Tyron Smith has accomplished just about everything a left tackle can accomplish during his 13-year NFL career with multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections to his name. But the new Jets’ tackle is still missing out on the ultimate team accomplishment: a Super Bowl victory.
“New York has the potential to do it and I’m going to do everything in my power to help them get to that point,” Smith said Thursday in his first comments after singing when asked about his championship aspirations.
The veteran added that “it’s still early right now we have a lot of things to establish as a team and to get together as a unit to get to that goal.”
“They have all the pieces together right now,” Smith continued. ”And they can get the final pieces this offseason to produce a team that could go all the way.”
Smith signed on a one-year deal that could be worth up to $20 million as the Jets, who added guard John Simpson and right tackle Morgan Moses from the Baltimore Ravens, look to turn around what was an area of extreme weakness last campaign.
“Good group of guys,” Smith said of his new linemates. “Guys that have experience under their belt and I feel like once we get together and get on the same page I feel like there’s gonna be some great things getting done.”
Tyrod Taylor, who recently signed to be the Jets’ backup to Aaron Rodgers, said the addition of Smith is something quarterbacks smile about.
“It gives you comfort,” Taylor said earlier Thursday. “... Obviously you have a safety blanket over there to the left. He’s been a helluva player for a lot of years. You look forward to being protected on the left side with him.”
On the Jets’ starter, Smith said the goal is to give Rodgers the time he needs.
“I've played against Aaron throughout my career a couple times and I know what kind of quarterback he is and I know what he can do if you just give him a little bit of time,” he said. “And I’m just here to do my best to give him that time.”
