Saleh, Rodgers Embracing the Challenging Expectations

Head coach and starting QB addressed the added attention after Practice No. 1

Robert Saleh isn't fighting it any longer. 

Now, he's embracing it, and it starts with the team's participation in HBO's "Hard Knocks."

"It’s just talking with 'Hard Knocks.' They’ve got a great group of people that are working with us and we expressed some of our concerns, they’ve answered it, and it’s going to be fine," said Saleh wearing a "I💚HK" tee-shirt while addressing reporters following the New York Jets' first preseason practice.

In early June, Saleh voiced his desire to avoid a "Hard Knocks" assignment, but the third-year head coach is taking a different approach now that the cameras are in the building.

Along with increased attention comes heightened expectations, especially in the New York media market. 

"One thing I learned about this city is that you could have an expansion team and the expectation is to go 17-0," said Saleh. "As far as pressure goes, the pressure is to do your best every day, find a way to get better every day, and you trust that the results will come."

Jets' HC Robert Saleh with "I💚HK" tee-shirt :: Twitter / @nyjets

Saleh didn't sound like someone trying to avoid a challenge.

"We embrace those expectations, we embrace being a team that may have a target on its back," said Saleh.

Starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP, doesn't mind hearing his teammates talk Super Bowl. 

"You want to be a part of a place that has high expectations and there is a lot of positivity around here, which I think is a good thing,' said the 39-year-old Rodgers.

The 19th-year pro, however, warned not to lose perspective while looking at the situation.

"We have to temper our expectations early on in camp and focus on the little things to get there. It’s a long season, it’s a journey," said Rodgers. "There is a lot of excitement, though. That is fun."

With success comes haters and the quarterback noted the importance of properly handling adversity.

"Obviously, with all the positivity comes some people looking to knock you down a little bit. There’s going to be a lot of that, so we have to deal with that the right way," said Rodgers. "As we get into the season and have some success, we have to handle it the right way."

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