In the week-long series, The Post is looking for alternative realities in New York sports. Today’s edition discusses what would have happened had Bill Belichick not resigned as Jet’s head coach. Here are some other big Jets, what if for the past 30 years:
What if Jet made a Brett Favre draft in 1991?
The Jets have Favre as the No. player 1 on their concept board, but don’t have the first round choice. Favre fell into the second round, where the Jets chose seventh. They had an agreement with the Cardinals to go up two places, in front of the Falcons, but Arizona retreated. Atlanta takes Favre and the Jets finally take Browning Nagle.
What if the Jets didn’t fire Pete Carroll as coach?
Carroll went 6-10 in one season as Jets coach in 1994. Owner Leon Hess fired him after that season after becoming hooked with Rich Kotite, who had just been fired by the Eagles. Kotite is a disaster. Carroll then won the national championship at USC and the Super Bowl with the Seahawks.
What if Peyton Manning doesn’t stay at school?
Jets have the No. option. 1 in 1997 and recently recruited Bill Parcells as a coach. Manning is expected to leave Tennessee after his first year and the Jets will take him, establishing their franchise for the next decade. Instead, he lived in Tennessee for his senior year and the Jets traded pick No.
What if Vinny Testaverde was not injured in 1999?
The Jets had been to the AFC Championship match in 1998 and appeared primed to run the Super Bowl in ’99. But the 35-year-old midfielder broke his left Achilles tendon while trying to remedy a mistake on Week 1. The Jets start the match 1-6 and miss the playoffs at 8-8.
What if Jet made Russell Russell?
Jets senior executive personnel, Terry Bradway, want the Jets to take Wisconsin quarterback in 2012, so bad the nickname is “Russell Bradway” around the building. The Jets are stuck with Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. Wilson won the Super Bowl in his second season.
