Why Jets legend Joe Namath is encouraged with direction of franchise
Former NFL player Joe Namath visits the SiriusXM set at Super Bowl 50 Radio Row at the Moscone Center on February 5, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Credit: Getty Images for Sirius / Cindy Ord
SAN FRANCISCO — The only quarterback ever to take the Jets to the Super Bowl was asked on Friday if he is encouraged by the recently adjusted direction of the franchise.
“Very much so,” Joe Namath said from Radio Row. “You win 10 games, some guys are satisfied with that. I don’t think they’re going to stay satisfied with winning 10 games. I think they’re going to make some changes and bring in some additional talent.”
In case general manager Mike Maccagnan is interested, Namath did have an offseason shopping list for him.
“I think we need a little more speed outside,” he said. “You see [Owen] Daniels running down the middle and [Rob] Gronkowski, you’d love to have something like that. [Jeff] Cumberland does a good job, but you need more than one tight end.”
Namath likes receiver Brandon Marshall. In fact, the two ran into each other on Radio Row and broke out into a J-E-T-S chant together. Marshall grabbed a quick selfie with Broadway Joe.
Namath also said quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick needs to be better.
“When it comes to Fitz, he had a good season,” Namath said. “I know he would like to improve his accuracy throwing the ball. You have to have two or three quarterbacks, so maybe they’re going to be in the market for another quarterback too, without busting anybody’s chops.”
Maybe even one who is playing this weekend. Namath floated the idea of Peyton Manning ending his career in green.
“If he’s physically fit and the Broncos don’t want him, I’d give him a good look right out there in New York Jet territory, how about that?” Namath said.
Namath said he likes the changes that Maccagnan made in his first offseason and that he is a fan of the coaching style of Todd Bowles. Especially compared to Rex Ryan.
“It’s the guys on the field who do the winning, and they follow the leadership,” Namath said. “A lack of discipline on the field, a lack of poise on the field sometimes, is reflected in the kind of coaching you get. The kind of coaching the Jets are getting right now is very impressive to me.”
Tom Rock began covering sports for Newsday in 1996 and became its NFL columnist in 2022. He previously was Newsday's Giants beat writer beginning in 2008.
