At almost every law school, there is a classic line that professors tell incoming classes: “Look to your left and then to your right, and three years from now, only one of you will still be here.”
Aaron Glenn is the new head coach of the New York Jets, and it’s unknown if he uttered those lines in his first address to his new team. But he might as well have, as the purge of the Jets roster from last season has been all about out with the old, in with the new.
Such over-30 mainstays as tight end Tyler Conklin, tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, receiver Davante Adams, linebacker C.J. Mosley and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have all been sent packing. Also waving bye-bye are defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw, cornerback D.J. Reed, safety Chuck Clark, edge rusher bust Haason Reddick, cornerback Brandin Echols and safety Ashtyn Davis.
The only over 30 survivors are wide receivers Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds, long snapper Thomas Hennessy, backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor and backup guard Zack Bailey. And who knows if all of them will survive the summer training camp.
The Jets only have 58% of their players from last year on the current roster, according to Over The Cap. That is the lowest percentage in the NFL.
Glenn insists that he and new GM Darren Mougey are focused on skills rather than player age.
“I learned this maybe 10 years ago, that you can’t be afraid of the young player,” Glenn said to the New York Post. He said that he wanted players he believed can help the team win.
“So, if those players happen to be 30 years old, we get those players. It just so happened that we got younger while we got players that could help us win.”