NJ -- The words flew from John Morton's mouth faster than some of his offensive play calls. Thirteen weeks were all he needed to formulate this conclusion.
Did the Jets' first-year offensive coordinator want Josh McCown, his 38-year-old quarterback, back in 2018?
"Sure," Morton said Thursday. "Why wouldn't I? Look at the stats."
Morton's right. McCown's numbers are impressive. But it's not that simple.
McCown, as Morton alluded to, is enjoying a career-year his 15th in the NFL. He's thrown for 2,880 yards (career high) with 18 touchdowns (career high) and just eight interceptions in 12 games. He has a completion percentage of 67.8 (career high), quarterback rating of 96.7, has run for another five scores, and has the not-tanking Jets a surprising 5-7.
And if the Jets knew this Josh McCown would return next year, he'd already have a new deal. Aside from his on-field performance, his leadership and guidance are invaluable to a team comprised of youngsters. Even if the Jets draft a quarterback in April, McCown would be the perfect mentor.
But here's the thing: Father Time eventually catches up to every player. Sometimes without warning.
And quarterbacks aren't an exception.
Brett Favre had a career-year with the Vikings in 2009, only to have his body break down one year later, leading to his retirement. Other guys, like Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner and Chad Pennington, had similar stories. One year, they're on top of the world. And the next on the bottom.
McCown may be lighting it up now. But at his age (he turns 39 in July) it won't last forever.
The Jets got a first-hand look at such a change not long ago. In 2015, Ryan Fitzpatrick led New York to a 10-6 record, and threw a franchise-record 31 touchdowns. The Jets re-signed him to a one-year, $12 million deal in the offseason ... only to watch his play plummet. Fitzpatrick's currently a backup for the Buccaneers.
While, unlike with Fitzpatrick, the Jets have the cap space (upwards of $108 million) to re-sign McCown without it impacting their other draft plans, is it worth the risk? The same drastic decline could sack him, too. The Jets would then be stuck paying a player who can't, well, play.
While he admitted it's not his call, Morton seems willing to roll the dice.
"He's been consistent. He's perfect for this offense, and we're going to do things that we think he's going to have a lot of success with - just like all of our players.
"That's what you're supposed to do as a coach. You're supposed to put the players in the right position, but I don't see a decline at all. Do you?"
Not yet.
But that doesn't mean one isn't coming.
Did the Jets' first-year offensive coordinator want Josh McCown, his 38-year-old quarterback, back in 2018?
"Sure," Morton said Thursday. "Why wouldn't I? Look at the stats."
Morton's right. McCown's numbers are impressive. But it's not that simple.
McCown, as Morton alluded to, is enjoying a career-year his 15th in the NFL. He's thrown for 2,880 yards (career high) with 18 touchdowns (career high) and just eight interceptions in 12 games. He has a completion percentage of 67.8 (career high), quarterback rating of 96.7, has run for another five scores, and has the not-tanking Jets a surprising 5-7.
And if the Jets knew this Josh McCown would return next year, he'd already have a new deal. Aside from his on-field performance, his leadership and guidance are invaluable to a team comprised of youngsters. Even if the Jets draft a quarterback in April, McCown would be the perfect mentor.
But here's the thing: Father Time eventually catches up to every player. Sometimes without warning.
And quarterbacks aren't an exception.
Brett Favre had a career-year with the Vikings in 2009, only to have his body break down one year later, leading to his retirement. Other guys, like Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner and Chad Pennington, had similar stories. One year, they're on top of the world. And the next on the bottom.
McCown may be lighting it up now. But at his age (he turns 39 in July) it won't last forever.
The Jets got a first-hand look at such a change not long ago. In 2015, Ryan Fitzpatrick led New York to a 10-6 record, and threw a franchise-record 31 touchdowns. The Jets re-signed him to a one-year, $12 million deal in the offseason ... only to watch his play plummet. Fitzpatrick's currently a backup for the Buccaneers.
While, unlike with Fitzpatrick, the Jets have the cap space (upwards of $108 million) to re-sign McCown without it impacting their other draft plans, is it worth the risk? The same drastic decline could sack him, too. The Jets would then be stuck paying a player who can't, well, play.
While he admitted it's not his call, Morton seems willing to roll the dice.
"He's been consistent. He's perfect for this offense, and we're going to do things that we think he's going to have a lot of success with - just like all of our players.
"That's what you're supposed to do as a coach. You're supposed to put the players in the right position, but I don't see a decline at all. Do you?"
Not yet.
But that doesn't mean one isn't coming.
