New York Jets End Zach Wilson Era, Trade QB to Denver

The New York Jets have successfully ended the Zach Wilson era.

On Monday, New York packed a seventh-round pick with the disgruntled former 2021 second-overall pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a sixth-round pick in this week's draft.

Wilson never caught on in New York. He struggled throughout his three-year tenure, raking in one of the worst quarterback ratings in the league of 30.6, while completing only 57 percent of his passes.  Wilson came to New York after much praise from draft experts three seasons ago, who looked at Wilson's ability to make the off-schedule look routine while at BYU.

Unfortunately, Wilson never put it together with the Jets. Yes, he had moments, like his 301-yard performance against the Texans last season. But those moments were few and far between.

Most of the time, the Jets were either playing Wilson on a weekly basis with the hope he would turn it on, or they were trying to bench him.

Wilson was benched multiple times during his tenure due to his poor play. Last season the Jets brought in Aaron Rodgers to not only ignite the offense but, perhaps to groom Wilson for the future. That never occurred as Wilson was thrust back into action once Rodgers tore his Achilles.

Instead, Wilson struggled as the Jets starter in 2023 and was benched twice. The second time reports from The Athletic surfaced that Wilson was reluctant to start again for Gang Green.

At the end of the day, the Jets split Wilson's $5.5 million salary for 2024 with the Broncos.  Wilson heads closer to home -- Denver is seven hours from BYU, and might have a shot at reclaiming his career under Broncos head coach Sean Payton.

The Jets get to move on and focus firmly on the draft. New York is expected to take on one of the many play-making receivers in this year's draft on Thursday.

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Football fans are gearing up for the upcoming NFL season. Some fans are so passionate that their enthusiasm borders on religious fervor. And yes, they pray for their team.  Beyond their prayers, they also have some superstitions. You know the types: they go barechested in zero degree weather and paint themselves in their favorite team's colors. Their mood for the week depends on if their team won or lost. There are fans and then there devout believers.  Those are the ones who get a bit too superstitious.

You know that person who stays in the same spot throughout an entire game, and when their team gives up possession they change positions? That's who we're talking about. So, when things are going well, they're practically immobile. They won't step away for food or even use the bathroom. Why? Because they can’t risk "messing up the flow." On the other hand, if things are not going as planned, they might wander around the living room persistently in search of a lucky seat where good things could potentially happen. Of course, for some fans, their ritualistic and superstitious behaviors might just be traditions, regardless of whether their team comes out on top or experiences a loss.

From wearing a specific jersey to eating a particular snack, these rituals are believed to bring luck and influence the game. For instance, some fans might have a lucky pre-game routine, like wearing mismatched socks or doing a little victory dance before kickoff. Even food choices play a role, with some fans only eating certain foods while watching the game, like nachos or chicken wings, believing that deviating from this menu might lead to bad luck. It's these quirky and often amusing superstitions that add an extra layer of excitement to the football fan experience.

Take a look at a few of these superstition-filled traditions that football fans have been sharing on Reddit.

For some fans, the belief in "jersey power" is real, relying on their chosen jersey to bring their team to victory. A Reddit user revealed, "I change jerseys every game. Never wear the same one twice in a row." They mentioned that during one season, the Jaguars secured a 3-1 record when following this practice, but experienced a 0-12 record when they didn't.

Some fans unquestionably take their rituals to the extreme. During Vince Young's playing days, a Redditor mentioned that they used to perform a rather unconventional practice of burning a photo of the player. They would attach a picture of his face to a Barbie doll and place it on the grill as part of their ritual.

This particular approach might come across as a bit harsh, yet it seems to show results for this person. Apparently, ignoring their wife and kid during the game is their strategy. "I know it's weird and the results haven't been great, but I'm not going to risk it," they wrote. Priorities, dude!

Some say that dissecting your superstitions like a science can work wonders. A Reddit user shared their approach, saying that if, for some reason, they tune into the game late and the Ravens are in the lead, they turn the game off. "Watching will only swing the game in the opposite direction. It's like the Heisenberg Principle of quantum football mechanics. Intense observation will only change the outcome," they humorously explained. That's dedication!

Having a lucky seat or a designated sweet spot to park yourself during every football game is a ritual many fans swear by. According to one person, during game days, they make a point to occupy the exact same barstool. They mentioned, "Everyone has assigned seats at the bar."

Some hardcore football fans throw hygiene to the wind. A Reddit user opened up about their peculiar belief. If they don't shower right before the game, they're convinced the Eagles will end up on the losing side. They added, "Sometimes if we had a crappy first half, I'll take another shower, for a fresh start."

Luck can take some interesting forms, like the practice of counting things a specific number of times. A person mentioned that on game days, they apply three strokes of deodorant per armpit in support of Russell Wilson. Some people are all about the idea that stuff tends to go down in threes.