SAN FRANCISCO (AP) \u2014 Harrison Phillips thinks the New York Jets need to change their mindset after a brutal first season under coach Aaron Glenn.<\/p>\n
Phillips, one of the team’s veteran leaders, said he noticed a trend as the losses piled up in his first year with New York after being acquired from Minnesota before the season. The defensive tackle thought the \u201cSame Old Jets\u201d mentality that frustrated fans have often mentioned during the team’s 15-year playoff drought started to appear in the locker room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think AG inherited a very cancerous, truculent group \u2014 whole, top to bottom,\u201d Phillips told Roundtable Sports<\/a> on Thursday on radio row at the Super Bowl<\/a>.<\/p>\n Phillips said \u201cit\u2019s not individual people\u2019s fault,\u201d but acknowledged \u201dit was a very difficult season and I almost wanted to waver on some of my thoughts and my beliefs and my optimism.”<\/p>\n Phillips often spoke throughout the season of trying to maintain focus despite the losing. He also regularly spoke positively of Glenn, praising his leadership skills. But he also understands how 10 straight losing seasons could be detrimental to the mindsets of players who were part of several of those.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t imagine being there for year after year after year after year,\u201d he said, “and not seeing the results that you wanted, and it tainted people.\u201d<\/p>\n In another interview with the New York Post, Phillips clarified that his comments weren’t criticizing individuals in the organization but rather the \u201cSame Old Jets\u201d narrative.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a cancerous thought, a very cancerous idea to be a part of,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Glenn has made major changes to his coaching staff<\/a> since the season ending, parting ways with several assistants including offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Frank Reich was hired Wednesday<\/a> to oversee the offense next season and Brian Duker was brought aboard last week<\/a> as the defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n