It’s Christmas in April for us football fans, as the NFL released the schedule for the 2008 NFL Season.

Here’s the good news for the Jets. Their strength of schedule is one of the weakest in the NFL.

Here’s the bad news. The Patriots have the weakest.

Congrats to the 2008 AFC East Champion New England Patriots.   Let that depressing thought sink in for a moment.

Interesting notes:

- The Jets open and end the season with the Big Tuna Fish.

- The Pats come to town for the season opener in Week 2.

- The only time the Jets are schedule for prime time football is Week 3, at San Diego on Monday night.

Full schedule and bold predictions with snarky comments:

at Miami – You would hope this would be a win against a new coaching staff and a bad team.  The AFC East incest continues with the Mangini-Parcells-Belichick free-for-all.

New England – Loss.    Although we’ll see how well Coach Hoodie does without taping defensive signals.

at San Diego – Over/under on LaDainian Tomlinson touchdown is two.  Loss.

Arizona – Arizona generally doesn’t do well on the road (of course, I’m making predictions in April, so this is all moot), figure a win.

Bye Week 5

Bengals- You figure by this time Ocho Cinco is either A) off the team or B) caused so much trouble that the Bengals have become team turmoil.  On the field that is, not off the field (we’re looking at you Chris Henry!)  Bold prediction: win.

at Da Raiders – Remember when this was a match up that the entire country look forward to?    This has Ian Eagle/Solomon Wilcots announce team written all over it.  Nothing against those two, but I don’t think you’ll be seeing the A team call this game.   Anyway, JaMarcus Russell will be going through some growing pains, win here.

Herm ball aka the Chefs – Win.    As bad as the Jets were, the Chiefs are worst.  Beware fantasy owners, Larry Johnson will breakdown.

at Buffalo – The Jets NEVER do well in Buffalo, so this is a loss.  Got to give credit to Dick Jauron for making something up there and for benching J.P. Losman.

Rams – Interesting game here.     The Rams are a lot better than the record showed last year.  There’s always a game (or four) where you ask yourself “how the hell the Jets lose that one?”   I’ll go out on a limb and say loss.

at Pats (Thursday night) – The good old NFL Network decided to put this on a Thursday…they could play this on the moon and this still will be a Jets loss.

at Titans – I get the feeling the Jets, who always have a win or two out of nowhere, will go down to Nashville and shock VY and the boys.  Vince Young really regressed last season, and just have a hunch on this one.

Denver – I’m going win here, just because I don’t Denver and Jay Cutler are that good.

at 49ers – Mad Mike Martz is the OC with Niners.   Remember that 35-0 game against the Jets where he ONSIDE KICKED when he coached the Rams?   Anyway, Alex Smith stinks, so I’ll go win.

Bills – The Jets generally do better at home against Buffalo, so I’ll go win.

at Seattle – No chance.    Seattle is such a great home team.

Miami -I have the Jets at 9-6 at this moment.    If you think that the AFC will be as tough as last season, 10-6 would probably be the minimum for a team to get in as a wild card.  This?  Will be one of those heart breakers, where Miami costs the Jets a playoff spot.

9-7 for 2008.

Yep, back here again after a long hiatus.   Not the best thing to do but back at it with a clear mind and open conscious.

So the Jets have continued their splurge into the free agent market like drunken sailors and have signed Calvin Pace.

Big linebacker (6′4′, 272 pounds), 27-years-old…has played in then 3-4 before.   This? Makes all the correct marks on the Mangini/Tannenbaum checklist.

Ninety eight tackles for the Cardinals — who lets be honest, isn’t scaring anyone with their defense.  It’s a good signing…

…but there always seems to be a however with the Jets.  

Some vets want theirs.  Fair enough.  Too bad that the Jets may not be able everyone.  Reading that article and finding out that Kerry Rhodes makes $980,000 is a joke, when you consider Gibril Wilson, a good, but not as good player as Rhodes, just got a boatload of money from the Raiders.

Then again, this is the Raiders and Al Davis lost his damn mind in Los Angeles.

Anyway, that didn’t deter the Jets to sign a Pro Bowl fullback in Tony Richardson.   Richardson last season blocked for the Vikings and has previously played for the Chiefs.  Following running backs he blocked for:  Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor, Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes.  Pretty good company if you asked me.    The role of the fullback is so undervalued, but these guys are blasting into linebackers and making holes for the star runners.  This is a solid move, and although Richardson is 36-years-old, he’s still pretty darn good.  Notice the moves — Faneca, cutting Anthony Clement, signing Damion Woody at right tackle and Richardson.  All concentraiting on the line play, blocking.  Which leads to:

Mr. Darren McFadden.   He’s an amazing talent but comes with some amazing baggage…already has been in trouble with the law.  Right before the draft.

And about seven other times before this.  But man, this guy is talented.

So that’s what you weigh, the talent versus the baggage and attitude.    He could become Adrian Peterson Mark II or Reggie Bush circa 2007-08 season.

What to do?

Find out next time.