Final Dress Rehearsal for New York

The 2023 version of the New York Mets and Yankees have had New York sports fans wishing the summer was over as soon as possible, and next week they get their wish. Sure, technically the summer will still run for about another month, but the sports calendar says it's football season, and for troubled New York sports fans, they can't wait to see the leaves turn colors.

This Saturday night we got to watch the customary Giants and Jets preseason game, yet this version felt a little different. There have not been many times where the public has been in such optimistic anticipation for both New York city area football teams. The Jets are the darlings of the offseason and of the media craze. Aaron Rodgers, Hard Knocks, Garrett Wilson on the sidelines, Sauce and now Dalvin Cook all kept Gang Green fans entertained since the season ended, but in a few short days the real test is upon them.

File Photo

Can the questionable offensive line hold up? Is Robert Salah in over his head? How much, if anything, has Rodgers lost? And a slew of other questions seem muted this year as the bright lights of the Manhattan skyline seem to be the only thing brighter than the Jets immediate future.

Across the stadium they share the Giants are the quiet but deadly franchise, who are smiling coyly as others seem to look away. They have their own host of questions between Daniel Jones, Barkley's health, a re-tooled defense and receiving worries, but like the team that shares a stadium with them, there is more hope than concern. Despite an offseason with Barkley being unhappy, he is in camp, signed and ready to go. Jones has had another year with a QB guru and there is no denying that Daboll and company are the coaches to bring it all together.

File Photo

So, as we sit on the week's eve before the season begins we can look at the glass in New York as an optimist or a pessimist. Is the glass half empty with question marks bubbling to the surface, surely to pop at some time, or is the glass half full, with the gleam in sports fans eyes we have not seen in a long time around these parts? One thing is for sure, both teams are hoping that glass is filled with champagne come playoff time.