Jets GM Douglas won’t be happy ‘until we win the Super Bowl’

NEW YORK (AP) » Joe Douglas is not about to start patting himself on the back after a busy offseason.

Sure, the New York Jets general manager made several moves to help the team get better. He also knows they’re still very much a work in progress.

“I’m not going to be happy until we win the Super Bowl,” Douglas declared Monday, echoing what every NFL GM says around this time of year.

He set out after last season to fix one area of the Jets that was a glaring weakness a year ago: the shaky offensive line. Douglas signed center Connor McGovern, tackle George Fant and guard Greg Van Roten in free agency, and drafted tackle Mekhi Becton with the No. 11 pick.

Paired with returning left guard Alex Lewis, the starting unit has had to try to quickly mesh on the field after doing so

through remote meetings in the offseason because of the coronavirus pandemic.

What Douglas witnessed this summer was a small victory, albeit without preseason games.

“I will say that I’ve been impressed with the professionalism and the maturity and the mentality that our offensive line has shown through training camp,” Douglas said.

That’s as close to a touchdown dance as you’ll hear from Douglas these days, though.

He was in a tough spot when he was hired in June 2019 after Mike Maccagnan was abruptly fired as general manager. With Adam Gase already in place as coach, Douglas tried to make improvements late in the offseason and camp — including acquiring Lewis from Baltimore — but only now has he been able to truly begin putting his stamp on the makeup of the Jets’ roster.

“I think when I first got here and I got up in front of you guys in the opening press conference, I had a clear vision — we had a clear vision — and Adam and I shared that vision of what we wanted this team to look like,” Douglas said.

“I feel like we’ve been on the same page in getting the right type of people in this building, in this locker room, and I think you’re starting to see that come to fruition this camp.”

Still, outside expectations are generally low entering this season. Many think the Jets will take a step back from last year’s 7-9 finish. Critics cite a perceived lack of overall talent, with quarterback Sam Darnold and running backs Le’Veon Bell and Frank Gore being the most recognizable names on the active roster.