We are only a few weeks away from the start of Patriots' training camp, and with it comes a focus on the competition in the AFC East. The last two years it has been repeated over and over that the Jets are becoming a force in the division. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see a few experts pick the Jets to win the division this season.
I think the Jets have done a tremendous job of turning over their roster and building a contender. However, this season it is put up or shut up time for the Jets. The ownership has the club in position to win this season, but the team is not built for the long term. The Jets future is right now.
The Jets have spent serious money to upgrade the club. For example, In 2008, Calvin Pace was signed for six years, $42 million. In 2009, Bart Scott signed for six years and $48 million. They have also made trades for high profile players, like Kris Jenkins, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie.
They also have young talent, like Nick Mangold, David Harris and Darelle Revis, which could be an issue for the Jets in the future. In fact, it's one of the main reasons why the Jets' window is smaller than most people think.
In a recent John Clayton mailbag, he discusses how the aggressiveness of the Jets has brought them a playoff level team. But, there could be a backlash to this plan in the future:
The Jets' aggressiveness comes with a price, of course. Clayton notes that "it's going to cost more than $200 million in contracts to extend Ferguson, center Nick Mangold, linebacker David Harris and cornerback Darrelle Revis."
Going into the season the New York Jets need to win now. In a few years their dramatic spending might come back to haunt them.