This past week, the Cleveland Browns started to part ways with head coach Hue Jackson after not seeing the results they expected this season. And with the Jets 3-5 for the third straight season, speculation that Todd Bowles may be next.
But DE Leonard Williams doesn't want this debate to gain any traction. Instead, he wants continued patience for Bowles and the rest of the coaching staff.
"I think just patience is big," he told NJ.com's Matt Stypulkoski. "That's kind of hard to a Jets fan because we haven't won a Super Bowl since '68 and I'm sure they've been patient this far. But I'm saying patient as far as since I've been here. This has been new coaches, new GM and all that type of stuff. Things take time."
It isn't just Bowles, though. There are some that want to see the Jets to part ways with GM Mike Maccagnan as well. However, Williams explained why these two are critical in the process the Jets are currently going through to get back to being contenders.
Simply put, it just doesn't make sense to make a change right now.
"Like, from the inside speaking, I think it just doesn't make sense because if you bring in a whole new coach, everything that these coaches have been working up to build is going to start all over when you bring a new coach in," Williams explained. "They're going to have a whole different vision for the team, they're going to have a whole new offense, whole new defense, whole new system and then they're going to want new players, so they're going to have to do exactly what our coach and GM are doing now, which is get rid of some players, bring in some new players. It's like, if you keep doing that, you're going to just have to keep pressing restart..."
The latest process in the Jets' rebuilding process was Maccagnan trading up to No. 3 in the 2018 NFL Draft to be able to pick their hopeful franchise quarterback. They do so in Sam Darnold, who looks to have been the right pick so far. The year before that, the selection of Jamal Adams was made to provide an anchor not only in the secondary, but bring in a hopeful defensive leader for years to come.
Maccagnan will also be powered with about $90 million in cap space when 2019 free agency rolls around. So, more holes can be plugged using that money as he did with players like Trumaine Johnson and Avery Williamson last offseason.
Any rebuild is going to take time, as Williams pointed out. And even though the results on the field have been consistently below-average, Williams said this year does have a different, better feeling to it.
"It definitely feels different from previous years," he said. "It's hard for fans to understand, especially because I've probably said that before. It's hard for fans to understand because obviously we see wins and losses and clearly that is what matters. You know, you want to win and that's the key to show like, 'OK, is this team doing good?' It's wins and losses. But at the same time, the energy around here, the direction we're heading, the people we have in the building, it's a huge culture change and I'm excited about where it's going."
That's exactly what the Jets want: a culture change. And if Williams words ring true, that is what's going on at One Jets Drive.
So the last thing that needs to happen is getting rid of two key pieces leading the change. It will only start the entire process over again in Williams' eyes.
"I think if we get rid of some of our head pieces -- like our GM and head coach -- then I think it would definitely take some steps back," he said.