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New York Jets fans must remain patient, and under the current regime, it's acceptable to do so.
New York Jets fans are a special breed of football fans. Loyalty is a term that describes each and every fan of the Gang Green. 1968 was a magical year for the Jets that culminated in the upset win over the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Ever since, it has been a battle to get back to the big game. For decades the Jets have been searching for a quarterback, getting close to the big game a few times, but just haven't gotten back there. Through it all, one thing has been constantly preached: patience.
Jets fans always have to stay patient. They are building their team, just stay patient. They are so close, just stay patient. Wait until next year, stay patient. It has been the story of Jets fans lives, hasn't it? With the amount of patience that has been required of Jets fans, they would all be doctors by now. Sorry, just a little word humor.
Now, Jets fans are being asked to do it again. The team is rebuilding. Frankly, very little is expected of this team in 2017. They aren't even favored to beat the Cleveland Browns. You know the team is not viewed very positively when that's the case. What are fans to do? They are being told to be patient, but that is what they are always being told. How can fans stay patient during a rebuild, when it seems that the Jets are always in a perpetual rebuild?
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I had this conversation with a fellow Jets fan the other day. He was very disappointed that general manager Mike Maccagnan didn't do very much with all of the cap space he freed up by jettisoning veterans. He believed they should have made more moves on the open market, and thinks the coach and general manager should be gone. I tried to tell him to be patient. Why?
It's essential — and with this group, it's acceptable.
First of all, the team is committed to rebuilding. Everybody is on board. Even Woody Johnson has gotten the idea, not putting a playoffs or else mandate on coach Todd Bowles (per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). This is the same owner that thought bringing in Tim Tebow was a good idea. If he is on board, the whole organization is. Fans just have to get on board as well and enjoy the ride.
So, what has Maccagnan done with the roster? He has made it younger. Out of the current 90 man roster, exactly six players are age 30 or greater. Six — that's it. The projected starting lineup sports an average age of 26 years old. We talk all the time about how an offensive line needs to grow together. When the group is young, they can do exactly that.
The same goes for the group of wide receivers. If you look at the entire group on the team now, even with some that won't be on the team, the oldest is Eric Decker. He's 30 years old. Decker still might not be on the team when Week 1 rolls around, but even if he is, he is the oldest.
The bulk of the group are players that will be around for a while. These are just two position examples, but if you look around this roster, most of it consists of players that have been drafted by the team, or signed as undrafted free agents.
This is how you create sustainable success. You supplement your team through free agency but build it through the draft. You hang onto the players that have potential and wade out the ones that don't. Then, you go back and do it again. Don't believe me? Look at the Seattle Seahawks as a fine example. That defense that went to back to back Super Bowls was primarily built through the draft. The "Legion of Boom" came from Seahawks draftees and undrafted free agents. Look how good they became.
Why is this rebuild acceptable? Because Mike Maccagnan is doing it the right way.
Jets fans, stay patient. We have to anyway, and finally, we have good reason to. The Jets are on the road to getting it right.
