CORTLAND — The Jets know people think they stink.
Players and coach Rex Ryan have heard the predictions and the knocks on their talent and say they’re using them as motivation.
“I think half the NFL thinks we should just pack it up now,” said Jets guard Willie Colon, who is from The Bronx. “That’s all the motivation I need. I play with a lot of pride and a lot of fight. Me being a hometown kid, I know I’m going to do my best to shake that up a little bit.”
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The Jets are viewed as extreme long shots to make the playoffs, and many observers believe they are one of the worst teams, if not the worst, in the NFL. Mel Kiper called them a “glorified expansion team.” ESPN’s “power rankings” have the Jets at 32nd, dead last.
“We’re not clueless about what’s being said about us,’’ linebacker David Harris said. “You always try to find something to put on your shoulder and take with you on the field. Yeah, we know a lot of people don’t expect a lot from us. That’s good.
“That’s just people’s opinions. You look at, for instance, Jim Harbaugh’s first year [as 49ers coach]. Nobody expected him to go to the NFC Championship Game and go [13-3]. Nobody expected Seattle. Washington or Indy to have seasons they had last year. Nobody knows anything until the games get here in September.
“Anyone can have an opinion or be a so-called expert who’s never played the game of football on a high level since high school. You can’t take it too seriously.’’
Colon said he doesn’t think it’s just the “experts” who have written the Jets off. He thinks their opponents also won’t take the Jets seriously.
“I’m pretty sure a lot of teams already have us checked off on their schedule,” Colon said. “That’s the bottom line. We have to show up on Sunday and punch a lot of people in the mouth and wake them up.”
Expectations around the Jets have not been this low since 2006, when Eric Mangini took over for Herm Edwards. It is worth pointing out that team proved people wrong and made the playoffs.
A playoff from the 2013 Jets would be a shock. They don’t know who their quarterback is yet, have holes at running back, wide receiver and tight end and are working in seven new starters on defense.
Ryan no longer is predicting Super Bowls, but he said he has confidence in this team, and the outside doubts are pushing him.
“If you’re a competitor, how does that thing not get you? How does that not motivate you?” Ryan asked. “It’s almost like, ‘We’re going to show you.’ Of course, that’s your human nature. You’re not going to get a group of 53 [players] and how many coaches and the entire organization and saddle you with those types of things and not rally if you will behind it. We don’t believe those are true. It’s going to be proven out when the season comes rolling around. We feel that we’ll be much better than that.”
Ryan said he takes the slights against his team personally.
“I’m confident,” Ryan said. “I’ve told you guys this before, I’ve never gone into a game I didn’t think I’d win — ever. Maybe that’s just the way I’m wired or something like that. Just like you’re never going to enter a fight you didn’t think you’d win.”
RUSH HOUR: Jets running back Bilal Powell takes a handoff from Mark Sanchez during the team’s practice yesterday at upstate SUNY Cortland. (Anthony J Causi)