A Note on Training Camp and Managing Expectations

Last year, the New York Jets held many "secret" practices, away from the prying eyes of the media, where they could practice the now infamous wildcat offense. They built it up like it was going to be this big thing, and then... poof. We never really saw all that much of it once the season came. It was so easy to get caught up in it though, that we saw everyone doing it. Fans, media, everyone.

When anything happens in training camp, it's easy to blow it up way out of proportion. Did Antonio Cromartie just say that Geno Smith threw a good pass? Joe Montana 2.0! Did Chris Ivory truck a defender? You guys, we just got Jim Brown for a FOURTH ROUND PICK! Sheldon Richardson sacked Mark Sanchez on the first play, wearing shorts and without pads? REGGIE WHITE, YOU GUYS. Braylon Edwards just ran a sick route and caught a deep bomb, with no defender covering him? OOOH LAWD.

My point is that good things and bad things are going to happen in training camp, and it's easy to get caught up in it. It's even fun sometimes. At any given moment of training camp, the season could look like it will end up with the Lombardi Trophy, other times with the number one pick overall as a consolation prize.

My suggestion is that we all keep an eye on the bigger picture and try not to take things too much out of context. You'll stay a lot more sane that way, and you won't pull out quite so much hair. If we lose a preseason game, it isn't the end of the world. If we win one, that doesn't mean we're going to the Super Bowl. Keep an eye on the bigger picture.