 Well, let's bring in Joe Douglas, the general manager of the jets is nice to join us. He just spoke to the, uh, the, uh, most of the print media on a conference call. And he said, joining us now on the Michael K show. Joe, how are you doing? First off, you and your family doing great. Good to be with you guys. Michael bond here, um, family's doing well, uh, working remotely from home. Uh, like I said to the beat guys, I apologize if you hear our dog barking or kids screaming, but, um, you know, um, we're, we're doing really well. I hope, I hope, uh, you guys, your family, your loved ones are all doing well. Also, we're all hanging in there. Thank you, Joe. Um, we were just talking about, you know, Adam Schefter said today last night on Scott Van Pelt sports center that he didn't think they should have the draft because of the carnage in the streets. And I don't quite get that. I mean, why are entertainment shows still on TV? Why is there all forms of entertainment, making people laugh and taking their minds off the awful stuff that's going on on the planet? What's your take on this, Joe? Do you think that the draft should go on? Um, you know, I'm, I think that we're ready for the draft. I think that, uh, you know, really from, from my perspective, um, you know, even though it's been different working remotely, um, we really, our timeline has really been business as usual. Um, with everything that's going on in the world, I feel like, you know, um, if we can be, if we can be a positive distraction, um, you know, so be it, we're willing to do that. Um, I don't think it's for me to say, you know, whether or not we should have a draft, uh, but what I can say is that, you know, we're going to be ready, you know, we're going to be ready when, uh, when it's draft day. With all the things that you cannot do, all the knowledge that might be lost because of what's going on with the pandemic, how much of a disadvantage do you feel you're at in knowing the player you select that'll have? Look, I think that I've heard some teams or some people say that you know, 25% of the work on these players isn't done. Um, I personally don't feel that way. I feel like our scouts have done a tremendous job, um, starting back in August, really June. We were in our first game in here. We had our college scouts do some spring scouting on the guys in this class just to get them up to speed on our new grading scale. So I think that, I think that, um, the information that our scouts have been able to get, I think we've been able to go through the all-star game process and really sit down with a number of players. Um, I think being able to go through the combine, um, as usual, um, I think the fact that there isn't, um, there isn't the pro days, there isn't top 30 visits, maybe throwing some people off, but I think we're making the most of what we have to use. And I think, um, yeah, I think our MVP right now has been our, our IT department and our video department, you know, our medical department guys that have been able to adjust and improvise and we've been able to use technology to our advantage. And we've been able to adjust. And I think our coaching staff is doing a great job of, uh, getting in front of these players and, um, you know, going over scheme, going over video. So I think we've been able to make the most of our technology. And that's why we feel good about, about the Jeff. All right, let's talk about, um, what you've done in free agency. It seems that it's slow and steady wins the race. There wasn't any outrageous long-term deal. A lot of one-year deals. Was that by design, Joe, to keep flexibility or did you not see the player out there that you wanted to commit to for a real long-term big money deal? Yeah, I think, I think I've been, uh, an open book in terms of what, what we were really trying to address in terms of, uh, positions. And I think the one thing that we wanted to do is be, uh, they're financially responsible. Um, I, I can tell you that, um, it wasn't our plan. Um, to do the amount of one-year deals. I think it's, uh, look, I think contracts are two way street with, with the team, with the player and the agent. And I think, I think that's what the market did pay this year. Um, it just, it just worked out that way with a lot of one-year deals. Um, but I know our plan was to address key positions and be responsible in doing so, so that it could provide a flexibility moving forward. What happened with Robbie Anderson? Look, I think Robbie, um, I can't say enough about, about the way Robbie handled himself last year and just his career path from going from a long-acting free agent to, uh, being a starting, uh, impact, starting to see the national football league. Um, you know, Robbie has a unique opportunity to go back with his college coach from Temple in that role in Carolina. I wish him nothing but the best. Um, obviously he was, he was a very, uh, he was a great player, he was a very good jet. Um, I can tell you that we're excited, uh, about the shot pyramid, uh, what he brings to his organization and his ability to take the top off the defense and, uh, be an explosive playmaker for us. Now you certainly signed your share of, uh, people on the offensive line, which a lot of people circled as a, as a big need to protect Sam Darnold. Uh, where does that leave Brian Winters? Is Brian Winters coming back? Yeah, I mean, my, my stance on Brian hasn't changed, you know, from, from the combine when I spoke to our media, you know, he's really the only guy, um, the only offensive line in our team that's returning. That's an opening day starter. Um, so, you know, we envision him giving, uh, be giving every opportunity to, to compete for that spot. Uh, again, the mother guy that's, uh, you know, he's been, he's been an outstanding jet, you know, his level of toughness is, uh, through the roof and, uh, he's a great teammate. Um, so, um, you know, excited, excited, uh, you know, had Brian back for training camp. Uh, I'm curious just, um, from a challenge standpoint of trying to determine what last year was all about from one and seven, six and two, two completely different seasons. First half injuries were a problem. Second half, you could say, well, you want six and two because your schedule was a little easier. How challenging is it to find out exactly which of those two halves are the real jets? Yeah, you know, I, I'm not going to sit here and make excuses for one and seven start. Um, I just, I can tell you that I, I couldn't be more proud of the way of this team finished, uh, this season. And I think a lot of it had to do with our coaching staff. Um, Adam, Greg, um, the coach, Boyer, you know, they, they kept everybody together and the locker was, was outstanding. No one, no one back down, you know, even, even at the darkest point, you know, one and seven guys are out there every day coming in early, um, getting extra work and getting extra reps and I think, I think that mentality has been a carry forward, um, because we do have the right types, type of people in the building. Um, you know, and we had a lot of guys, a lot of guys received opportunities in the back half of the season and they made the most of it. Um, and their hunger and their driving and competitiveness showed, uh, throughout throughout the end of the year. So, um, I think I can speak for everybody in the organization, um, you know, especially Greg and our defensive staff, you know, we're all going to be excited to have CJ back, um, healthy and, um, you know, hopefully, uh, for the entire season. And so, um, I think, I think there's a lot of positive things from the finish of last year that can springboard us into 2020. Well, you mentioned defense. I'll put you on the spot. Uh, Jadavian Clowney has lowered his price to 17 to 18 million a year. Are the jets going to dive in? Yeah, I'll say the same thing I said to the beat. Um, you know, we, we've done our due diligence with every player, um, you know, in this, in this draft, I think, uh, our football administrative staff headed up our day associate, Nick Zabala, they've been a great job so far, kind of forecasting what the market has been. Um, you know, we, uh, it's the right, it's the right opportunity to present itself. You know, we're going to, we're going to strike, um, you know, I'm not going to give specifics on Jadavian or any conversations we've had. Um, but obviously he's been a dynamic player in the national football league. Does that mean I can't follow up and say what are the odds you get in Trent Williams? I, I, I'll give you the, I'll give you the, uh, exact same answers that we have done our due diligence on, on a lot of players. And, uh, you know, again, it's going to, it's going to, it's going to have to be the right opportunity for us in terms of, um, financial, um, you know, trade, uh, you know, what the trade's going to look like, things like that, but, um, it's got to be the right opportunity for us. All right, be honest. What was your reaction when Brady left for Tampa? Honestly, um, look, I mean, I, I always loved competing against Tom Brady, you know, no matter whether it was with the Baltimore Ravens or the Eagles or the Jets. Um, so, uh, look, I mean, he's a great player. He's probably the best player of all time. And, um, you know, mission well in Tampa and we've got, we've got so many, so many things to worry about with our own team. I, I couldn't even begin to comment on, you know, what's, uh, what's going on with our teams. But, you know, we've got to, we've really got to worry about ourselves moving forward. Joe, uh, Douglas is our guest right here on the Michael K. Show Jets GM as he's preparing for the upcoming NFL draft, um, with the, the rule passed yesterday that there's two more wildcard teams. Do you look at this? I mean, because we started this interview with, you know, slow and steady, you're not doing anything splashy just yet. Are the Jets looking to make the playoffs this year? Or is it just a year to rebuild? So this is, is this the power off just to make the splashy comment about, uh, we've got Yes, this is the one on the back page of the paper. Yeah. Yeah. No, um, this is going to sound cliche and boring, but we, we're trying to be better, you know, um, we're trying to be a better team than we were after the Buffalo game. You know, we're trying to, we're just trying to get better each day. Um, whenever we get back together as a team, whenever that may be, um, you know, that's going to be our approach to get better than we were thinking for, you know, I mean, obviously you open the goal every year is to win Super Bowl. Um, and you can't, you can't win the Super Bowl as you get into the playoffs. So, um, you know, we're trying, what we're trying to do is build the right foundation, build the right foundation of people and, uh, really add to the, add the depth and the quality of people to this team. What are your expectations? The thing, the thing we love about you, Joe, is that you never lie and you did not lie. That was cliche and boring. You were absolutely right. I'll never lie to you guys. Uh, what can we expect from LeVion Bell? You know, the expectations is that we're going to, we're going to block better for LeVion, you know, and, um, I know, I know, I know the LeVion that's in the building every day. And I know how competitive he is on another fire that he brings. So, um, I'm excited to get him back here. Um, you know, and, uh, and I'm sure he's excited to get back here and get going. And, um, you know, uh, I know we've got some, some new offense lining that can't wait to, to open some holes for him. And I was reading some of the remarks that you made to the beat writers. Did you actually have a conversation with Sam Darnold's parents that you're going to protect them better? Did they first come up to you? Or did you just offer that to them? I, I met them on the sideline prior to the Giants Pre-season game. Yeah. And his mom gave me a big hug and I said, I promise, I promise you that I'm going to do everything in my power to protect your son and give him, give him the playmakers that he needs. So that's, that's right there. That's true. She must have been appreciative. No, I enjoyed spending time with them before that game. Um, just to, to outstanding people. So that was, that was pretty cool. Spending a little time with them before the Giants Pre-season game. Now, year three for a quarterback is usually that year where they, they take the big leap. Can he still do that despite the time that he missed last year? I think so. I, and I think you saw that in the back half of the year. Um, you know, the thing, the thing I love about Sam is just how tough he is, how tough he is mentally and psychologically. You know, he wasn't, uh, you know, he, he, he was able to bounce back, uh, from the, from the Patriots game, the Money Night game. Um, you know, he, he is just a rugged dude and he is very accurate. You know, so, um, I think, I think, uh, we have a special young player in San Donut. So there's your splashy headline, I guess. So, um, no, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm so excited about saying, you know, um, and, uh, you know, he, he would talk about, you know, the, what we're trying to do culturalizing and, um, the competitors that we're looking for and the mentality that we're looking for, you know, we feel like that we have that in San and, um, you know, we just, we just gotta do everything we can to help him. What'd you get Adam Gates for birthday present? I think, uh, I think I'm, um, you know, maybe a couple of Xbox games, you know, I think maybe some time to, uh, you know, to play some, some games with the sun, but, um, you know, hopefully, um, hopefully, uh, these offense lining are a good start. Um, and, um, you know, hopefully we can give him some more presents at the draft. Do you think there's any chance Gates actually relaxes for five minutes while he's stuck in the house during quarantine? No, no, I'm just kidding. Like he was, he keeps, he's wired and he wired in on this draft, he's wired in on three agency. Um, he was, uh, he's getting after the tape, you know, he's studying, he's studying every position, you know, not just offensive, so he's, uh, he's getting after this draft. Because I would love to pick in the draft. There's a, I'm sorry, Don, Levin pick in the draft. Is it going to be offense or a wide receiver, offensive line or wide receiver? We'll see how it plays out. It's, I think, I think the 11th pick, and I'm sure we'll talk more about it as we get closer, but I think the 11th pick is a very interesting place to be, you know, I think, um, especially if there's a run on, on, um, you know, quarterbacks or, uh, offense line or why we'll see what happens. But, you know, we feel like there's going to be a really good player there at pick 11. So we feel like it's a good spot to be in this year. Are you open to move up or down? Well, if the right person gets our opportunity to present itself, you know, we'll, we'll consider anything, um, you know, depending on who the player, even players are available and, uh, you know, I'll move up or what players are available still if we want to move back. Um, so, um, I think, I think we're, we're trying to maintain a level of flexibility in that regard. Well, good luck in the draft. But most importantly, you and your family stay safe, stay healthy, and, uh, we look forward to talking soon. You too, guys. I appreciate the time. You got a safe day. You too.