After reading these threads, it's pretty apparent that, unless you are young (or foreign or just found civilization) and just started rooting for the Jets last year, most of the mid to long time Jets fans no longer have the enthusiasm we once did. Even prior to the season starting, most of us were "meh".
Now, one can conclude that this "meh" feeling is due to being able to foresee a shitty season this year... but I think this malaise has been around for much longer.
For me, personally, I had
some of my wind knocked out of my sails originally in the Pitt (Herm) playoff game. Some people go further back from that to the Denver playoff loss (if you go back to the Brown playoff loss in the 80's, you're too fucking old), but I think for most of us, we were just gleeful that we were finally in the spotlight again after almost 2 decades (and coming off the Kotite years)... no one expected us to beat Elway, and even though we were leading at the half, didn't really kill my optimism to lose. Just made me look forward to next year (which I know, turned out to be a bummer but no real harm to the enthusiasm).
And even though Bill leaving and that scumbag bolting to NE was a bit of surprise, Herm was that positive, rah rah, coach that was a good transition to the next couple of years. And we had Chad, who wasn't great, but better than all the shit QB's we've had since. I knew that Pitt. game was going to be tough, but man, THAT one hurt a lot. So close...
Mangini years gave some hope (he was supposed to be the scumbag protege), but except for the Favre experiment, I didn't get overly amped up during his reign.
Then we get Rex... FINALLY, we have a brash, Alpha male coach who has the gungho spirit of killing QB's, talking trash, etc. Granted, the league rules were changing around him in terms of putting the hurt on people, but still... the fucking NY Jets were coming - and watch the fuck out. We had a killer D, and we had a fancypants new QB... engage boner pants! Then we go to Indy and again, didn't expect to win, but came close... and said "Ok, next year, watch the fuck out".
Next year - enthusiasm on max. Stomp on NE in the playoffs, "can't wait!" for Pitt... REVENGE. REVENGE on the rapist, who raped our pride when Herm was here. THIS WAS IT. SUPERBOWL bound with our trash talking coach and fancypants QB...
But alas... the rape happened again... a vicious assault.. in Pitt. ... at the hand of the rapist... AGAIN. AGAIN!
THAT right there was when my enthusiasm died. That was the heartbreaker of all heartbreakers.
Since then, it really hasn't been the same. Even that Buffalo loss last year didn't really faze me - it was so expected. SOFJ (Same Old Fucking Jets) for SOJF's. And it has carried over to this year... combined with lackluster drafts (ie, no potentially hall of fame QB), the NFL itself becoming a bit pussified (flag football), and the new regime being quiet and boring (and not winning either), I really didn't have any hopes going into the season. Even after the Buffalo win this year, I was excited, but nowhere near where I was in prior years, and not nearly as wounded when the Jets regressed to the mean in the KC game.
Just back to being... "meh". Sure we tell good stories on here, make fun of FF2, and seem to have good times... but deep down, this board is the Hell for our Jets souls.