Dane Belton revealed the one word he doesn't want to hear amid Jets' 2-5 start

If you come across New York Jets safety Dane Belton in the coming days, there are plenty of terms worth using when discussing the team’s chances of rebounding from a 2-5 start. 

Speaking with ESPN following Sunday’s disappointing loss to the winless Dolphins, the veteran safety initially called the season “salvageable.” Belton then took a second, paused, and changed his approach.

“I wouldn’t even say ‘salvageable’ is the word,” Belton said. “I think we have really a good opportunity going forward. I think when you really think about the good things that we’ve done, it’s really promising. 

“Obviously, that’s not what a lot of people want to hear,” Belton continued, “but it’s something that we can build on.”

Belton certainly got one part right: his glass-half-full perspective won’t go over well with Jets fans, not in the slightest.

New York Jets safety Dane Belton’s optimistic attitude isn’t worth channeling 

In hindsight, we’d heard it all before. Aaron Glenn would come in, change the “culture” because he came from a recently successful organization, and end the Jets’ playoff drought. The only difference was that he’d been a Pro Bowl defensive back when people didn’t point and laugh at the Jets on a weekly basis.

We said this before the Cleveland Browns game, but fans don’t want to hear that things are trending up. There is no reason to genuinely believe that’s the case, not when Glenn is 0-8 against AFC East teams and 5-19 since the start of last year.

You cannot win games without competent coaching, management, and leadership. The Johnson family clearly learned nothing from the Adam Gase or Robert Saleh hires, but yes, the situation is “really promising.”

Belton is in great shape because he’s enjoying a strong season ahead of hitting free agency. He already has 56 tackles, is on pace to surpass last season’s 120, and has broken up three passes while playing 100 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps.

Oh, and he only turns 26 in December. Teams will definitely come calling next spring, assuming that he doesn’t re-sign with the Jets before the new league year.

But if you’re Belton, why stick around? Nothing has changed. The Jets are still the Jets, and they appear destined for an 11th consecutive losing season. Glenn’s seat is scorching, and history works against Woody Johnson hiring someone who A) isn’t a defensive-minded coach and B) actually follows through on building a winning tradition rather than promising one.

Tough times, except for those accustomed to the Jets. This is the standard. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow