The worst NFL teams keeping their eyes on the prize
Mary Margaret Ellison, Staff Writer
What is the grand prize?
The presumed No. 1 NFL draft pick, Clemson’s quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
Who knew that one player like Trevor Lawrence could make the entire NFL organization ooh and ahh, especially the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons? There is an ongoing battle between these two struggling teams to get that coveted No. 1 pick.
Many sources, such as Fansided.com, have claimed that Lawrence is the presumed best quarterback to come out of the college level since Andrew Luck in 2012.
Lawrence’s numbers are through the roof this season. He has completed 73% of his passes for 15 touchdowns and just over 1,500 yards. The 6-foot-6-inch junior has thrown only one interception.
Image courtesy of @ClemsonFB on Twitter
The only way that the Jets and Falcons are going to earn the No. 1 pick is by losing the most games. Some may say that means the franchises should just tank.
“Tanking” is a term that is used when sports teams lose games on purpose to secure a competitive advantage in the future.
The ongoing question: Is tanking ethical? Mike Gilleran from the Santa Clara School of Law addressed this question.
“We accept this at the professional level because we are ‘seduced’ by the prospect of drafting a player who will act as a ‘savior’ and lead our favorite professional sports team to glory,” Gilleran said.
Two distinguishable NFL teams seem to be contending to finish at the bottom, the Falcons and the Jets. These two franchises are the current bottom feeders in week six of the NFL.
The Falcons have started their season with many complications arising on their way to a 1-5 record. Atlanta general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn were fired after the Falcons 23-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Oct. 11.
“It’s an Atlanta thing,” expressed Falcons fan Benjamin London. “In all Georgia sports, we are used to heartbreak. As a fan, I am tired of seeing the same thing. It was a good decision to fire the head coach and general manager.”
The Jets, on the other hand, are also at the bottom. But with a 0-6 record along with a badly-run organization, what can one expect? Head coach Adam Gase and general manager Joe Douglas decided on Oct. 13 to release running back Le’Veon Bell. Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is having a rough go with an 0-6 record lingering behind him.
“Adam Gase should be fired. Would the Jets trade Sam Darnold?” Jets fan Voc Tabron commented, “His performance isn’t his fault, he just gets the plays and tries to run them with what he has.”
The Falcons and Jets are struggling to make ends meet without winnable seasons and franchises that are glaringly incompetent at the moment.
The obvious question stands: Is it worth it for the Jets and Falcons to tank for the No. 1 Draft pick Trevor Lawrence, and what happens if they do?
image courtesy of @ClemsonFB on Twitter
“It would be a good idea to tank to get a great draft pick like Trevor Lawrence,” London said, “It would be worth it for the Falcons. The Falcons QB Matt Ryan has been there long enough.”
London went on to explain that if Lawrence does go to the Falcons, he would be surrounded by a great tight end, offensive line and succeed in Atlanta.
As a Falcons fan, London is okay with the Falcons tanking and finishing with a 2-14 or 1-15 record if that means scoring the prize of Lawrence. London also added that Falcons fans might as well sit around and wait to get the coach and draft pick that is needed.
“Tanking is worth it when it is a bad organization like the Jets,” New York Jets fan Voc Tabron stated. “The Jets are having problems, and Trevor Lawrence is worth the Jets tanking. He is a generational talent.”
The Jets are more than likely to stay at the bottom of the totem pole, but are also okay with that if it means at the end of the season, the No. 1 draft pick has their name on it.
Tabron doesn’t think the Jets will have any luck of a winning season. He believes they may finish with a 3-12 or 2-14 record if a single win is even in sight. If the Jets are tanking, Tabron agrees with that decision by stating, “They should be tanking for the first draft pick. They can get assets.”
Tabron stated opinion as a Jets fan on if he thinks the Jets truly are set on tanking for Trevor. He laughed and said, “They aren’t taking on purpose. They are just bad.”
The prize that is the No. 1 Draft pick Trevor Lawrence will be determined at the NFL Draft starting April 29th, 2021.
May the best team win … no, lose.
