That is very clear - well, at least it was to everyone but Rex Ryan. However, more so than just a lack of common sense, Ryan exhibited a complete lack of certainty about the Jets' quarterback mess in what was far from your typical preseason game.
Usually a dress rehearsal for starters, the Jets were instead auditioning rookie Geno Smith for the main role.
In three quarters of play, Smith clearly demonstrated he's not ready, throwing three interceptions and then embarrassingly running out of the end zone for a safety.
Weird moves didn't just come aboard the Jets' quarterback carousel. Giants head coach Tom Coughlin sent his field goal unit on for a game-tying field goal with less than a minute left in regulation, playing for overtime - in a preseason game that doesn't count.
Once into extra time, Coughlin called a timeout to ice Jets kicker Nick Folk, who missed the first try that didn't count, then missed the second that would have won the game. Later, Billy Cundiff got a shot at a 38-yard game-winner and again Coughlin attempted to ice the kicker, as Cundiff's kick that sailed wide right was rendered null.
At that point, Ryan countered by sending the offense back onto the field. Matt Simms and company gained six more yards, then Cundiff finally ended the bizarre night in which both coaches played the MetLife Bowl like it was the Super Bowl.
Coughlin and Ryan were full of odd and unnecessary coaching decisions in the third preseason game's fourth quarter.
A dress rehearsal hasn't gone so awry since "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark" attempted to hit Broadway.
Ryan earned a meaningless win in a "battle for bragging rights" but may have lost his best option at quarterback, the trust of his team and, in his animated postgame press conference, some dignity.
Jets fans have already lost any hope for normalcy this season - and it's not even Labor Day yet.
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