The smells and sounds are a bit different this time of year. The freshly-cut grass in the summer air, the plastic that could only be identified as shoulder pads, and the helmet-smacking sound all adds up to a unique experience that could only equal football.
Unfortunately, as unique as the August football experience is each year, New York Jets fans haven’t felt so special over the last decade.
Not since the 2010 season has the fanbase’s beloved organization qualified for the NFL playoffs—or the tournament, as most in the league call it these days. One shortcut after another has placed the Jets in an unenviable situation within a hard-salary cap league that tortures those that take shortcuts.