanking fans. I think he lied through his teeth and laughed at fans who bought it. How is being forced to pay thousands or worse, tens of thousands for the privilege of buying season tickets thanking the fans. That sounds like Communist-type doublespeak trying to brainwash the ignorant masses.
The problem is the NFL has football fans over a barrel. The NFL knows that fans aren't going to band together and say no to PSLs, absurdly high ticket, parking, concession, jerseys and team memorabilia costs. If the fans would stick together and act as one, they could bring the NFL to its knees, but they'll never do that. There are always those who will shell out the money, and although my understanding is that the waiting list for Jets' season tickets is much smaller than it used to be, there is still a waiting list.
I find it interesting that NFL teams are losing money due to not selling every ticket. Maybe if those losses get big enough, owners and the NFL will get the message, but I doubt that either happens. What is surprising to me is that the Bills lost money when they have had a great team for years and have a great QB, and the Packers lost the most money of any team. They had Rodgers, and perhaps the most loyal fanbase in the NFL. When fans own the team, it's hard for me to envision how they could lose money because people weren't buying tickets, but perhaps hangover from Covid is causing that.
I'm glad to hear that even as rabid as soccer (futbol) fans are around the world, they aren't paying PSLs. I guess it's just American owners that are so greedy and American fans that are so hooked that they'd do almost anything to support their team.
In terms of the Jets moving back to NYC or NY state, I don't see it happening. For one thing, I doubt the Giants would be willing to hold that lease by themselves and they'd probably sue the Jets. Woody had his chance for the Jets to have their own stadium and to have one in NYC, but he screwed the pooch. He didn't do his homework, didn't grease the necessary palms, and didn't have a plan B if the West Side Stadium failed to be approved. Now that site, I believe, is gone. Probably the best alternate site, the racetrack in Yonkers up in Westchester Co. is gone, and there's no feasible spot in or around NYC to build. Even if there were, neither NY State nor NYC is going to pay for the stadium or even help pay for the stadium. Woody isn't going to pay for it by himself, but even if he did, you can bet your bottom dollar that he'd start all over with PSLs again to help pay for the stadium, but they'd be exponentially more expensive. Rather than $25k being the top price, it would probably be something more like $75k, or maybe even $100k.
The basic problem is that football is just too popular. The NFL banks on that. If it wasn't so popular, there would be no PSLs, season tickets, per game tickets, concessions, parking, memorabilia would all be cheaper, and the players wouldn't be making such obscene amounts of money.
“ PSLs are a great investment “, words by Commissioner Roger Goodell. “ PSLs are nothing but a legal Ponzi Scheme” words by ex- season ticket holder, Bobber
Was a season ticket holder for 37 years. When I received my great investment opportunity not only was “my great investment $4,000 a seat but the ticket price went up from $85 to $105. After much consideration ( approximately 37 seconds, I said go f**k yourself.
The day that both tenants announced their legal heist of their fans, Giant swindler, John Mara went on NY sports talk radio saying that the PSLs were necessary for the Giants to compete. He gave his reasons player’s salaries, upgraded practice facilities, the whole ball of wax. Kimberly Jones filling in for the Fat Man asked Mara how about the naming rights. Mara said I’m not here to talk about those.
Rumor was that the naming rights for the four gates that let you in the stadium were sold for what was a ten year deal equaling 400 million and that’s not counting naming rights for the stadium.
When Giants Stadium was originally built, Bergen County tax dollars paid for the parking lot. To lure the Giants back then, it was agreed that the Giants would get $1.00 a car for every event that was held at Giant Stadium, soccer games, concerts, Rutgers football then eventually parking for Jet games. So when I paid $5 to park for Jet games when the Jets first moved there,$1 went to the Maras. Maybe that was used for acting lessons for the Maras daughters.
with the PSL bill also came the parking charge $35 a game.
So my county taxes paid for the parking lot and now my reward for 37 years of loyalty was to pay $35 a game.
Also, you were assigned parking lots to park your car, the most expensive PSLs parked in the closer lots.
One more advantage that was advertised in the original PSL Sting was that PSL owners would get first crack on any other event being held in that disaster called a stadium, including concerts. My first thought was, wow, first crack on Springsteen tickets but wait a minute, what happens when the Giant PSL owner of my seat gets his opportunity to buy the same exact seat at the same concert, same day.It took me 20 seconds to figure it out. We sit on each others laps.
The worst part of the PSL rip off, the Jets lost home field advantage. Visiting teams fans bought from season ticket holders, secondary sources and the Jets themselves game tickets. Many Jet games seemed like away games by the crowd noise.
They say Karma is a bitch, the Jets haven’t been in the playoffs since they pushed the GREAT INVESTMENT.
Lastly I want to thank Goodell, Woodhead and Clueless Chris,I stay home to watch the Jets even though I live 15 minutes from the stadium.
My bathroom is about 15 feet from my sofa, no lines. Refrigerator same distance, different direction. Temperature always 68-70, no rain, snow or wind. I don’t have to get up 30 times for the beer drinkers in my row because there is no row. Lastly, car outside parked for free.
for whatever reason i still like going and my parking cots $45. a game and i;m going to all 10 this year and the HOF one to. ALL your points are ride on
Great post, Bobber! Kudos to you for telling the Jets to stick it! I would have done the exact same thing.
What size is your tv?
Not big, I think 50. I don’t need anything big, no one standing up in front of me, I sit in my corner and enjoy. I miss our tailgater crew and the people who sat around me but I don’t miss them enough to fork over $8,000 to pay for the right to buy a ticket.
I was pretty lucky over the years. When the Titans were in the Polo Grounds, my dad got us in because he worked with the retired cop who ran the show there. There were always seats because it was the beginning of the AFL and the Polo Grounds were a dump. When they became the Jets and moved to Shea Stadium, I was able to get good seats at a decent price because my cousin Tony was the head usher. I also got into a lot of other events gratis and had good seats for the Mets. When they moved to the Meadowlands I was able to go frequently because my nephew had bought season tickets and he saved a seat for me. When the entire MetLife/PSL garbage started he was like " This is a bullshit Ponzi scheme and I'm not going to do it !" He works in the financial industry and is very big in mergers & acquisitions and is the smartest person I have ever met, so I didn't doubt him at all. After that, he went to important games by getting tickets through one of his college classmates. Presently, he's the CFO of a financial operation and they had bought a block of tickets through the PSL nonsense and he goes regularly and I get to about half the home games. It's a long way from the Polo Grounds to MetLife, but the PSL garbage has cheapened the atmosphere, not to mention tickets that get sold to fans of our opponents.
David, I'm honored you chose my question to answer and appreciate your response. I think Woody Johnson wants to own the NFL's most glamorous franchise. The only two elements missing have been on field success and a NYC address. One can feed into the other, at least in my dream scenario where Rodgers makes the NYJ a premire franchise which leads Johnson to seek an appropriate home. My choice would be Aqueduct racetrack which will soon be available. It's a larger site than MetLife and is already connected to public transportation, with a casino on site. There's also land adjacent to Citi Field that would also work nicely. MetLife is ugly, too big and lacks character. And it's not ours. NFL stadiums can be properly scaled to enhance the fan experience and the Jets can lead the way. If Woody gave us a proper stadium he would become beloved.
I agree with your last statement that if "Woody gave us a proper stadium he would become beloved." but I don't believe that wlil ever happen. He had his shot at that and failed miserably. I don't see him leaving the Meadowland and probably having to pay a fortune to leave, and then building the stadium himself. I don't think NY State or NYC would give him a dime, even if they could afford to, and they can't. Lastly, imo adjacent to Citi Field is the worst possible place that they could build the stadium. Not only would it probably be more expensive than anywhere else in the outer boroughs, but unless it has improved markedly since I left NYC in early 2002, the 7 train is a piece of crap and the traffic on the roadways around there is always horrible, particularly on Sundays. There are tons of fans from NJ and CT who probably wouldn't even think about trying to drive to games.
hey all!
chippin' in late on this one (Bobber, if ever there were a statement as to why not PSL's, yours is def in the top 5) - on the dream of a potential new stadium in NY in the areas mentioned above, I've always thought that the Seattle Seahawks stadium is just an outstanding design.
And the reason they have the (in)famous "12th Man" and are known for being the loudest venue in the game? Those eaves, besides being a beautiful architectural design, also bounce back the crowd crescendo back onto the field.
I mean, just imagine how cool that would be for the players, to feel that roaring juice of fan support just wash over them like a douse in a waterfall?? Then, all we'd need is for our homerun hitter Breece to rip long TDs out like BeastMo did back in the Hawks/Saints playoff game some years back (best damned run I've ever seen, and the crowd going wild while Lynch was galloping around and over Saints players... just da Best!)
CGVet58
Good afternoon guys! Yes once again I’m the last one to the party! 😂Turning 71 Saturday and the never ending doctor visits that accompany this are taking up more time than my golf ⛳️games and pub🍺visits😂 I want to thank David and everyone who commented here today for echoing my exact sentiments on this topic. Like Bobber I told them where to stick their PSL’s and never looked back! They wanted $10,000 per for my 2 seats in section 114 in the old stadium! You had two of the leagues wealthiest owner’s who had more than enough to write a 1.5 billion check for that stainless steel mausoleum!
What is included in this profit/loss calculation - seat revenue only or any other revenues. I doubt that the Jets loss money on game day when you add parking, concessions and merchandise into the equation. End of the day, Woody has enough coin and even if they were losing money on game day I’m sure he (and TV revenue) can cover it.
Here is my tale of woe on PSLs. I stood at Shea stadium paying $5.00 to watch Jow Namth play. I met someone at work that had season tickets since the inception. My name was on the list to get seasons. When we moved to Giants Stadiumm - the person didnt want to drive over the river to go any longer. She signed them over to me. Now being a season ticket hoder since 1984 i was 'rewarded' with PSL charges in the new stadium - depending where you sit was the cost. At that time in jet history Rex had us going to the Superbowl. I for one didnt not want to give up my season tickets thinking we are on our way. So I paid $4000 a seat for the dumb 'investment' to sit in the corner end zone. People siting right across the aisle were paying $7500. Also was a whole different atmosphere as the clientel changed.
My section was one they chose not have PSLs any longer but we get extra perks (minor in nature like training camp tickets). I have since upgraded my seats. I used what i invested in the PSLs to move closer to the 50. Do I like the charges NO, Do i think its right NO. However from standing at Shea i didnt want to give up going to 'live' football games that i enjoy going to - even though we have to sit with 1000's of Bills fans for example. Bottom line if anyone in todays NFL wants to attend a game it is expensive and they have you right by the, pardon my french, the nuts in a males case.
PSL's are just ridiculous. Charging fans thousands of dollars for the right to buy tickets almost sounds like it should be illegal.
Rich, absolutely! It marked the end of my 30 plus years as a season ticket holder! Never looked back. As a member of Old Time Jets Guys you know how passionate I am about our Jets! For me to walk away was no small thing!
I just don't understand how teams get away with it. As I outlined with the prices for season tickets in this country, it's night and day. Sport is supposed to be accessible
One more fact about the new stadium row 8 in the upper deck is the same height as the last row in Giant Stadium. Those luxury suites take up a lot of space
It’s the same way people are ok paying the exorbitant ticket prices, insane parking fees, $14 beers, $8 hotdogs and in and in. I guess people are making so much money these days they simple Don care. Hey, I had a nice career teaching high school social studies, coaching football, basketball and baseball. Retired with a 6 figure income and then worked in sales and finance which also paid well. I worked hard for what I have and I just can’t justify spending stupid money on extravagant value less things like PSL’s! I’m 100% with Bobber on this topic. I respect everyone’s opinion and willingness to go along with these things so I hope I’m not coming off as critical. That’s not my intention.
My dad and I first got season tickets in 1995 up in the nosebleed 300-level seats, so we were almost last in the priority list for choosing seats at the new stadium. Of course by then all the non-PSL seats were swept up, even the equivalent of our original seats. We wanted to keep going to games together, so we bought the least expensive PSL still available.
I wish we didn't have to make that choice, but I also have a ton of memories going to games with my dad that I wouldn't give up for anything. I get people being annoyed that anyone bought into the PSLs at all (and I remember some of that nastiness in particular from the early games at MetLife), but hell: we were annoyed at the lifers too who took up all the non-PSL seats in the first place. It's all dumb, and I can't wait for this all to repeat itself in X number of years.
Interesting newsletter today, David.
Regarding PFF's list of the tope Edges and JFM being the only Jet Edge ranked in the top 32, imo that's hardly surprising, and doesn't bother me. To begin with, I view any and all of PFF's evaluations and grades with extreme skepticism, and I don't value them at all. Secondly, with the Jets' rotation of DL, it could be difficult for any of the Edges to make it, as it's hard to get into the flow of the action when you're only the field for a snap here and there. I also don't know if the Edges had to play a minimum number of snaps to qualify, and that would omit players like Huff. Third, with Lawson coming off his torn achilles injury last season, it's not surprising that he didn't make the list.
Ranking Schmitz two spots ahead of Tippman is typical of PFF's flawed analysis. Tippman was the consensus best Center in college football last season, or at least the best in the draft. So in what world would it make sense to rate Schmitz over Tippman? That's PFF's bizarro-world, screwy way of looking at things.
I love that we're changing (hopefully) from all the motion that the LaFleurs use. I understand how it can help, but I think it also hurts in that it adds another thing to think about, another layer off complexity for the QB, and will slow down his decision making. It may help the QB make better decisions, but not quicker ones imo. Maybe I'm ignorant on this point, but it seems like unless a QB grossly misreads the D, that proper execution would still enable the play to succeed. I remember the great GB Packer teams of Lombardi. Everyone on the D knew what was coming, yet the Packers succeeded most of the time and won. They out executed the other team. I don't think they had a huge playbook. If they did, they didn't use it very often. It was sweep left or sweep right, Taylor up the gut, occasional passes to the WRs, and less frequently to the TEs and RBs, although I don't remember a lot of passes from Starr to Hornung or Taylor. If Rodgers doesn't like all the motion, that's good enough for me, but I think perhaps that is one of the things that confused and slowed down Zach in reading Ds, and I think it's quite possible that taking that away will benefit him, perhaps a lot.
Great information on PSLs. I never knew how/when they started, and was surprised to learn (but perhaps I knew and just forgot because I'm not an NBA fan) that it started with the Charlotte Hornets. What a joke on those poor fans who shelled out all that cash. The Hornets were awful, I think the worst team in the league or one of the worst 2-3 teams, and were in the draft lottery every year, and got screwed every year, never once getting the top pick. Then they packed up and moved to New Orleans just as they were starting to get good and added a great player.
I never understood season ticket holders and fans accepting PSLs. On the Jets fan sites where I read and posted, I recall many fans being very unhappy with the PSLs. Many had had season tickets since the team was founded, and they were forced to give them up because they either couldn't afford the PSLs or refused to pay the exorbitant costs. Many of the "blue collar" type fans felt like they were being forced out for corporate (white collar) types, and were very resentful. I think that's perhaps where a lot of the negativity and cynicism has arisen among Jets fans. It's bad enough that they have sucked for most of their history and been an embarrassment, but to then have to shells out thousands of dollars for the privilege of owning season tickets to watch the wretched play on the field is beyond the pale. Then to add insult to injury, season ticket and ticket prices have gotten absurd as well as parking and concessions.
The very idea that PSLs would be a reward to fans is laughable. I don't buy for one minute that Muleman thought that was a way of thanking fans. I think he lied through his teeth and laughed at fans who bought it. How is being forced to pay thousands or worse, tens of thousands for the privilege of buying season tickets thanking the fans. That sounds like Communist-type doublespeak trying to brainwash the ignorant masses.
The problem is the NFL has football fans over a barrel. The NFL knows that fans aren't going to band together and say no to PSLs, absurdly high ticket, parking, concession, jerseys and team memorabilia costs. If the fans would stick together and act as one, they could bring the NFL to its knees, but they'll never do that. There are always those who will shell out the money, and although my understanding is that the waiting list for Jets' season tickets is much smaller than it used to be, there is still a waiting list.
I find it interesting that NFL teams are losing money due to not selling every ticket. Maybe if those losses get big enough, owners and the NFL will get the message, but I doubt that either happens. What is surprising to me is that the Bills lost money when they have had a great team for years and have a great QB, and the Packers lost the most money of any team. They had Rodgers, and perhaps the most loyal fanbase in the NFL. When fans own the team, it's hard for me to envision how they could lose money because people weren't buying tickets, but perhaps hangover from Covid is causing that.
I'm glad to hear that even as rabid as soccer (futbol) fans are around the world, they aren't paying PSLs. I guess it's just American owners that are so greedy and American fans that are so hooked that they'd do almost anything to support their team.
In terms of the Jets moving back to NYC or NY state, I don't see it happening. For one thing, I doubt the Giants would be willing to hold that lease by themselves and they'd probably sue the Jets. Woody had his chance for the Jets to have their own stadium and to have one in NYC, but he screwed the pooch. He didn't do his homework, didn't grease the necessary palms, and didn't have a plan B if the West Side Stadium failed to be approved. Now that site, I believe, is gone. Probably the best alternate site, the racetrack in Yonkers up in Westchester Co. is gone, and there's no feasible spot in or around NYC to build. Even if there were, neither NY State nor NYC is going to pay for the stadium or even help pay for the stadium. Woody isn't going to pay for it by himself, but even if he did, you can bet your bottom dollar that he'd start all over with PSLs again to help pay for the stadium, but they'd be exponentially more expensive. Rather than $25k being the top price, it would probably be something more like $75k, or maybe even $100k.
The basic problem is that football is just too popular. The NFL banks on that. If it wasn't so popular, there would be no PSLs, season tickets, per game tickets, concessions, parking, memorabilia would all be cheaper, and the players wouldn't be making such obscene amounts of money.