Jets should channel a Joe Namath-like attitude in 2017

The New York Jets need to establish a new identity as they begin their rebuilding process. It’s time to take a page out of the Joe Namath book in establishing a new attitude all across the organization.

Face it. Last year was tough to watch. Only 5 wins and the New York Jets are going through a process of rebuilding. I would never turn my back on Gang Green but I was also vicariously living through the Joe Namath days.

Hanging on every Namath tweet, I truly believed we could be great again if we only strategized better. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith were mediocre fixes. Namath predicted wins and was the poster model of Jets football. When he threw in the towel on last year, I knew we needed dramatic changes. But what is it going to take?

The Jets need to be more flexible and pragmatic for sure. Trick plays, emphasis on special teams, and the Jets need an edge to close out games. Look at our division rivals, the New England Patriots, for example. They work like a machine in the second half of all their games to ensure they leave victorious.

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The Jets need a never say die attitude, just like Namath ensured the team had every single time they hit the football field. It’s reassuring knowing Namath still and always will care about Jets Nation but we need to make him proud again.

All too often our team’s offense went three and out. We can’t make this mistake again. Let’s put this burden on Todd Bowles and his style of play calling. Often times, Namath would have the right spirit and advice about mixing up plays and I expect the higher ups in the Jets organization to listen up. Namath won games because he was confident and knew the ability to undermine opponents. We need an attitude we are going win and come to a realization every opponent has a weakness we can exploit.

Not to jump the gun but I’m hopeful for 2017. It was a rude awakening in 2016 and 2017 could be the year we start transforming into a playoff contender again. We can’t just live in the past though. We’ll get that franchise quarterback. We will be playoff contenders again. Only if we can overcome the hurdle of playing just for the status quo. There has to be higher risk and improvement in closing out games. There’s time to improve but let’s not waste precious hours just to play for draft picks in 2018. It’s the main reason why Jets fans and Namath idealism has faded.