It was for the best

Being on the outside looking into the playoffs hurts after you have been there two years in a row but I view it as a teaching moment. When a team loses it makes them think and look at the problems and why they lost. If the team did get into the playoff tournament would any of the these discussions about the coaching staff be in the mind of team officials? The answer is no, it would be simply viewed as "Hey we got into the playoffs, we're doing good". We as fans see the team has issues that haven't been addressed (cough) pass rush (cough) but the front office doesn't or just prefers to ignore it. Since playoffs are not there for the team this year the front office can't sweep it under a rug this time.

Obviously the two biggest questions is; Who is more to blame Schottenheimer or Sanchez? Let me start off by saying that I am neither a hater or believer in Sanchez. I view Sanchez as a average QB and will continue to until I see otherwise. However, Schottenheimer's track record with offenses and QBs is poor which leads to the conclusion that he (along the possibility of the QB coach) should be axed before looking for a replacement for Sanchez. The worst thing that can happen is that we dump Sanchez before Schottenheimer and Sanchez becomes a star on another team. If people are skeptical about changing the teacher over the student all one has to look at is the 49ers who a season ago were 6-8 and now 10-2 with the second seed in the NFC playoffs. Before the season began it was said the 49ers were going to be one of the worst teams in the NFC. All this with a QB who many considered to be a draft bust up until this season. During various points of the season the "Sanchez draft bust" talk was raised. It wouldn't be fair to the fans nor would it be fair to Sanchez if the team did not at least give the guy one more year under a different staff, if he still can't cut it then I support moving on from Sanchez.

With that being said I don't want to "Favre" it again with Peyton Manning or any other veteran QB. This type of move at QB just screams as a desperation move and never works out well. This is the equivalent to the "...we need just one more piece to get over the hump" in baseball. I respect Manning for all he has done for the Colts and all but I don't want to waste draft picks and cap space for someone who may be on the down slide of his great career. I also don't believe in wasting a pick on a QB in the upcoming draft either (there are much more concerning needs), we drafted Greg McElory last season and I believe if Sanchez isn't the guy then McElory should be given a shot to perhaps lead the Green Tide.

I like Rex, he for all his faults has at least made the team relevant in both the national and local picture, in which the Jets along with the Mets are held to a different standard by the media propaganda houses as opposed to the Giants and Yankees. Rex shouldn't have picked team captains, it should've been left to the player voting. With the exception of Scott and L.T. there is no leader which a football team needs. Perhaps Rex wanted to try something new in appointing team captains but it failed and I hope he realizes this. I like the fact that he won't back down from talking since he doesn't care what the media thinks but eventually fans will tune him out if they aren't already but of course his talking is low on the totem pole compared to other issues this team has.

This season should've been the wake up call for the front office to fix issues that have been glaring throughout this season and last. Sweeping them under the rug is no longer viable for the team nor the fans.