Jets taking Dalvin Cook leap makes anything but Super Bowl win a failure

Properly, it’s not just like the Jets are being delicate about any of this. There isn’t a ambiguity hooked up in any respect to what they’re doing, and what they aspire to, and the place they want to go. No half-measures now. No harmless climb. No hedged bets.

The Jets are all-in. Interval. Finish of story. Finish of argument. They reached a deal with Dalvin Cook on Monday, including a couple of additional watts of star energy — and various additional dollops of controversy — to what’s already a fascinatingly flamable — or is that combustibly fascinating? — assemblage of a roster.

Prepare dinner brings 4 straight 1,000-yard dashing seasons with him from Minnesota to New York. He additionally lugs dueling clouds of alleged domestic abuse charges and the alleged offer of $1 million to his accuser to maintain the matter quiet. This isn’t a slip-him-in-through-the-side-door transaction. He’s an enormous expertise, undoubtedly; time will inform if he’s additionally confirmed to be massive hassle. The Jets now personal all of that.

They usually now additionally personal precisely one chosen pathway the place this could all appear even remotely value all of it: They should win the Tremendous Bowl.

It’s absurd, after all. And unprecedented. Consider the best groups of the Tremendous Bowl period, any of them: the Steelers dynasty, the Niners dynasty, the Patriots dynasty, the ’72 Dolphins and the ’85 Bears and the ’86 Giants. All of these groups certainly spent their summer season believing they have been ok to win a championship. Did any of them actually break camp realizing they’d no different option to do it or else undergo calamitous consequence? In fact not.

With the Jets, there isn’t any different selection.

With the Jets, there’s now not any room for a stable 10-7 season adopted by a feisty wild-card recreation loss. There isn’t a longer any room for a 12-5 cruise that ends with a hard-fought loss at Arrowhead Stadium within the AFC Championship recreation. Hell, there’s not even room for a 14-3 dream trip that culminates with a bruising Tremendous Bowl loss to the Eagles.

It’s a title or bust. For higher or for worse.

And naturally all-in is completely different, a lot completely different, than shoo-in. Loads can occur to a crew anyway between September and February in a sport the place the twist of a shoulder or the snap of a leg can ship every little thing careening right into a ditch. Now add one of many 10 finest quarterbacks of all time, who brings his personal character quirks to the locker room. And now Prepare dinner — who shall be anticipated to choose up in East Rutherford the place he left off in Minneapolis as a weekly supply of manufacturing and dependability — who provides much more baggage to the crew’s overhead bin.

(And there shall be loads of time to worry over how a lot any of that can matter if the offensive line doesn’t preserve making strides from now till Sept. 12 … )

And look: If the Jets can really honor these expectations that they’ve foisted upon themselves, that may even be among the many best soccer tales ever instructed. Simply keep in mind how laborious it’s to be the hunted each week. Bear in mind how a lot swagger the ’07 Pats accrued alongside the way in which for 18 straight wins … and even they weren’t ok to run via the end line.

And people Pats have been already absolutely versed within the parts of expectation. These Jets? Nevertheless a lot they might have individually achieved within the face of scrutiny earlier than, they’ve by no means completed it as a gaggle. This teaching workers actually by no means has. And out of the blue everybody goes to be graded in opposition to the final word prize within the sport. No studying curve. No half measures.

No hedged bets.

There isn’t a place for a cute, loveable story right here. Not anymore. The Jets have one bar to clear and it’s essentially the most tough considered one of all. Good luck to them. It’s going to be fascinating and flamable present week after week.