Rex Ryan is gone, but Sheldon Richardson sounds determined to ensure the swagger remains for the New York Jets.
Richardson, a standout defensive tackle entering his third season, believes an offseason of high-profile moves has returned the Jets to contender status in the AFC.
"We strongly feel like we're going to be the top defense in the league -- and top team in the league, not just defense," Richardson told the team's official site.
"This is going to be a great season," he added. "I strongly feel like this is going to be a great season for us."
New general manager Mike Maccagnan has been busy this offseason. The Jets invested nearly $100 million in guaranteed money to a host of impact veterans, including Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Brandon Marshall. The revamped secondary can be one of the league's best -- a promising thought for a team that already has one of the game's top defensive lines.
Time for Gang Green fans to book flights to San Francisco next February? Not quite. The Jets are coming off a 4-12 season and continue to have major questions at quarterback.
A return to playoff contention is certainly possible if the new roster and coaching staff clicks, but we're going to go ahead and recommend the Big Sheldon Super Bowl Train pumps the brakes just a bit.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast welcomes back Colleen Wolfe to the show and breaks down team needs heading into the draft. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.