It’s difficult make a NFL preseason betting assessment of the Tennessee Titans vs. the New York Jets when as of this writing the latter’s head coach Todd Bowels has not been able to make up his mind as to whom to start under center. Then again, maybe that tells you all that you need to know.
- Date: Saturday, 12th August
- Time: 7:30 PM
- Venue: MetLife Stadium
- Sportsbook NFL preseason odds:
Titans -3 (-110) 37 (-105)
Jets +3 (-110) 37 (-115)
Decker holds footballs, not grudges
Wide receiver Eric Decker was unceremoniously released by the Jets in order to clear $7.25 million in salary cap space. Before that, they unsuccessfully shopped him around. But if revenge is a dish best served cold, then Decker is on a diet. “I don’t worry about that stuff,” he said on Thursday per the New York Times. “I know I still got it, and I’m happy to be here. I’m excited about what we’re capable of doing. Just have to put the work in.” Decker only played three games in 2016 but has 385 receptions for 5,253 yards and 52 touchdowns in his seven-year career, and is looking to pad out those numbers by becoming a preferred target of quarterback Marcus Mariota. Decker is among several moves that the Titans have made in order to improve their lackluster passing game.
The three Jetsketeers
Coach Bowles – who has the dubious honour of being the NFL preseason betting favorite to be fired first – has kept mum on who will be the starting QB on Saturday, though it’s certain that we will see all Christian Hackenberg, Josh McCown, and Bryce Petty at some point.
Todd Bowles won't say who the Jets starting QB will be in preseason opener v Titans. Says all 3 QBs will play. "They're all pretty even now"
— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) August 10, 2017
McCown has seen it all – except maybe the playoff – in his long, uneventful career and is pretty much settled in his role as a journeyman signal-caller. He’s like the Kwai Chang Caine of quarterbacks. Ironically, he appears to be in the lead for the starting job. Petty threw seven picks to three touchdowns in six games – four starts – last season, but maybe now that Ryan Fitzpatrick is gone and Geno Smith is nowhere to be found Petty’ll show some of that Baylor stuff? Maybe? Finally, Hackenberg can’t even be relied on to break a huddle. According to Monday Morning Quarterback’s Tim Rohan, Hack was “invited” to leave a practice after botching this basic maneuver. “Christian Hackenberg was having trouble just breaking the huddle correctly,” Rohan wrote. “During one rep in seven-on-seven drills, as he approached the line of scrimmage, a coach order him to re-huddle. When he broke the huddle again — in the wrong fashion for the second time — he was ordered off the field.” Though depending on who you ask, for example Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the incident has been exaggerated. Hackenberg was drafted in the second round of the 2016 draft but has not played a down or thrown a pass in the NFL yet. Seems like Decker will have his NFL preseason betting revenge, whether he wants it or not.