If the New York Jets NFL preseason betting quarterback saga is any indication, head coach Todd Bowles wants to become the New Hue Jackson. What’s next? Changing the color of the team’s uniform from green to Brown? Actually, what’s next is the New York Giants. In the meantime, the tepid competition between Josh McCown, Christian Hackenberg, and Bryce Petty continues. Okay, there’s a lot of low cards in that hand.
- Date: Saturday, 26th August
- Time: 7:05 PM
- Venue: MetLife Stadium
Sportsbook Online NFL Preseason Odds:
Jets +5 (-110) 39 (-110)
Giants -5 (-110) 39 (-110)
The McCown-Hackenberg-Petty quagmire
Impossibly as it may have seemed, 38-year-old journeyman Josh McCown appeared to be on track to becoming an honest-to-goodness starting quarterback for the first time since he took over under center from Mike Glennon on the 2014 Buccaneers. As it turns out, the veteran took only a few reps in Wednesday’s practice, with Hackenberg and getting 19 and 15 reps, respectively. “We’re just evening the reps out,” Bowles said per NJ.com. “He got a lot of reps early. So the other guys are getting a lot of reps now. McCown knows what he’s doing. He can play. So we wanted to give some other guys some experience and some reps.” One can’t help but wonder if Coach Bowles’s practice sessions go something like this:
https://twitter.com/simpsonsqotd/status/578951711458476032
Though to be fair, Hackenberg does need those reps like Johnny Depp needs a hit movie. The 2013 Big Ten Freshman of the Year did not play a single game in his rookie year and didn’t look so hot on Saturday against the Lions, his first NFL preseason betting start. And Petty is not sitting pretty, either; he finished 2016 75 of 133 for 809 yards with three TDs and seven picks. Still, if McCown truly is the starter – and he seems to be so even more in comparison to his QB roommates – then he should be monopolizing those reps.
Giants do have feet of clay
There are conflicting reports regarding Odell Beckham’s participation in the Giants’ third NFL preseason betting game. Sources tell ESPN’s Jordan Raanan and Dan Graziano that the wide receiver “could miss a week or two of the regular season.” on the other hand, head coach Ben McAdoo didn’t seem to quite rule him or Brandon Marshall for Saturday. “We’ll see how they respond to treatment. See how they look tomorrow,” McAdoo said in a Thursday meeting with the media. One thing’s for sure, though; that was one sick hit.
Like Ron Simmons would say, “Damn!!” Did the spirit of Sensei John Kreese possess Hue?
Sensei Hue: Briean, you’re a creampuff! Sweep the leg.
[Briean Boddy-Calhoun stares at him in shock]
Sensei Hue: Do you have a problem with that?
Briean: No, Sensei.
Sensei Hue: No mercy.
If Beckham gets sidelined, that would be just one of the many things that the Giants don’t have. The others would be, according to Daily News Giants/NFL beat writer and columnist Pat Leonard, “a running game, a potent offense, or any touchdowns through two [NFL preseason betting] games.”