The message from the Jets veterans to the younger players as they brace for tomorrow night’s win-and-in battle against the Bengals in the final game played at Giants Stadium is clear and simple: Seize this moment.
“Out of respect for the older players, you want to stress and try and teach the young guys to have a sense of urgency,” linebacker Bart Scott said. “They’ve got something that the lot of older guys don’t have and that’s time. It’s tough to get someone a sense of urgency when they have time.”
The best illustration of that urgency is the dynamic of these Jets, built to win now, being led by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.
Everyone on the roster has been culpable at one time or another this season for the 8-7 record that has made the Jets a team fighting for their playoff life, but Sanchez’s periodic struggles with ball security and decision-making has been the most glaring wart.
“The reality is all of aren’t going to be here forever, and [Sanchez] will be here a lot longer than we will,” Scott said. “You don’t want to be one of those guys who, after you’ve helped build something — like Tiki Barber [with the Giants] — and do all that work and then see the team go the Super Bowl after you’re gone.”
Veteran right tackle Damien Woody, who won two Super Bowls with the Patriots, said seizing this moment “has definitely been stressed” to the younger players.
“Sometimes when coaches say something and for players it goes in one ear and out the other because they get tired of hearing the same voice,” Woody said. “Sometimes it’s better coming from a player’s perspective on what it’s really all about. It’s special being one of the 12 teams in the playoffs.
“We’ve definitely been talking to the younger guys, telling them the privilege it is to play in the playoffs. We can only experience that by taking care of business [tomorrow] night.”
Woody said he has pointed out to Sanchez a couple of times that he can be the only rookie quarterback in the playoffs if the Jets win tomorrow.
“I mentioned that to him,” Woody said. “That would be something special for him. He’s definitely focused on this game and what we have to do.”
Safety Jim Leonhard, who is in his first season with the Jets, made the playoffs for the first time in his career last season with the Ravens, with rookie quarterback Joe Flacco playing.
“If you’ve been in the league for awhile you realize just because you make it one year you’re not guaranteed to get back,” Leonhard said. “The young guys don’t quite understand that. They come from college, where the majority of guys are going to a bowl game every year and they take for granted that postseason.
“Once you’ve been around this league, you realize how hard it is to get in, and you definitely don’t want to miss an opportunity with a team as talented as we are. We need this win more than anything or this year is a disappointment.”
The Jets, based on the way they have fought back from losing six of seven games to win four of their last five, are a team hungry to get to the playoffs.
“All of us are hungry when we’re laying in bed at night dreaming about scenarios and making it,” Scott said, “but when you wake up and it’s time to go to work you have to have that same hunger and apply that.”