Namath optimistic about Jets

Joe Namath was surrounded by a few dozen of his former New York Jets teammates and was again — as always — the center of attention.

Broadway Joe held court at MetLife Stadium on Sunday as part of the team’s 50th anniversary celebration of the franchise’s only squad to win the Super Bowl. And, the former Jets quarterback thinks the fans won’t have to wait another 50 years to see another title. Not even close. “I’m as optimistic as I could possibly be,” Namath said a few hours before the Jets’ game against the Indianapolis Colts. “Really, I think all of us are pulling for the Jets to win a championship, mainly for the fans, as well as the players and all.

“Over the years, players come

and go, ownership changes, coaches change, but the fans have been there since ‘63, and all of us would love to see the fans get another championship.”

The Jets have been searching for a franchisetype quarterback since the glory days of Namath. Several players have had their moments over the

years, but the team hopes it has its guy — finally — in rookie Sam Darnold.

Namath has met Darnold and spoken to him a few times, and thinks the youngster has lots of promise. But, he warns, it’s not just about the quarterback.

“I like what I saw of him in college and what the coaches have had to say about him and his teammates, yeah, I like him,” Namath said. “But you know it takes up front, outside, two sides of the ball.

It’s a team game.

“Sam will be good. You just need all the pieces to fit, though. You’ve got to have a complete team.”

When a reporter suggested that it takes time to build that for most teams, Namath laughed.

“You know, 50 years is enough time,” Namath said. “Fifty-one, 52, they should be getting it done in the next few years.”

The Jets are 2-3 and looking to win consecutive games for the first time in

more than a year. They’re still building for the future, and Namath declined to give his full thoughts on this year’s squad.

“If I really said what I thought, I would be misinterpreted, so I’m not going there,” he said. “I’m pulling for them. Let’s just leave it at that, you know? They’re going to keep improving and don’t say a team can’t beat another team.

“On any given day, the Jets can beat anybody. We’ve got to see what happens today.”