New York Jets left tackle Mekhi Becton makes it clear that he’s a big fan of the New York Titans throwback look.
The rule in today’s sports media world is pretty simple: Force the user to either love the content or hate the content. Social media’s devilish presence has upped the emotional ante in a way that often takes away from the notion of substance.
It’s all about the reaction.
Interestingly, a throwback uniform from more than a decade ago was way ahead of the “emotional” curve.
When the AFL’s 50th anniversary hit us in 2009, each of the AFL teams unveiled new throwback uniforms (some of which were introduced a season earlier). This, of course, includes the New York Jets, who began their existence as the New York Titans in 1960.
The Titans throwback uniforms were worn during the 2008 Brett Favre-featured season, and it was obvious that the fanbase was split on the look. Fans either loved the non-green look or hated it.
Twelve years later, the Titans unis are still a topic. Look no further than stud left tackle Mekhi Becton, a man who recently pledged his love for the old-school look.
Becton retweeted a fan tweet suggesting the Jets bring back the Titans uniforms in 2021.
YESSSS!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!! https://t.co/aTOqwhvpRh
— Trending Topic 🤷🏾♂️ (@BigTicket73) February 6, 2021
Of course, no NFL team can play with its throwback helmets too much thanks to the one-helmet rule. No team is allowed to use more than one specific helmet shell over the course of a season. The design, such as the decals and facemask can be changed, but not the structure, the actual helmet itself.
The reasoning comes down to player safety. Wearing a new helmet straight out of the box is less desirable than wearing one that already had a lengthy “break-in” period.
Considering the Titans helmet is drastically different than the current Gotham Green look, the one-helmet rule makes it impossible to use the Titans or the 1980s Jets look—another favorite of Becton’s, apparently.
https://twitter.com/Kev_KTK/status/1358053718357344261
Hope is on the horizon, however, as rumors have circulated for a little under a year that the NFL is considering abolishing the rule. If that does, indeed, happen, Becton and the current Jets can hope for the day they look like Jerricho Cotchery, Leon Washington, Darrelle Revis and Mark Sanchez, circa 2008 and 2009.
For now, it’s business as usual with Gotham Green.
