Many people I've talked to, after watching Jason's one-two punch of his silly "I Shot the Sheriff" and lyric-spacing "Mr. Tambourine Man," believe he was purposefully trying to get himself voted off the show. Maybe I just don't want to accept that, as he's been my favorite ever since "Daydream." (I mean, really. He was at an enormous disadvantage as one of four male contestants with no screen time throughout the auditions and Hollywood week. The other three were voted off almost immediately, but Jason stayed longer than contestants who'd been showcased more than a brand-new car on "The Price is Right.")

However, I truly don't believe that he purposefully threw the competition. I think he was simply overwhelmed. David C. is a song-arranging machine, Syesha has more drive than Danica Patrick, and David A. has that beautiful voice working for him. The other three contestants want this more than anything, whereas I think Jason is a talented guy who was out of his league and could no longer keep up. The others were more ready for this. Jason tried, but I think the pressure was just too great.

I agree that he at least would have finished 3rd (could anyone have stopped the all-David showdown?) if he'd sung well his last night. However, that doesn't mean he purposefully messed up. Based on the interviews I've read with him, he simply wasn't as experienced or polished as the other remaining three. After Paula's judging his second song before he'd actually done a second song the week before, I believe he was psyched out. On his last night, he crumbled under the pressure.

Compare Jason to David Cook, my 2nd favorite of the season. Both had great styles, but Cook was prepared to a whole new, unreal, level. On the last performance night, Archuleta sang "Imagine" again, probably in part because of the difficulty in learning all these new songs at once. Cook was able to do three new songs, plus several at the finale Wednesday. What did Jason sing at the finale? Not a new song, but "Hallelujah." Jason simply did not have the sort of professionalism the others, especially Cook, had.

Now that the show's over, I look forwad to Jason's CD, assuming he gets the chance to make one. He may not have been up to Idol's pressure-cooker standards, but he has a wonderful gift.