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The Jets' offseason has been a wild roller-coaster ride. It started at the bottom when they fired their head coach, peaked during free agency and the draft, then went on a wild spiral downward when they fired their general manager … and then somehow managed to come out of it OK.

In fact, not only do they seem OK now that GM Joe Douglas and his good buddy, head coach Adam Gase, are in charge; they are convinced they are on an uphill climb again. They are loaded with optimism. They feel like they are finally headed in the right direction. They believe a return to the playoffs is near.

Maybe they're right. Or maybe they're fooling themselves. For now, though, there has been an unusual amount of hope and excitement around the Jets as they wrapped up their spring organized team activities and mini-camps. Time will tell if that's warranted or not.

Jets QB Josh McCown is officially hanging up his cleats, as he announced his retirement after 17 NFL seasons. 

Penning his retirement in a Players' Tribune article, McCown reflected on "one heck of a journey" that he has gone through in his NFL career.

While some have expressed their belief that McCown would be a great coach, he will join ESPN as an NFL analyst beginning Wednesday. 

It's safe to say Jets special teams coach Brant Boyer was ecstatic to see not one, but two of his players reach the Pro Bowl last season. Kick and punt returner Andre Roberts and kicker Jason Myers both put together solid seasons, good enough to be voted among the NFL's best to represent the Jets. 

But, now, Boyer doesn't have the luxury of those two on his depth chart any longer. Roberts is now a Buffalo Bill and Myers signed with the Seahawks, with both players not happy New York wasn't competitive in bringing them back.

Roberts, in particular, was one of the best return specialists in the NFL last season. He totaled 1,147 yards on 40 returns (29.4 ypr) with one touchdown, and had 324 yards on 23 punt returns (14.1 ypr) with a touchdown as well. That type of production will be hard to match, and Boyer knows it.

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To illustrate the lovely bond that bloomed between the 1969 Mets and their roommates at Shea Stadium, the Jets, John Schmitt tells the following story: 

Schmitt, the center on the Jets' Super Bowl III champs, brought his young son, John-John, to the ballgame one night to see the great Tom Seaver pitch. Schmitt ushered John-John into the Mets' clubhouse, where Seaver was getting a pre-game massage. Schmitt did not want to disturb a fellow athlete's prep, but Seaver insisted. 

"He got off the rubdown table, put on his jersey and hat and took a picture with us," Schmitt recalls. "He was great. Then he takes off his jersey, gets back on the table and went out and won the game that night.

Jets camp is in full swing, and there's a buzz in the Florham Park air. There's a new head coach, a new GM, and lots of fresh faces on the field.

Which players have the potential to be unheralded X-factors for the Jets this year? Here's five guys who have stood out so far.

Jonotthan Harrison (C)

Harrison is a familiar face after starting nine games over the last two years, but there was some thought that the Jets may pursue an upgrade at center this offseason. Instead, they stuck with Harrison, and the results are paying off.

Todd McShay won't be joining college teammate Joe Douglas in New York.

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the 42-year-old analyst has elected to stay with ESPN rather than taking a job in the Jets' personnel department. 

Once Douglas was brought onboard, McShay told ESPN's Rich Cimini that he he was being considered for a front office position with the team. McShay and Douglas share a connection from their days together as teammates at the University of Richmond, but it sounds like McShay has decided to keep his current job in Bristol.

Joe Douglas made another change to the Jets' roster on Thursday, adding CB Mark Myers.

Myers, a Southeastern University product, signed with the Buccaneers last May after impressing during rookie camp as a tryout player. Myers stuck around with the Bucs during the preseason, but was later released when the roster was trimmed to 53 players. 

Listed at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, Myers started for four years at Southeastern, whose NAIA football program started from scratch in 2014.

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - If there's one thing that defined the Jets in the final two years of the Todd Bowles Era, it was their maddeningly underachieving defense. Every year they seemed to have so much talent and potential, but the production just never matched.

The strong belief inside One Jets Drive is that storyline is about to change dramatically under new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Because if he can't get something out of this defense, then it's possible that nobody can.

The 60-year-old Williams was the most interesting, controversial, and by far the best hire that Jets coach Adam Gase made when he assembled his staff over the last few months. And it didn't take long for Williams to leave his mark on the team. His loud, profane voice has dominated spring practices, the same way his defensive players have often dominated on the field...

Don't ask Joe Vitt about his relationship with Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. 

The Jets' senior defensive assistant had little to say Thursday when asked about working under Williams again, like the pair did in New Orleans, where they were both involved in "Bountygate." 

"This is a National Enquirer question, or what?" Vitt tersely retorted. "I like Gregg. Me and him are friends. Next question." 

Jamal Adams has already expressed his fondness for new Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Perhaps one reason why is the tough love Williams showed him early on.

Williams recalled the first thing he said to the Jets' Pro Bowl safety the first time they met, and surely it'll light a fire within Adams.

At 42 years old, did new Jets GM Joe Douglas feel it was time for him to become a general manager? Was an opportunity like this something he was waiting for?

"I don't know if you know you're ready until you actually get there," Douglas told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Wednesday. "It's almost like the feeling before me and my wife Shannon were getting ready to have our first child."

Douglas added he thought he was prepared to be a father, and then when the baby was born, "whoa."

Joe Douglas has officially added to the Jets' roster for the first time as the team's GM.

During his introductory press conference, Douglas said that the Jets would use their No. 3 claim in the waiver wire to their advantage, and he's already making good on that claim in the early days of his tenure, as the Jets claimed CB Montrel Meander off waivers from the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday afternoon.

A Grambling State product, Meander originally signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He spent the majority of the season on the Browns' practice squad before finishing the year with the Raiders.

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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- In Joe Douglas' first year in the Philadelphia Eagles front office they made a bold trade up in the draft to land quarterback Carson Wentz. Douglas quickly realized two things: The Eagles had the right guy at quarterback, and they needed to move quickly to build a winner around him.

There was an excitement and a sense of hope and purpose back then about the Eagles' immediate future - something that thanks to the presence of quarterback Sam Darnold, the Jets' new general manager is absolutely feeling again now.

"There was a sense of urgency in Philadelphia knowing that we had a young quarterback and we want to put the pieces around him," Douglas said. "I think there's going to be that same urgency here with a young quarterback like Sam. I think once you know you have the right guy, that's the sense of urgency. Let's go win right now. I think that confidence is here right now."

"This is a good day, a really good day."

That's how Jets CEO Christopher Johnson opened up the press conference to introduce new GM Joe Douglas at the Jets facility in Florham Park on Tuesday. 

Johnson and the Jets moved on from now-former GM Mike Maccagnan, though he did complete their draft and free agent moves. Head coach Adam Gase was given the interim role, as the Jets went searching for someone who "shared my vision for the team," as Johnson put it. 

It wasn't long before new GM Joe Douglas made his first move for the Jets, as TE Neal Sterling was released on Tuesday. 

Sterling re-signed with the Jets this offseason on a veteran minimum contract, but he has been injured this offseason which has kept him out of team practices.

With Chris Herndon having a solid rookie season in 2018, and Trevon Wesco drafted in the fourth round back in April, the Jets had the depth to let him go. Jordan Leggett is also on the Jets' depth chart...

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The Jets are scheduled to introduce their new general manager, Joe Douglas, to the media on Tuesday afternoon. Here are 10 questions we'd like to see Douglas answer:

1. What is your current assessment of the roster you are inheriting?

While Douglas may not go into specific players or position groups, it's important to get some sense of how far away he feels the team is from being a contender. Mike Maccagnan expressed confidence in the team a few months ago, but - having inherited it rather than built it himself - Douglas might be more willing to be honest about some of the weaknesses.

Former Jets TE Kellen Winslow Jr. was found guilty on Monday of raping a 58-year-old homeless woman last year in a town north of San Diego.

The verdict was reached in San Diego Superior Court, where the 35-year-old former NFL player was also found guilty of indecent exposure and lewd conduct but not guilty of one count of a lewd act. 

Prosecutors used DNA evidence and pointed to GPS locations that placed Winslow where the women said the assaults happened to make their case while the defense argued inconsistencies in the accuser's stories and that the sex was consensual. 

The Jets (unsurprisingly) had a loud offseason. For the most part, everything went pretty well. They hired a new coach, won the Le'Veon Bell sweepstakes, and drafted Quinnen Williams with the No. 3 pick in the draft. Then, they fired GM Mike Maccagnan after the draft, and new head coach Adam Gase briefly served as the interim GM. With new GM Joe Douglas in the fold, the organization appears finished with its major offseason moves.

For a franchise that seemingly can never escape controversy, the Jets enter the 2019 season with an exciting roster and plenty of reasons to feel optimistic. These are a few of them...

Sam Darnold's progression

Reunited and it feels so good for Bilal Powell and Sam Darnold.

The Jets and Powell initially parted ways this offseason, but he still finds himself with New York heading into the new season. After a workout on Friday, Powell signed a one-year deal to come back to Gang Green. 

Darnold only had Powell in his backfield for seven games during his rookie season under center, but he is pumped to have him back in the mix when training camp kicks off in July. 

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New Jets general manager Joe Douglas spent most of his career with the Baltimore Ravens although he's been with Philadelphia for the past three years. Prior to that, he spent a year with the Bears, which is where his path crossed with that of then-Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase. With Gase and Douglas reunited in New York, it's worth looking back at the players drafted by Douglas' teams to see if we can identify any potential future targets for the Jets.

Ironically, two of the biggest offseason acquisitions for the Jets were two of the best draft picks from Douglas' time with the Ravens. Baltimore selected CJ Mosley in the first round in 2014 and Kelechi Osemele in the second round in 2012 and they've made six pro bowl appearances between them. However, are there any other selections that Douglas' teams made in the past who could be targets if they become available?

DL Timmy Jernigan - Philadelphia 

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The Jets have had their share of dysfunctional coach-GM relationships over the last decade, and there's no guarantee that this one will be any different. Give two alpha males relatively equal power -- or any power, really -- and clashes are bound to happen. There's always a chance things can get bad.

But at least this time the Jets are starting out on the right foot, even if they got there in a backwards way. Because a huge key for any sports operation is for a coach and general manager to share the same vision, to be able to work together and solve their differences in a professional way.

So it's nothing but a good thing that Joe Douglas, the new Jets GM, was the hand-picked choice of new Jets coach Adam Gase. Yes, that's the reverse of how it usually happens. But in the end, it won't matter how they got there, as long as the Jets' two most powerful people begin and remain on the same page.

Joe Douglas may not be the only new addition to the Jets front office. 

The newly-hired GM is looking to build a staff around him and is considering ESPN college football analyst Todd McShay, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini. 

McShay, who has never worked in an NFL front office, told Cimini that he is one of several options Douglas is considering. The two were teammates together at the University of Richmond. 

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Now that the Jets have filled their general manager vacancy, there will inevitably be changes in the way the Jets put together their team. 

While Joe Douglas, like Mike Maccagnan before him, has a background in scouting, there are plenty of differences in his approach. 

Let's consider some of the main tenets, how they differ from those of Maccagnan and what this could mean for some of the players on the current roster.

The Jets have found their next general manager.

The team announced on Friday evening that Joe Douglas, formerly the Eagles vice president of player personnel, has agreed to terms to join the Jets' front office.

Per SNY Insider Ralph Vacchiano, Douglas did not make this easy for the Jets. The negotiations lasted several days and it took several offers from the Jets before Douglas finally accepted, according to an NFL source. At one point, some people close to him thought he would eventually turn the Jets down.

The Jets have brought back a familiar face.

After running back Bilal Powell worked out with the Jets earlier in the day, the team announced on Friday afternoon that they had agreed to terms. The specifics of the deal have not yet been disclosed.

Powell, 30, played seven games with the Jets last season before he underwent season-ending neck surgery, which at one point was believed to be career-threatening, too. 

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The Jets should have a new general manager in place by next week, and it most likely will be Joe Douglas, the Philadelphia Eagles vice president of player personnel.

But it's not a done deal yet, and it's not a lock that he's going to get the job.

The 42-year-old Douglas remains the prohibitive favorite to replace the fired Mike Maccagnan as the new Jets GM, but a team source cautioned that the hire isn't the slam dunk so many believe it is. The Jets appear to be impressed by Scott Fitterer, the Seattle Seahawks co-director of player personnel. And Gase has ties to Champ Kelly, the Chicago Bears assistant director of player personnel, too.

In a sense, mandatory minicamps are like the first day of school. Players have been around their teammates during OTAs, but like the summer, you don't necessarily see everyone. 

But minicamp brings forth the entire 90-man roster, and for players on the defense like Jamal Adams, they couldn't wait for recess. That's how Adams referred to the team drills on Day 1, as the defense dominated throughout the day. 

"It's a lot of fun. It's like recess for us, you know what I mean?" Adams told reporters. "We go out there, we have fun, we're flying around the ball, and we're doing what we love to do. I think that's what it's about."

Jets first-round pick Quinnen Williams has been limited during OTAs with a calf injury, but the team is optimistic he'll be a full participant in next week's final OTA session.

"He'll be full-go next week, which will be great," Adam Gase said on Wednesday. "I think he'll be alright. It's always unfortunate anytime that you're missing reps. I still think the meeting times have been very valuable for him.

"Anytime a big guy has any type of calf injury, it could be a time-consuming type thing. So we want to be careful bringing him back. [I've] had some experiences in the past where I've seen guys where it lingers, and [they're] rushing back too fast. You just have to be careful, I think we're in a good place right now. We've done it the right way."

According to a police report, Le'Veon Bell's home in Hollywood, Florida was the site of an apparent robbery.

On May 25th, Bell reported to police that he returned home from the gym to find his closets rummaged through and his jewelry missing.

The report lists the two women in question, who were nowhere to be found when the star running back returned home, as Bell's girlfriends, and the Jets' running back claims that $520,000 worth of jewelry was taken.

Jets CEO Christopher Johnson fired general manager Mike Maccagnan on May 15, making new head coach Adam Gase the interim GM. Here's the latest on the Jets' search for a new general manager ... 

June 5, 6:15 PM:

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jets held second interviews, presumably over the phone, with all the candidates they had already brought in: Joe Douglas, Scott Fitterer, Champ Kelly, and Terry Fontenot.

According to SNY Insider Ralph Vacchiano, the Jets spoke to all four candidates (again) about everything from money to whether they'd definitely take the job to their expected staff. Vacchiano says that the Jets are gathering all the info that they can to make a final deicison.