Jets Country

Robert Saleh Wants Jets to Stay Focused During Bye Week, Get Ready to 'Attack' Second Half

The Jets are 6-3 entering their bye week, in position to contend for a playoff spot if they can pick up where they left off in two weeks.

Max Goodman

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Robert Saleh's message to the Jets as New York enters their bye week is simple.

This is not a week off.

"Don't just go home or go to the beach and sit back and have a cocktail and relax for a week," the head coach told reporters on Monday. "There's a workout regimen that we've got to achieve. We've got to be able to attack this week, you've got to be able to attack your regen and make sure we're walking, we're moving, we're taking care of our bodies, still putting all the good stuff in there and treating this as not a week off, it's just a breather. We're still getting our work in."

Saleh warned that in all his years coaching in the NFL, he's seen players derail the rest of their season by acting irresponsibly during their bye week.

"I've seen players that went into a bye week and absolutely destroyed their entire season because they went to the beach, drank beer and ate nachos for an entire week and came back 10 pounds heavier," Saleh said. 

That might sound like a solid week off for your or me, but not for a player on a football team that's 6-3, poised to make the playoffs this season and end the longest postseason drought in the NFL.

"It's a week to get away from the building, get away from your coaches and it's a week to take care of yourself, getting away from the physical aspect where you're beating up your body," Saleh added. "But as far as regen and mental and working out and keeping your conditioning, that is not off. The message is to continue taking care of your body, consume things that help your body so we can attack the second half of the season."

New York's bye week is coming at the perfect time. The Jets are midway through their season, ready to capitalize on an opportunity to recuperate from what's been a grueling (and extremely rewarding) first nine games of the year.

Plus, the Jets are coming off their best win in recent history, upsetting the Bills on Sunday. That gives this entire roster and coaching staff a confidence boost and plenty of momentum as they leave the building for a quick break.

With a shot to accomplish something special in the second half, Saleh wants his team to keep the end goal in mind while focusing on the moment. If the Jets can treat each day like a "championship moment," they'll be able to return next week recharged and ready to continue taking care of business.

"While what's happened in the past—which is the first nine games of the season—has been awesome and fun and it's cool to get all those affirmations, it doesn't mean anything if we don't attack the second half in the same exact manner," Saleh said. 

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Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

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