Say what you want about Woody Johnson, but Jets players have his back

In recent New York Jets history, there is arguably no more polarizing figure than owner Woody Johnson, and for good reason. When an NFL team fails over and over again, and there's only one person who has overseen those failures, fans are going to start pointing the finger in his direction.

And there has been a lot to point out over the last 15 years. The Jets currently boast the longest playoff drought in North American sports, having not seen a postseason berth since the first term of the Obama administration.

Since 2011, the Jets have a record of 85-160 and have only managed to record one winning season. They've had five different head coaches and general managers, with one constant at the top: a Johnson running the show.

In recent years, things haven't gotten much better on the football field. The Jets are still trying to turn things around and get back to their winning ways of the 2000s, but fans can at least take solace in the fact that it seems like, off the field, Johnson is working to make things better for his players.

New York Jets players come to the defense of owner Woody Johnson

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt wrote an all-encompassing article about Johnson, his relationship with head coach Aaron Glenn, and how the owner is doing his best to turn things around for one of the NFL's most lowly franchises.

Fans can say what they want about Johnson, and there are plenty of reasons to rag on him. But one thing you can't say is that the players don't have his back. Some of the Jets' most experienced and respected players provided comments to Rosenblatt for the piece.

"I’ve been blown away at how much our owner wants to support our players," veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips told Rosenblatt.

"Since I got here, he’s asked questions and tried to figure out: What do y’all need to take that step?" Garrett Wilson said to Rosenblatt. "Every stone he can turn over he’s turned over, and I appreciate the hell out of that."

Johnson has invested a lot of time and money into the organization over the last few seasons, including a state-of-the-art locker room and weight room "designed with help from the team’s growing sports science staff," per Rosenblatt.

That's the kind of support players are looking for from the decision-makers upstairs, and it seems like Johnson is doing his best to help out in any way he can.

The Jets' owner is clearly doing his best to clean up his less-than-ideal reputation, and he's taking the right first steps in doing so.

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