Preseason week two is in the books, and week three is about to get going. While Sean and I have another podcast episode out tomorrow, I wanted to give you another written edition of Four Downs so we could work in a few more stories. In this edition we’ll talk the Jets and Titans QB situation as well as an on and off field mess in Cleveland, before wrapping up with an uplifting pallet cleanser. So, buckle your chin strap because it’s time to move the chains!

First Down

Geno & The Jets: (to the tune of Benny and the Jets) “hey kids, the band is back together. the spotlights hittin Geno and he’s bound to save the season. He’ll go 7 out of 7 with a touchdowwwwn. You’re gonna see him rollin left and hittin the tight end so stick arounddddd. Sayyyyyy fireman Ed and Captain Jet, have you seen the offense yet? Oooo, it’s so so sound, G-G-G Geno and the Jets.”

I’d like to apologize to Elton John and his legion of fans for combining his glorious catalogue with the New York Jets. Having seen the rocket man in person I’d like to think he would be forgiving of it and have the over on the Jets win total this year in Vegas. An over they could hit if Geno Smith can deliver this year, as he looks to come back from a near career destroying season last year with the Raiders. I’ve been in Geno’s corner since the Jets brought him back in the winter and at least for a moment, he’s made me look smart. After putting together, a camp where he’s acting like a leader and bringing an air of professionalism to the locker room, he hit the field in Pittsburgh last Friday and went 7/7 with a touchdown. It’s never wise to read into preseason games but he looked to be on the same page with OC Frank Reich and displayed how good the Jets weapons and o-line can look with even average QB play. I don’t think this team is going to shock the world or anything, but if Geno can play remotely well, this team will be frisky in 2026.

Second Down

Can Cam Come Through?: That is one of the questions that has spread like wildfire around the league as the season approaches. The Titans have been a trendy pick to make noise this year with a fully re-constituted roster and a brand-new coaching staff. Now I have my doubts about this New York flavored staff, but they’ll ultimately be taken as far as second year QB Cam Ward can take them. Early reports from Titans camp have been negative as he doesn’t look primed for the year two jump per the boots on the ground. He confirmed those concerns when he went just eight of twelve for 69 years in Tennessee’s Sunday night preseason clash with the Seahawks. He was inaccurate, too quick to leave the pocket, and careless with the ball. New OC Brian Daboll has to coach him up or this team is going nowhere fast.

Third Down

“Last time I played on this field, I tore my Achilles. And that same fanbase, they cheered when I got hurt. So, what does that have to do with anything about performance? When a person gets hurt, especially for your own city, and they cheer?”

“I think the whole world knows it has nothing to do about the performance. It’s a little bit [more] personal than that. So, I think it’s a disrespectful thing. So yeah, I mean, I’m going to keep whatever I feel with me and my family internally on how I feel about that. And yeah, just move on.” – Deshaun Watson

The Mistake by the Lake: Not to bring up the city of Cleveland’s unbecoming nickname, but they can blame owner Jimmy Haslem for this portion of our piece. The Browns preseason has actually been off to a decent start. Their young pieces from their recent draft classes are showing real promise and new head coach Todd Monken is installing and offense that could become interesting with the right QB. Emphasis on “the right QB,” because as has been the case for decades, they don’t have one at all let alone the right one. Last week we profiled the battle for the starting job and neither Shedeur Sanders nor Deshaun Watson had done enough to impress…that didn’t really change in week two, but the Browns went ahead and tabbed Watson the starter anyway, much to city of Cleveland’s dismay.

Watson took the field in preseason game number two, before this decision was made, and was his usual underwhelming self, and Browns fans let him hear it as boos rained down from the dog pound. Those boo birds led to the absolutely tone-deaf quotes you read above, as Watson took the criticism personally and almost seems to think it’s part of some evil cabal against him. Gee Deshaun, why do Browns fans dislike you? Well for starters you’ve been terrible since being traded there, both on and off the field. Secondly your performance relative to the massive salary you make is an embarrassment. And not be left out, there is your alleged off the field behavior that you’ve shown no remorse for at any point. So yeah, I’d say they have good reason to want you out of their city. Of course, cheering for a player to get hurt is wrong, and it should not happen. But Browns fans have dealt with enough and Watson’s weak token apology is not enough to put this mess behind him, the fans, the team and the clown owner that insists on him playing. Don’t trust me? See for yourself.

Fourth Down

A Breath of Fresh Air: How about a pallet cleanser here to wrap things up. If you haven’t already watched the video above, I suggest you do a few times, because it will make your day a hell of a lot better. The young man speaking in the clip is Cowboys offensive lineman Shiyazh Pete, a rookie out of the University of Kentucky from this past year’s draft. The big man is doing all he can to make America’s Team this preseason with solid efforts on the field and by being one hell of a teammate off it, per those covering Dallas this camp.

Why all the excitement you ask? Well Pete is the first NFL player of Navajo Native American descent to play in the NFL, and he was well supported by his community Saturday night in Arizona when the Cowboys beat the Cards. The support was so striking that Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer asked Pete to break the team down in the locker room which led to his thoughtful and refreshing speech we see above. It’s such a nice change of pace to hear this guy talk to his teammates and keep the power and unity of sports in perspective, especially when the rest of the news cycle is full of tone-deaf comments like Deshaun Watson’s and cut players leaving the NFL free agent pool to return to college. Pete’s made me a fan of his with his story alone, and I’m sure you’re right there with me after watching that clip. I’ll be pulling for him to make the team!

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