As the New York Jets head toward another important offseason, continuity up front looms as one of the more important storylines, and veteran guard John Simpson sounds like someone who isn’t ready to close the book on his time in New York.
Simpson, set to hit free agency, made it clear that the locker room, the relationships, and the coaching staff with the Jets left a nice impression on him.
For a team that has spent years trying to stabilize its offensive line, having the continuity moving forward with a young quarterback should be the plan.
Speaking about the possibility that his season, and potentially his stint with the Jets, could be over, Simpson wanted to thank the guys.
“As tough as it was, just taking the field with these guys each and every week, it's just something that I don't want it to be over,” he said, per the team. “I love taking the field with these guys, man.”
This is a player who bought into the locker room and, more importantly, into the culture the Jets are trying to build under Aaron Glenn. That shouldn’t be ignored by a front office that has often made the wrong moves.
“They did a really good job of calming me down, making me more even-keel,” Simpson said. “A lot of people know I'm a little hot-headed sometimes when I get out there. But Coach has been talking to me about things like, ‘Yes, it's important to back your guys up, but be smart.’ And I think I did a better job of that, especially toward the end of the season.”
Offensive line play is something that most fans have been upset about in the past, and not to say it was perfect, but we’ve seen it be a lot worse.
As a veteran presence who knows the system, understands the locker room, and wants to be here, Simpson should return.
For a Jets team trying to finally stop rebuilding the same problems year after year, bringing him back in free agency feels like the move a smart organization would make.
We’ll see if that's the case over the next few months.