–NEW YORK, NY: Every once in a while, sports hands you a storyline that is just too good to ignore. J.J. McCarthy could be getting his – and has nothing to do with him and yours humbly sharing surnames (that’s the last name, folks). We’ll talk about that and the phuckin’ Phillies Epic Phail.
Let’s talk Jonathan James McCarthy first.
Remember Jeff Hostetler? Let’s review: Back in 1990, Hostetler was Phil Simms’ backup. He wasn’t supposed to be the guy. Then Simms went down with a season-ending (ankle?) injury. Hoss took over, and the Hollywood-scripted ride was underway, as his Jints beat the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV when Scott Norwood sent Buffalo’s potential winning field goal WID RIGHT.
Not exactly a bad résumé for a backup. Now fast-forward 35 years and Big Blue suddenly has another quarterback waiting in the wings.
Jaxson Dart looked like he had grabbed the Giants’ future by the horns before a knee injury ended his season. Enter McCarthy, a former No. 10 overall pick who was brought in from Angry Ward’s Minnesota and now finds himself sitting behind Jameis Winston. That’s like sitting behind Lincoln at a play. What? Too soon? But here’s the more fun part: What happens if Winston struggles? Suddenly, McCarthy gets the call.
And if he plays well, the Giants have something every franchise dreams about—a young quarterback who wasn’t supposed to be the answer suddenly looking like he might be.
I get it; McCarthy isn’t Hostetler. The situations aren’t identical. And comparing anybody to a guy who won a Super Bowl as a backup is getting way ahead of ourselves.
But Giants fans are allowed to have fun with this. Especially because there’s a Buffalo connection. Sort of. Imagine McCarthy leading the Giants through the playoffs and beating the Bills in the Super Bowl. Again.
Yes, I realize that’s completely insane in October, but that’s also why we watch sports.
Meanwhile…
Philadelphia has its own problem: The Phillies just completed an epic Phail.
After winning 88 games and making the postseason for the fifth consecutive year, Philadelphia couldn’t escape the Wild Card round. The Phumblin’ Phils split the first two games with Atlanta, with Alec Bohm delivering a dramatic 10th-inning home run in Game 2 to save their season.
Then Game 3 happened and the City of Brother Lovers was once again, silent. Atlanta hit three home runs, the Phillies lost 6-2, and suddenly that expensive, talented, supposedly dangerous Philadelphia lineup was headed home.
-Before the Division Series.
-Before the pennant race.
-Before October could really get started.
That’s not just a failure. That’s a Phail – an EPIC PHAIL!
So while Giants fans can dream about another backup quarterback becoming a legend, Phillies fans can spend the winter asking the question they all hate: What the phuck happened?
Welcome to October in New York. One team’s backup might become a hero. Another team’s season became a punchline. And somewhere… Scott Norwood is still smiling.
