Jets' owner seems pleased with team's progress

Oct 19, 2017 - 3:45 PM FLORHAM PARK, N.J.-- Coaches, players, executives, owners -- really anyone inside NFL organizations -- like to trumpet the phrase "we don't pay attention to outside noise" regarding expectations for their team.

But time and time again, we see that isn't true. For the New York Jets, it's either that, or Chris Johnson, the new day-to-day owner, is far more patient than the former owner, his older brother Woody.

Look at the difference between 2008, Eric Mangini's third and final season as head coach of the Jets, and this year, Todd Bowles' third at the helm.

Coming off a 4-12 season in 2007, the Jets brought in Brett Favre and spent $140 million in the offseason, officially signaling they were in win-now mode. Like this year's team, they started 3-3, then won five in a row, including an overtime thriller in New England, to stamp themselves as contenders. But they lost four of their last five to finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs.

Mangini was the toast of the town two years prior after leading the Jets to the postseason, with the tabloids nicknaming him Mangenius and a cameo on "The Sopranos." But, even though he was initially against bringing in Favre, the then-37-year-old head coach was lambasted by the media for the team's collapse and was fired the day after the regular season ended.

"I was told no matter what happens if we bring in Brett Favre, you're absolutely safe," Mangini told The New York Post last year. "I probably should have gotten that in writing."

But outside expectations got high and the team failed, thus the coach was out.

A 3-3 record normally isn't anything to write home about. Currently, 11 of the 16 AFC teams have three wins or more, including all four in the AFC East. But, speaking to NJ.com at Tuesday's league meetings in Manhattan, Chris Johnson seemed pumped up about where his team is at.

"We're not tanking, and I think you're seeing that," he said. "I mean, this is a great thing I'm seeing."

What makes it so great? Well, after an 0-2 start, the Jets have surprised bookmakers and fans alike by winning three of their last four, and had a chance to tie the Patriots in the final minute of Sunday's game. Expectations were so low that even mediocrity is viewed fondly.

"I'm so happy about how this team started out, and I see us continuing to grow," Johnson said. "It's so awesome. The energy in that locker room is unreal. I'm happy to be along for the ride."

And he's right. The atmosphere in the locker room has been extremely positive, led by quarterback Josh McCown, and has been since the team coalesced at halftime of their Week 2 game in Oakland.

The road for the Jets is tough. It starts with Sunday's road game against Miami (3-2), and their remaining 11 opponents are a combined 32-22 through Week 6. Football Outsiders gives them only an 8 percent shot at making the playoffs, the lowest of any AFC East team. So, as Bowles said earlier this week, "playoff talk is not valid for me at all."

Managing expectations. Smart move, coach.

SERIES HISTORY: 104th regular-season meeting. Jets lead series, 54-48-1. The Jets nearly got their first shutout since 2010 in the teams' first meeting this season, a 20-6 win at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 24. Robby Anderson had 95 yards receiving, including a 69-yard touchdown reception from Josh McCown to put the Jets up 10-0. The Jets have won four of their last five in Miami, but lost there last year, as Jay Ajayi carved them up for 111 yards and a touchdown. The Dolphins swept the Jets last season for the first time since 2009. The only postseason meeting between the two teams ended as a 14-0 Miami win in the 1982 AFC Championship Game at the Orange Bowl in a game that has become known as the "Mud Bowl."

NOTES: RB Bilal Powell (calf), who missed last week's game, sat out Wednesday's practice. ... DE Muhammad Wilkerson (toe, shoulder), who hasn't missed a game this season but also didn't practice at all last week, sat out Wednesday's practice. ... WR Robby Anderson (ankle) missed Wednesday's practice. He appeared to be injured on the Jets' final play of Sunday's game against the Patriots. ... DE Kony Ealy (shoulder) was limited at Wednesday's practice. ... RB Matt Forte (knee, toe), who returned against the Patriots after missing two games and amassed 81 total yards, was limited at Wednesday's practice. ... DL Anthony Johnson was released from injured reserve on Wednesday. ... RB Jahad Thomas was released from the practice squad on Wednesday after signing last week. ... SS Harold Jones-Quartey was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday. The 24-year-old is a three-year veteran who had 103 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass deflections the last two years for the Bears.