To build Ravens-like culture, Jets had to steal heart of Baltimore defense

When the New York Jets’ decision-makers conducted their strategy sessions ahead of NFL free agency, they never imagined C.J. Mosley would be available. They figured he’d re-sign with the Baltimore Ravens or get the franchise tag. After all, who lets a four-time Pro Bowl linebacker, three months shy of his 27th birthday, out of their clutches?

So, yes, the Jets were “shocked” when Mosley became a free agent, according to coach Adam Gase.

“When he hit the market,” Gase said,cheap nfl jerseys free shipping china  “it was a full-court press for us.”

It took a record-setting contract to land Mosley — crazy money, some league insiders will tell you — but the Jets felt compelled to do it because they’re determined to build a winning culture. Gase talked about it on Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings, saying he wants to fill the locker room with football-first players who put team and winning above themselves. “Dogs,” safety Jamal Adams calls them.authentic nfl jerseys china free shipping

The Jets identified Mosley as one of those dogs — a “culture-changer,” Gase said — and they defeated the Ravens in an intense bidding war. Gase is attempting to eradicate the losing mindset from the Jets’ locker room, and his first big move was to steal a piece of the Raven Way.nfl jerseys from china free shipping

“He’s the kind of guy who can really lead that charge in the locker room, where the team building starts the right way,” Gase said of Mosley. “This guy has been in the league five years, four Pro Bowls. He’s been part of an organization that all of us would say they’ve done things the right way for a long period of time.

“They’ve had a lot of great players go through,nfl wholesale jerseys free shipping  and that culture stayed the same. It started with Ray Lewis, and it kept going after he left. C.J. was a big reason for that. We want to be able to start our own deal here, and he was kind of that first piece where nfl jersey free shipping  he can lead that defense. He’s the quarterback of the defense.”

This reminds me of 1998 when the Jets stole a young and talented Curtis Martin away from the New England Patriots with a huge contract. Former coach Bill Parcells took some heat for paying big money for a running back (not to mention first- and third-round picks as compensation to the Patriots), but I remember his rationale. In a perfect world, he told me, the highest-paid player on the team should also be the hardest-working player on the team. He knew Martin would be that guy, setting a tone for the rest of the locker room. And he was right. Martin, with help from some others, changed the culture.nfl jerseys free shipping