There was a moment Friday, two days before the Jets would produce that underachieving effort in the 20-12 home-opening loss to the Dolphins, when a television reporter asked Todd Bowles what he saw from Sam Darnold in the week following the season-opening win in Detroit.
The usually stoic Jets coach, who’ll never be confused as one of the SNL comedic cast members, broke into a sustained laugh that lasted several uncomfortable moments because it was so out of character.
The message in Bowles’ laughter was quite clear: He perceived the question as a silly one.
The moment felt patronizing, and Bowles, who would soon realize it, apologized, straightened his expression and answered, “He was very composed and he was the same Sam we saw in the spring and summer.