21 CANDLES
But QB Darnold says he won’t burn them at both ends
THERE is a price to pay for throwing an ill-advised interception, even on the day you turn 21. Happy Birthday, Sam Darnold.
“Man, I had to get him,” Jamal Adams told The Post. “He owes me a steak dinner by the way.” Why is that? “Cause I said if I pick him off he gotta buy me a dinner, all that money he got,” Adams said.
Adams, the sixth pick of the 2017 draft, is a lean, mean safety machine these days in part because of a healthier diet.
“No, I’m not eating steak, but it’s gonna be an expensive restaurant,” Adams said.
Darnold also dropped a shotgun snap on a day when he displayed good accuracy on out routes and the ball came out of his hand nicely.
But what the Jets truly love about him is his football addiction.
Only Jo e Namath could be Broadway Joe off the field and a star on it. Darnold is Broadway No. I asked him how he plans on celebrating his birthday. “Playing football,” Darnold said. Unlike too many reckless Jets who may have caused coach Todd Bowles sleepless nights over the past year, Darnold won’t be driving the wrong way through the Lincoln Tunnel or endangering innocent lives with a DUI arrest.
“It’s cool to be 21, but at the same time, coming here every single day ready for practice, nothing’s changing for me,” Darnold said, and chuckled.
I asked him: You won’t allow yourself to go out and have a drink tonight?
“Probably not,” Darnold said. “Probably gonna stay in and go to sleep early. Like I have been every single night.”
That would be blasphemy to the 21-year-old Broadway Joe, of course. Maybe even to the 75-yearold Joe Namath. But Darnold isn’t trying to be Broadway Sam. The Jets drafted him to be Sam Darnold. He’s no longer a student at USC. He’s a student of the game he loves.
“I’m studying every single day in the film room or on the practice field,” Darnold said. “In regards to that, just being able to spend time watching football, playing football, it’s awesome. To be able to come in here every single day, and do it for a living, it’s pretty sweet.”
Darnold might not even know where Broadway is. Asked if he’s been to the city, he said: “I’ve
“It’s cool to be 21, but at the same time, coming here every single day ready for practice, nothing’s changing for me.” — Sam Darnold
just been here. It’s been awesome though. Being able to spend time in Florham Park in the Jersey area, Morristown, it’s been really cool.”
Yawn. Darnold let his hair down at MetLife Stadium.
“I went to the Luke Bryan, Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi concert, so that was really fun,” he said.
His teammates have been impressed with his poise and professionalism.
“I’m making a ton of strides, but at the same time I’m not exactly where I want to be,” Darnold said, “but I know it’s gonna take time and it’s a process. I’m really excited about where I’m going right now.”
Namath used to say the same thing about Broadway. Inside linebacker Avery Williamson was in Tennessee when Marcus Mariota stepped in as the franchise quarterback.
Regarding Darnold, he said, “I feel like he’s handling it well for a rookie ... especially being in a city like this. It could be a lot of madness, if you let it get to you.”
No danger of that with Broadway No. Darnold relished having Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater and offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates to mentor him after the Adams pick.
“I just made a bad read on it,” Darnold said. “Shoulda just dumped it down to the back, tried to force one in there. But, it is what it is.”
Happy Birthday, Kid. You’re buying.