FLORHAM PARK, N. J. ? Here's a positive for the New York Jets. They made it through minicamp without major controversy.
Accomplishing that feat during training camp and the 2012 NFL season will be far more difficult. Expect the Jets to be interesting in 2012. Don't expect them to make the playoffs, unless they overcome obvious danger signs.
Multiple factors could undermine the team. There could be a quarterback controversy involving Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. There could be a training camp holdout by their best player, cornerback Darrelle Revis. There could be more locker room turmoil fueled by their best receiver, Santonio Holmes, who feuded with Sanchez toward the end of last season.
The Jets insist they have put last season to bed. But when a team finishes 8-8 and closes with a three-game losing streak, it has much to prove.
Coach Rex Ryan could not deny that, despite putting a happy face on the Jets' minicamp that ended Thursday.
The 2011 season's end "was a low point," Ryan said. "I don't think [team chemistry] was as bad as what some people say it was, but there was certainly some issues that we had to get corrected.
"Every year, you have to go back to square one. I'm on top of it. Our coaches are on top of it. Our players understand. It's embarrassing to them ? something comes out negatively about this football team.
"I don't know how many wins we are going to have," Ryan said. "But I know we'll have that corrected. We will have a close football team. We're not going to beat ourselves with some of the infighting and all that other stuff. That's a thing of the past."
Ryan had better hope so, because his Jets will be under the microscope from Day 1 of training camp.
? Learn more: 2012 Jets schedule | Roster | Team page | News archive
Start with Revis, who left the locker room Thursday with no guarantee he would report to training camp in July. Revis is the NFL's best cornerback, and he takes his contract as seriously as he takes pass coverage. He wants the Jets to renegotiate with two years left on his deal.
If the Jets don't budge Revis could hold out again, just like he did two years ago.
Being seen as the bad guy by Jets fans won't make Revis budge.
"I've been getting criticized since I was 8 years old," Revis said Thursday. "It's best for me to do what's best for my career. I don't think these guys in here are sitting here saying I'm a distraction. This is my situation, and it's come up again. I got to deal with it the best way I can."
Ryan hopes Revis reports on time.
"I'm looking forward to having Darrelle out there," Ryan said. "I think we have a heck of a football team. You guys know what I think of him as a player. Any of the other stuff, I just leave to [general manager Michael Tannenbaum] upstairs."
If Revis holds out, it will be a distraction. If his holdout is lengthy, it could make Revis more susceptible to injury after he does report.
Meanwhile, the media members covering the Jets are already closely monitoring how much time Tebow spends working with the first team during practices.
It will be hard for Sanchez not to look over his shoulder. Even during his first two seasons, when the Jets reached the AFC championship game, Sanchez had stretches of games where he struggled. Now when Sanchez is spotty, or when the Jets lose consecutive games, there will be clamoring for Tebow to play.
The Jets envision Sanchez playing well, and Tebow adding another dimension in packages designed to take advantage of his talents.
? SN player rankings: Who does Sanchez stack up? | Among cornerbacks, Revis owns an island
But the team could just as easily have two inconsistent quarterbacks playing instead of one. If so, that's no formula for making the playoffs.
While Sanchez must play better, the key to improving the offense could be a better running game. The Jets were 22nd among 32 teams in rushing last season, despite having talented offensive linemen center Nick Mangold, guard Brandon Moore and tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson.
The Jets open training camp July 26 in Cortland, N.Y., and Ryan has warned them not to expect Club Med. The Jets must be more physical, in better shape and more committed to their running game under new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano to make an offensive leap from last season. Neither Sanchez nor Tebow are Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady ? quarterbacks that can carry an offense without an effective running game.
"We need to run the football, there's no doubt," Ryan said. "I think we have the personnel to do it. We want to be a great fourth-quarter team. To do that, you have to be in shape."
Sanchez and Tebow were all smiles leaving the field Thursday, looking forward to working out together again in July, during Sanchez's informal "Jets West" camp in California.
At this point, the Jets can be optimistic. But once the pressure increases during training camp and the regular season, we'll find out if the 2012 Jets can handle turbulence.
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