FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- When the New York Jets’ facility was redesigned in the offseason, their Lombardi Trophy -- a fixture in the main lobby -- was moved to the opposite side of the building. The trophy, won in 1969, now resides in the players' lobby.
The request for that switch was made by the players. They wanted to have their eye on the prize.
"That's part of the reason when we walk in -- a lot of guys talked about this -- we put a Lombardi Trophy at the front, so you see that every day," veteran leader Matt Forte said Friday after reporting to training camp. "That's our goal, to win a Lombardi Trophy. If you don't see that every day, how can you believe that?"
Realists will say the Jets are closer to the Vince Lombardi Service Area on the New Jersey Turnpike (21 miles away) than another Lombardi Trophy, but every team is allowed to dream.
On Day 1 of camp, the Jets oozed optimism, dismissing their many critics and insisting they have high expectations despite dire forecasts. If you can't be positive on the first day, then when?
Forte said a successful season would be "anything playoff-wise and forward. Nobody goes into a season hoping they make it. You go in with the goal and aspirations of doing that, but you also have to believe that as well."
The Jets have only a 2.4 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN's FPI, which says they have a 16 percent chance of earning the top pick in the 2018 draft. That tells you everything you need to know about outside expectations.
"The standard and belief we have within these walls is high, and that's what we're chasing," quarterback Josh McCown said. "Everybody else is entitled to their opinions."
Naturally, the players want to win now; it's part of their DNA. Management has a different perspective. It tore down the roster, hoping to rebuild a successful program for the future. The future won't be 2017. This team simply doesn't have enough talent to contend, but there are some intriguing young players who could develop.
"Big names left," guard Brian Winters said, "but there are a lot of players that are making names for themselves on this roster."
Nose tackle Steve McLendon, one of only four players in the 30-and-up category, was excited by Day 1. There was 100 percent attendance and every player passed the conditioning test. That's pretty routine stuff, but he saw it as an early victory.
"That's amazing, that's awesome to me," McLendon said. "We did the first thing that mattered. We showed up and passed the conditioning test.
"I look at this thing like a puzzle," he said. "You've got a 1,000-piece puzzle. If you can put everything together, if you can put everyone together ... we're going to be a beautiful piece in the end."
