Goodbye Chad

Dear Chad:

I never thought the day would come where I would have to say goodbye, but it has. It is going to be hard for me to move on without you, but I am going to have to try.

It seems like yesterday you were trotting out on the field to replace the ancient Vinny Testerdverde. After getting beat up by the Jags in your first NFL start, you went out and played your heart out against the Chiefs. Going 22-29 throwing for 237 yards and 2 TDs with only 1 INT made me see that we had the QB of the future. However your mind was not on the future, but instead focused on digging the team out of its 1-4 start. You proceeded to go 8-3 in the remaining 11 games and lead the Jets to an AFC East Championship.

After teaching Peyton Manning a thing or two about winning a playoff game, you struggled in Oakland losing to what would eventually be the AFC hampions. Even though the season was over, I was able to look back and see a 104.2 rating with 22 TDS and only 6 INTS in just 12 starts. I also was able to see a win in New England against the defending Super Bowl champs and a playoff win as well. These were all great signs for the future.

Starting the 03 preseason, you provided me with great excitement and optimism; two emotions that New York Jet fans rarely experience. In what only seemed fitting, you were injured in the third preseason game against none other than the New York Giants. Ill never forget watching the game at a bar in Brooklyn with no sound and seeing your wrist bend like a Twizzler. That moment ranks up there with Patrick Ewing finger rolls and Kenny Rogers walks as one of the worst sports moments of my life. You were out for a minimum of 6 weeks and attention was once again being pointed toward next year.

You did not disappoint in 2004 as you came out looking as good as I thought you could. Starting 5-0 I knew this was going to be the season that you took it to the next level. Of course it was not that easy, as you injured your rotator cuff forcing you to miss 3 three games. Coming back you did not look like yourself, but still got the Jets into the playoffs. Going into San Diego you played a great road playoff game and beat the Chargers throwing for 279 yards and 2 TDs with 0 INTs. The following week you walked into one of the hardest places to play and put the Jets in a position to beat the 15-1 Steelers....TWICE! The only problem was an insignificant kicker whose name I will not mention missed two Field Goals. Of course the Steelers capitalized on this and beat your team in OT 20-17. In my mind you took your team to the AFC Championship game that year.

In true Chad fashion, you were playing your heart out and playing well. Once that season was over, we all found out that you were playing with a torn rotator cuff and you instantly became a Jet legend. You did not say a word about the injury and never used it as an excuse. However we found ourselves in the same position we did 18 months earlier...looking toward your recovery.

Starting the 05 season you were clearly not yourself. Knowing your heart and desire to win, most of us Jet fans understood that you rushed yourself back for the good of the team. Only problem was it was more harmful to the team, and again you had to be shut down for the season. Undergoing a second shoulder surgery in less than a year, the future was a big question mark.

Again you proved your leadership and love of the franchise by taking a huge pay cut and making your contract incentive based to help the team manage the salary cap. Not knowing what to expect in the 06 season I was eager to see how you would play. You did not disappoint, leading the Jets to a 10-6 record and an astonishing playoff berth. You threw for over 3,000 yards again and won the AP Comeback Player of the Year award.

After a disappointing loss to the Pats in the playoffs, you began to prepare for a 2007 season, only this time there was competition for your position. Winning the job, you struggled going 1-6 before losing your job to Kellen Clemens. Real Jet fans know that the problem was the mess on the offensive line and not in your play, but agreed it was time to see what Clemens had. Of course you did not abandoned the team, as you mentored the young QB and led by example by being the vocal head of the team.

Stating this season, I was ready to give you another chance and was optimistic about what you could do. Then the Brett Farve saga began and talks were about getting the legend to play QB. The team eventually made a move to acquire Farve and released you shortly thereafter. This was a bitter sweet day in my Jet life and I could not help but hear everyone in the organization mention your name and how classy of a player and person you were.

Signing with the Dolphins, you made my worst nightmares come true. I don't think I am going to be able to root for you this season, but I do wish you the best and thank you for all the great moments. You played your heart out and never gave up and will go down as one of my favorite athletes.

Sincerely ,

G