The Anti-Zach Wilson

Good morning!  This month marks 5 years since I launched Joker Mag. The time has flown by and I've loved every second of sharing these stories with you.So, whether you've been here forever – or are brand new to Underdog Nation – thank you for your support.

In today's newsletter:

• The anti-Zach Wilson

• Ray Lewis of the USFL

• From midget squad to NBA superstar

Let's dive in.

New Jets QB is The Anti-Zach Wilson

The Jets' replacement at QB couldn't be further from Zach Wilson.

When news broke that 27-year-old Mike White would be replacing the 2021 second-overall pick, a lot of fans pulled up Wikipedia wondering: "Who the heck is this guy?"

Here's a quick summary of his rollercoaster journey:

• Didn't start til his senior year of high school

• Struggled in his first two years of college ball

• Transferred to Western Kentucky & threw 63 TD's in two seasons

• Crashed his draft stock at the Senior Bowl

• 5th round pick by Dallas

• Cut and re-signed countless times

On Sunday, White made the most of his opportunity – throwing for 315 yards, 3 TDs, and a 149.3 passer rating.

With #5 under center, the Jets looked like a totally different team on the way to a 31-10 blowout over Chicago.

"Personally, the way I approach the quarterback position is being a calming presence in the huddle, especially when things aren't going well," he told NFL.com.

Is Mike White "the guy"?  So far, he looks the part.  And if he keeps it up, the Jets might be talking playoffs.

How do you think things will play out for the Jets at QB? Reply to this email and let me know.

The Ray Lewis of The USFL

We've covered a lot of success stories from small schools. But none of them come close to Sam Mills.

As a 5'9" linebacker, college scouts didn't want him. So he walked on to a Division III team.

And even after shattering school records, pro scouts wanted nothing to do with him.

In fact, it took an old coach calling in a favor to get Mills a workout with the Cleveland Browns.

But they cut him at the end of training camp. And the CFL didn't want him either.

So Mills resigned to living a "regular" life as a school teacher back in New Jersey.

Then everything changed.

The brand new United States Football League (USFL) was searching the country for talent.

Opportunity knocked, and Mills signed with the Philadelphia Stars for a whopping $20,000 (nonguaranteed) yearly salary.

He became an instant superstar, leading Philadelphia to back-to-back league titles.

"He was the Ray Lewis of the USFL," said one Facebook commenter.

When the league folded, Mills followed head coach Jim Mora to the NFL.

After entering the league as a 27-year-old rookie (when most are ready to hang 'em up), Sam Mills stuck around for a full 12 seasons.

Today, he's a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

You can check out the full story of Sam Mills' incredible rise on Joker Mag.

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Did You Know?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got cut from his 9th-grade basketball team. Instead, he was sent to play for the school's "midget squad".

How did he respond? By winning Team MVP and leading the midget squad to a city championship.

Today he's one of the best young players in the NBA.

Remember, your circumstances do not define you. How you respond to those circumstances determines how far you go.

“There is a reason they called it chasing your dreams and not walking after them.”– Shannon Sharpe

That's all for now. Thanks for reading!

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Til next time,Tyler